If you hit the lottery, would you still finish your degree?

Quit my job, move back to Washington, give my family half of my money, buy a few Porsche's, travel, ski (a lot), read interesting books, eat yummy food and workout with a personal trainer, volunteer at the VA, there is no way in hell I would find one small ounce of satisfaction in earning a degree.

I'd quit my job so fast....the only that would eclipse the speed with which I quit my job and moved backed to WA would be a neutrino. And that's a stretch.

 

Sometimes education is important for job opportunities, promotions, higher salary.
But it is always a thing in itself. Nice to know what happened on this planet before we as individuals arrived. There were in fact important things that happened prior to our arrival. Education helps us see that it's not all about us.

So if education is viewed as a money-getter or enhancer, then by all means, quit the school.

But if education is seen as finding out about the world we find ourselves in?
Then it becomes completely irrelevant as to how much money we have (or don't have).

It all depends on how you view the term "education", not its definition but it's meaning to you personally.

 

Of course!

Not as fast as me....I told my co-workers that if I win, my uniform would hover for a split-second in mid-air, before collapsing to the ground with me no longer in it.

 

Hitting the lottery might be the only way I can afford to finish my degree, that or the 20 year plan. So, in short, heck yes.

 

I just have to add a thing to the lottery dream. Spend an afternoon googling winners. Since everyone thinks it "wouldn't be the case with me" you might find it a waste of time, but most lottery winners end up broke. Why? Because if they were smart enough to handle that kind of wealth and pressure that comes with it, they likely wouldn't have been broke in the first place. Broke people are broke because of their brain; their thinking process. You can't give a broke person money and expect them to do anything differently. They will spend their money, and return to being broke. Some people faster than others. So, I'd make that argument that a lottery winner should ENROLL in college, change their world view a bit, take a few math and economics courses, and use their money as an opportunity to change their brain (and the brain of their offspring). Break the cycle.

 

Nice: "Anyone know why that half naked man sprinted past? I did not see anything, but I felt the air move"

cookderosa. I wonder what your views are on welfare and other social programs? Do they help poor people? Don't answer, this is not a political thread.

As many of us have heard, the lottery is a tax on the stupid. Or lazy or those that cannot do math.

Fun to dream.

 

Count me in on that. I'd likely head to a Caribbean campus and bring the family. I'd love to attend medical school without the obligation of becoming an employee.

 

Not a bad idea. At least they should take some financial management classes.

 

Hey man! I once lived on Norumbega Terrace. It's right near the intersection of Moody St. and Crescent St. Right behind the Burger King. We'd fly down through Auburndale, past Riverside and jump onto the Pike for Boston. Give my regards to the Watch City.

 

If the jackpot was 54 million that changes things dramatically. Spread out over that same 60 year period you'd be pulling in 900K per year for doing nothing. It would be so much fun to start a corporation and run it without the constant worry of "If I have a bad month/quarter I could lose my house." I once had a very fun conversation with a guy about the prospect of creating a company that would make high end customized putters (you know, for golf) Cool designs, exotic materials, big pricetags. I think I could make that work.

 

You are ignoring interest and dividends. You could live very well off of those without ever touching your principal $54M. You could pull out $2M a year forever.

 

OK, so you can tell that I've not earned an MBA. Still, the question is "What would you do?" I'd start a company that I could have fun with. I think it would be great to work at something just because I liked it. However, I might have to go on vacation for a year in order to decide just what that company should be like. After that I think I would be bored with doing nothing.

 

I'm right there with you on that! I might be too lazy to do anything though if I were rich.

 

I would not do a damn thing except volunteer a bit...or not...screw the little people! :tongue1:

 

Let them eat cake!

 

This is a good, fun thread---the subject matter reminds me of The Greed Test I used to give criminal defendants in the lockup. I'd get three or four together in the cell and tell them, hey, you guys appear to be good people, tell you what---if I won the lottery I would give each of you a hundred thousand dollars cash, besides a nice house and a brand new car.
They would all say "You WOULD? Really?"
Yes, really.
Then they would say, basically, wait a second, how much would YOU get out of it?
And I would say oh probably three or four million dollars, but what do you care, you get the 100k, the house and the fancy car.
And without exception, over the years, they get this disappointed look on their faces, like I tricked them, and they say "That's not fair. We only get the hundred thousand and a car and house and YOU get way more than we get"
LOL. Gotta love it.

 

Ding! Ding! Ding!

I don't think anyone googled winners. In addition to drug and alcohol addiction, lottery winners disproportionately end up victims of crime, magnets for deception, and a host of other "blessings" that come with it.

Since you asked, if I found a treasure chest in my back yard, I'd pay off my house. If there was any left over, I'd pay off my brother's house. The end.

 

If I suddenly came into enough money to retire/live comfortably for the rest of my life, my education would mainly focus on field studies into the best fishing holes and brushing up on my snowboarding.

 

I changed my mind; I wouldn't quit my job right away. I'd work one last shift, and tell everyone I encounter that night exactly what I thought of them, but couldn't before, out of fear of suspension.