I would definitely keep the news to myself and not even family or friends would be told because once the news gets out, you have people camping on your doorstep with the most pitiful stories for handouts;envy from your neighbours and some friends; in fighting from the family and attempted breakins. No, silence is golden in a lottery winning case.
I was thinking about this question after reading an article in a magazine about setting goals. The article had four steps for setting goals, and six steps for meeting them. Included were your usual tips for visualizing your goal, writing it down, and making a plan of action to meet the goal.
The article made a good point to imagine how meeting the goal will make you feel. Will it make you happier? The article then went into a discourse on me... or rather dreamers. Those people who sit around dreaming about meeting goals, but not doing anything about it.
So that got me thinking. I’m very good at thinking about what I would do if I ever won the lottery. But what would I REALLY do? I can’t constantly travel, backpack, mountain bike, party, play soccer for the rest of my life (but I’m sure I could make a good faith effort).
First of all I'd keep the news to myself (if that's possible). This would allow me to clear all debts/pay off mortgage etc before everyone else started trying to spend it for me (person namely being husband who'd have a fleet of flash cars before I the cheque had even cleared!) I would then share the news. Rather than simply handing out money to the nearest and dearest I'd look to pay off their mortgages etc which would go a long way to making them more comfortable. I'd either have my current house refurbished (as I like where I live) or I'd have a new house built from scratch. I honestly don't know if I'd give up work as it helps keep me sane, but I'd definitely swap my job to something more local and part-time. Probably the most indulgent thing I would do would be to employ a cleaner! I also would take my time spending it to make the most of the interest! Oh and my daughter would like her own pony. Ever since she began having riding lessons she's been asking for one and I promised her that she could have one when I won the lottery. Don't think she's realised how unlikely this is to ever happen, but it's keeping her happy!