I would like to win the big lottery or whatever just so that I could give a lot of the money to so many of you that are struggling hard financially right now. It’s not like I’m living it up here either but I’ve got everything I need so I’m ok. I may not have everything that I want (that’s another story entirely) but my immediate needs are all being met.

That’s winning in my book. There’s food in my cupboard, clothes in my closet, and a safe roof over my head. That’s all I need. The rest is gravy....granted, I love gravy too but it’s not “needed”. Over my life I’ve learned that simple is better. I’m grateful that I have so much now. My life wasn’t always this way.

I dream of this often, to be able to take care of everyone

Ugh yes!

Always the first thing I'd do if I won, too. People don't realize what a lifeline even $1000 can be for so many people.

thaumata: exactly! When my dad died and I got a few thousand dollars it was a miracle for Yak and I. Shame he was already so sick that we couldn’t really enjoy the money together. I gave a bunch of it away to my friends plus a few people on plurk, especially when I went on my trip to the states. I was just handing it over gladly right and left.

That makes me happy. Seeing other people happy and helping them out when I can truly brings me joy and satisfaction. If you can’t help your fellow beings then what’s the point?

Plus I finally had a proper holiday. Only the second time ever in my life. Maybe in January I’ll go away again. Haven’t completely decided. I just wish it wasn’t by myself.

You can't take it with you, right! And people hoarding it is why things are so tough at the moment for many people. I'd love to just make my full time job giving away money.

thaumata: exactly! I’ve got no heirs. I recently found out that anything I have will go to the Dutch government when I’m gone. They don’t need my $5k so might as well spread joy with it.

It’s also fun to go through a drive thru and pay for the person behind you, completely anonymously, or leave the wait staff a €10 tip for a cup of coffee.

can you make a will for your relatives?

well you have heirs if you leave your money to people in a will. You don't need bio kids to have heirs

Gogo ♔ : I tried to do that and unfortunately I can’t (plus I have no relatives that I would leave anything to) because I don’t have anyone to act as an executor. If I had an executor I could leave a request list of who gets what (I forgot the name of it) but I have no one and not enough money for the notaris to be named executor. So nope. No will.

Chestnut : you need money and an executor in order to make a will over here. I have a document that I drafted for my wishes. I still need to get it signed in front of witnesses and then that would be a legal will for my US assets but it not valid in NL.

Same. Sure, I'd keep some so I can get my big project going, but lots would go to some family members who are in trouble, and the rest to friends. cause I have enough to live on, right now; I don't really need more.

I love this idea and I have similar wishes.

here you can do a will-donation to some organization, big ones like the red-cross but also smaller ones like an animal shelter or something else (non-profit organization) If you do the organization typically does the paperwork.

The main advantage is that that way they don't pay any inheritance or other taxes.

sjonsvenson : nice idea but I don’t even have enough money for that. My “estate” is honestly very small. Just enough for me to live on and honestly I’m ok with that.

it is a bit on the same level a "donating your body" to science or to a university for student-practice or something. costs nothing, they fill in some standard forms, you sign them. Once you die everything goes automatically

except most medical schools don't accept bodies anymore

Yeah, Yak tried to offer his but they just said they don’t need them, or they don’t take them. I honestly don’t remember why -I was preoccupied with other stuff at that time- but I remember we asked, and the answer was no.

When I worked at Columbia Medical School I was given a tour of the anatomy lab where the students did autopsies on dead bodies. It was totally fucking creepy, honestly. I will never forget the way it smelled and it was as cold as a freezer. just creepy