What I’d Actually Do if I Won the Mega Millions Jackpot

Spoiler: It doesn’t involve a mansion or fancy car

Photo by Vladimir Yelizarov on Unsplash

Everyone has fantasized about winning the lottery. It’s fun to think about what it would feel like to go from working every day to overwhelming wealth in just a few days. Many of us long for the freedom to quit our jobs, eliminate our debts, trade our used cars for flashier rides, and replace our apartments with spacious houses. Maybe you want a house just yards away from soothing ocean waves. Maybe you prefer a cabin in the woods where you can go off-grid and spend your days growing your own food and baking delicious treats for those lucky enough to have your address. Whatever your preference, there’s likely a life you dream of living if millions of dollars suddenly appeared in your bank account.

For years, I held onto the same fantasy: I’d pay off my debt and that of my spouse and parents, buy a house, give close friends gifts that could help them out (a car, a vacation, tuition for trade school, etc.,) and then invest the rest and live off of that income. I was so committed to this visualizing this fantasy that I’d spend hours scrolling Zillow for dream homes. After all, when I got those winning numbers, I’d need to know what kind of architectural style to tell my realtor I wanted.

However, at thirty-five, my fantasy has transformed into something much simpler than it used to be. Before I reveal the new plan, let me give you a ‘lil bit of background. As an employed millennial in Southern California, I make decent money, but not enough to feel secure in my future. My wife and I weren’t lucky enough to receive trust funds, our retirement funds are scant (I keep watching my employer-provided 401k sink lower and lower,) we both have debt, and we’re nowhere near having enough saved to put a down payment on the astronomically priced homes around us.

We don’t have kids or pets because we can’t give either responsibility the financial security we desire. Besides, we’re AFAB individuals: Do you know how expensive IVF is??? We enjoy being aunties to our nieces and nephews and are at peace with the fact that, in this lifetime, we won’t experience parenthood. Our joy comes in our time with one another and the found family we’ve cultivated over the last few years.