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Ok friends, let me get this out the way right off the bat. “When I win the lottery” is clearly a hypothetical. An imagining, if you will. Clearly there are nuances and circumstances I can’t possibly be prepared for and haven’t accounted for because…well, I’m not a millionaire. I don’t have or know about millionaire problems just yet.
But collectively, we’ve all talked about what we’d do if we were millionaires. What we’d do if we had his or her millions, especially on social media.
We say fantastic things that only the ridiculously wealthy could afford to do over a sustained period of time. We don’t talk realistically about what steps we’d take if we won the lottery or came upon substantial wealth overnight.
Like the old hit Dreaming by Christopher Williams used to say, “If I’m dreaming, just let me sleep. Don’t wake me up ’til my dream is complete. If I’m dreaming, just leave me alone.”
I wonder how many of you have really thought about the steps you’d take if you were to become an overnight millionaire.
I have. I get giddy just thinking about it. So, let’s talk about it. This is how it would all go down!
Sleep Like I’ve Never Slept Before
Think about it. You wake up and discover you’re a mega millionaire. All your financial worries and concerns just wiped away. Wouldn’t that be some of the best sleep ever?
I’d roll over, see the alert on my iPhone that I’d won the lottery and then I’d just pause. Whatever the weather, I’d be still a moment; take in everything I could about the minute I found out I was a millionaire.
I doubt I’d even turn on the television and I certainly wouldn’t call anyone. Most of the people I can think of to call would likely respond the same way they would if I said I won a free coffee. I don’t share my joys with people who…well, don’t share in my joy.
Just turning over and going back to sleep with the security that when I awake I can think about things I’ve only dreamed about before would be a rest like no other.
I can only imagine how vivid my dreams would be.
Lawyer Up/Blind Trust
Before even making one single purchase or collecting funds I’d get my lawyer involved. I would have a blind trust set up so that nothing would be in my name.
Hire Professional Makeup Artist
Now you know I put great thought into this one.
If you don’t already know, whenever you play the lottery, you are agreeing that should you win you’re giving permission to use your image in perpetuity for marketing and whatever other purposes. That not only sucks but it’s dangerous, which is why I’d set up that blind trust I was talking about.
The last thing I’d want as a single woman is my picture plastered all over the world both online and print sharing my financial positioning. It would make me a walking target, which is also frequently talked about on the show about millionaires who’ve lost their winnings.
To make myself hard to identify, I’d hire a professional makeup artist. I’m talking about a professional movie and silicone costume makeup kinda person, like the ones who transformed the Wayans for White Girls.
I don’t know for sure what character we’d come up with for me but my complexion, hair color and everything about me right down to my fingertips would be concealed. I’d even wear colored contacts. I am not kidding.
I laugh when I think about how that news story would go down because even though the makeup job would be good, it would be obvious that the person behind it put great thought and effort behind remaining anonymous.
Auto Pay All My Bills
It shouldn’t even be a big deal but it’s nice to have bills on autopay and not having to even check them.
Get a Condo
This is my favorite part of the fantasy. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have your condo designed just the way you want it, while you lived lavishly in your own apartment or home for it to be perfected?
Yeah, sure, you’d want to get to your new digs as soon as possible, but the luxury of not having to rush is what I’m talking about.
I imagine it something like this.
I’d remain in my current apartment while my new place is being designed. Since my condo will be here in New Jersey, it will be close enough to drop by and check on progress without living through the renovations.
While I do love to cook, the kitchen wouldn’t be very large because I know me. More room to cook means more room to make a mess, and with or without help, the mess would kill me, so I’d keep it small and manageable.
Even though I love to clean, the kitchen isn’t my favorite cleaning task.
The kitchen would be outfitted with a 6-burner gas range OR a glass top convection range. I haven’t figured this one out yet. I prefer to cook on a gas stove but glass top stoves are so much easier to clean. Of course, this also depends on whether the condo is outfitted with gas or not.
Of course the kitchen would have an ample sized pantry so I could store bulk items like large bags of rice, my onions and potatoes and such.
I’ve always wanted a front-loading washing machine so that would be top of the list.
All the doors in my condo would be pocket doors. No more doors swinging back and forth, taking up unusable space.
The floors would all be parquet except for the bathrooms. And speaking of bathrooms, for the first time in my life I’d have a powder room for guests. No more sharing the bathroom. This was never important to me, but since the pandemic it’s hit the list and never left.
Every room would have Bluetooth speakers so I could listen to my music, movies and podcasts wherever I want to.
And no condo would be complete without outside space. A nice, spacious deck. But here’s the catch. I don’t want a deck where I’m elbow to elbow with my next door neighbor.
There’s a building on Prospect Avenue here in Hackensack that has a lovely layout. All the decks are on opposite corners of the building so I wouldn’t have anyone nearby looking at me when I walk out to have a cup of coffee in my robe.
Buy a Building
I’ve never had a desire to be anyone’s landlord. However, over the years that I’ve been a renter, I see a need for better management. It drives me crazy how few have digital systems in place to report issues; better management of community issues.
And I’ve thought this through, too.
I’d buy a building with good bones. I’d renovate the top floor of the building into one unit which would be mine. I’d have light from every direction any time of day or night and I’d shave off some indoor space in order to have a wrap around deck.
I could use it myself as needed and rent it when not, like for photo shoots.
To be completely honest, I already have the building I want to purchase in mind and I track the value frequently.
Arrange Driver
I used to say I’d buy a car but it’s not about the money anymore. I used to enjoy taking long drives but the world has changed and I don’t feel as comfortable driving these days. I wouldn’t need a dedicated driver, but I would likely have a designated service that I use when I need to travel.
Hair Stylist
I love taking care of my own hair. I always have. I keep it simple. Still, making the transition to natural hair, no matter how pretty it looks, isn’t easy. I swear sometimes my arms are too tired to even deal. I’d have regular appointments at my favorite natural hair salon here in Hackensack. Or maybe I’d have someone come to my condo and do it for me. I don’t know yet. Gotta think that one thru.
Get a Nutritionist/Personal Chef
I’ve had a nutritionist before through my health insurance and it was the best thing ever. I got to know what I wasn’t getting in supplements and what I needed to eat more of to feel good. It made such a difference. I’d definitely have a personal chef not because I’m lazy but because it’s so easy to get the nutrients we need from food if we know what to prepare, how much to eat and when. Eventually, I imagined I’d get bored with that and probably experiment with some of those meal prep delivery services.
Travel
I have to flesh this out with more specifics. All I know at the moment is I’m going to Alaska and I’m going in a suite on a cruise.
While I know there are so many amenities and social experiences on cruises, for my first cruise to Alaska, I’d rather stay locked inside my cabin, enjoying the views from my deck and writing about everything I see.
Just me, my iPad an a pen. That’s all I need. (I mean, yeah, I would eat all, but you know what I’m talking about!)
Maintain Current Lifestyle
Nothing about my lifestyle would change much and I know that about myself. I know we’ve all seen those shows where families win and then lose their winnings and you think, “That would never be me.” I’m one of those people who says just that.
I would be the millionaire in your neighborhood that you’d never know was wealthy. I’ve never had a need to throw wealth in people’s faces. The mere comfort of being able to take a walk or end up somewhere, see something you want and just buy it. Whether it’s just a trinket or something larger, the ability and freedom to make unexpected purchases simply for pleasure sounds lovely.
Something as simple as enjoying fresh flowers from the farmers market maybe twice a week instead of once in awhile would be an indulgence that I’d enjoy.
What would you do?
Drop your feedback in the comments and let’s talk about it. 