If I Had A Million Dollars
“What would you do if you had a million dollars?”
It’s a great question for anyone to ask themselves – because if you apply the tools and principles taught in I Was Broke. Now I’m Not., you will have a million dollars one day!
Today, I would love for you to share with us all: “What YOU would do if you had a million dollars.” – SERIOUSLY – I want to hear from you!
I would tithe and give a substantial offering to my church, pay off my remaining debt, expand my business and be a financial blessing to others as God directs me to.
Tithe, pay off debt, sell my house for something much smaller/manageable, invest, bless others….
I would think that if I had saved a million dollars, I would already be debt free…
So, first tithe, then I have to admit after doing so well, I would have to reward myself a little, like a nice vacation or something (but it would be a budgeted vacation). Continue to save and invest and possibly start my own business.
After getting my “house in order” and leaving something for my kids/grandkids, I’d find someone who needed the rest more than I do and give it anonymously.
Finish our path to debt freedom by paying off the small bit remaining on our house. Fully fund our kids education fund. Add significantly to retirement while stocks are down. Set up a scholarship fund at my Undergraduate Alma Mater for children of people in full time ministry (I’m a PK).
Actually, my husband and I have talked about this. #1 – Tithe (100,000)- #2 pay off ALL debt (200,000 includes house) #3 – pay off my parents house so they can retire (150,000ish) #4 create funds for grand-children’s education (x4)(200,000) #5 – try to find a small way to help each (5) child (pay a college debt, buy used car, pay something holding them back,etc but not too expensive – 50,000 or less). #6 invest so we can spend golden years in missions (200,000) #7 Otherwise be able to “Meet the need” where we see it.(100,000) I-O=EZ
I would take at least ten percent and give tithe first off. Next, I would pay off all debts I have like my car payment and the small student loan. Once I dont have any debt, I would save the total amount for college classes and earn a Bachelors degree. Once that is all done, I would see how much i have left and give a substancial amount to my parents, brother, sister, and anyone God might lead me to bless and help them get out of their debt(making sure the funds would go towards their debt or their savings). The remaining amount I would definitely save and plan what I would do with it such as investing in a home and in other ways of investing. If there would be enough, or after some time of investing, I would like to start my own business.
I would help my friends and family who can’t find jobs and are in foreclosure, pay off their homes so they at least would have a place to live. The rest I would invest and live off the interest. We are now debt free.
I would stop praying for financial support to plant a church and already be jon the ground doing ministry.
If I had a million dollars I would…
1. Pay my tithes
2. Take 10% and build a strong emergency fund
3. Get out of debt
4. Buy my own nice place and furnish it well
5. Save and invest for the future
6. Give $ away.
Joe,
I gotta say something that may not go over well. 🙂
But first I will start out with our story. 10 years ago my husband and I were DEEP in debt. It took some very hard years and tough decisions (ie: no car in a northern city where it can snow any month of the year) and giving up some things that we thought were very important to us but… we are now out of debt and even better, we have that elusive 1 million dollars in assets and cash that you speak of.
What’s different? Nothing really.
Only a few lessons that I’ve learned:
If you didn’t tithe before, it’s unlikely that you will now. If you didn’t help your friends, it’s unlikely that you will now. If you don’t already save your money, it’s unlikely that you will now…
Basically I’m saying that unless you start to cultivate these things now, having a millions dollars isn’t going to change that. Your ‘mindset’ needs the change – and the money won’t change that.
I know some people who have nowhere near the million dollars that you speak of, and yet, they do all of these things and more.
With all due respect, you CAN take only $10 and gift it anonymously to someone who needs it more than you (and there is always someone in that position), you can tithe 10% of your income now, you can put money away for your child’s education now – even if it’s only $5, you CAN do all of these things.
Joe, I can understand the motivation behind your question, however I fear that it makes us forget what is truly possible right in front of us and in the situation that we are in right now.
When we were still climbing out of the deep pit of debt, some friends of ours found themselves in an even deeper pit. We helped them a little, anonymously, out of the little bit of money that we’d managed to stash away (leaving it almost at nil). But when I think back over the years, I recall that one over all of the other times that we have helped someone, that time felt as though we really made a difference to them and it made a difference to us.
Additionally, after achieving this momental moment, I’ve also learned something that I didn’t expect. When you ‘over-assist’ someone and they don’t have the joy of succeeding themselves, they don’t have the same joy in your gift. It feels like handcuffs to them. It creates an indebtedness that doesn’t belong in close relationships.
So… I guess that I am saying that a million dollars is not the be-all and end-all, it is simply one step on the many paths of being human.