$600,000,000 should do it. Would you like my mailing address?

That Mega Millions Jackpot would have been a nice start....

$3.50

PM me.......i can handle that.

Ok that's one of you....

Well, there are different levels $30K would clean up my debt and that would be a breath of fresh air, $180K would pay off my mortgage and it sure would be nice to not have that money flying out of my bank account. My step daughter is starting at U of O in September, sure be nice to tell her it is paid for... and provide her and her mom new cars to replace the tired econoboxes we have to drive (maybe pick up a nice used Boxster for myself).

Then there is the seven digit realm... don't hate my job but don't love it either, would love to leave the bureaucracy and the PITA commute... be nice to do some volunteer work near my house, at the Cabrilo Beach Aquarium... or the USS Iowa is coming to town (already sent them a resume). And maybe take some classes at the community college.

On one hand, any free money is welcome, in my book. :)

I live a comfortable life. The only debt we carry is our mortgage and our student loans (though mine is soon to be paid off in a month--woo hoo!). Those we can afford, given our income. Still, the enormity of our mortgage scares me from time to time.

So the only way a financial gift would be "life changing" would be if it were really big. Wow, that sounds selfish. But realistically, I couldn't see any gift less than something in the low 7-figures allowing me to change my life dramatically. Part of that is due to my relative youth, of course. I have a lot of working years ahead of me. But a windfall of $100K or even a $1 mil wouldn't allow me to quit my job and retire. I'd still have to earn an income, somehow. It might give me a cushion (of time and money) with which to switch careers, I suppose. In reality I think that's psychologically easier said than done. But I suppose there are several financial things that keep me up at night (saving for kids' schooling, retirement, how much does a wedding cost these days?, etc) which are big-ticket enough items to scare me, but not so much that a few hundred grand wouldn't put at ease. Wouldn't "change my life," but would allow me to sleep a little better.

Just paying off my debt would make a huge difference, IMO. That would take ~$300k to cover home, property, etc. Then most of my income would be for just enjoying life.

As far as enough to replace my income and never work again for my life expectancy... about $4mil would do that.

Of course with gas prices going up, I should probably include a little extra.

As long as this is all fantasy, I'll spot you the difference.

alot of interesting responses to my question....

I made a total career change 2 years ago, jumped in head first into a porsche wrench gig, it's been going very well, and I totally enjoy what I do now......got burned out with audio after I relocated to florida to work for a thief.....that's a whole other story lol

edit.........way to much information........

anyway I'm way past wishing for the big ticket, don't even enjoy dreaming with the occasional lottery ticket......sure a giant windfall would be fun, but being in the realistic state of mind I've been I was just curious as to what you all would need to turn things around....
sorry for the obvious rant......lol

About $1800.00......
 

Just enough to let me buy the last bits and pieces needed for a 911 engine rebuild. Other than that, I'm good.

50K would change my life dramatically!

realistically...$500k lump sum tax free would set me free for therest of my life. Of course that's on top of what I have salted away already.

I like to have enough to pay for my kids education and our health insurance. The rest I can manage. Low house payment, no auto loans, zero credit debt. I like to keep it simple. With the money saved, I like to take a couple vacations a year. Oh, a endless fuel pump card would be nice. I go out and buy the Ecoboost F150 right this very minute, with my own money. it just looks better in my drive way with my own money.

Tough question. "Transform" is somewhat of a vague word.

I peaked early - grew and sold a business for enough to pay cash for a house + put away a good chunk of change. Not enough to quit working, but enough to not work so hard.

My "Transforming Amount" would be enough to stop working altogether, and live comfortably for the next 30 years. Not sure what that number is, but I'm thinking that if you take inflation and healthcare costs into account that, in reality, the number would be much higher than one might imagine.

+1

but 300k would pay off the house and a college loan

A question I ask regularly. If I liquidated, I could move somewhere cheap and live comfortable the rest of my life. But I wouldn't have anything to pay my kids for college.

Life changing? It would need to be large. That, however, is simply due to choices I have made. I contemplated my wife getting very sick recently (its ok, she is fine) and though what I would do.

There are some thoughtful answers here. Mostly, we are all somewhat stuck. I do particularly like Tobra's idea. Tobra, I am game to go to Turkey with you for that 911. I will even show you where Paul lives. It isn't too far.

Good question Bell. Best of luck. Glad that you like the new career.

Larry

$684,000 would be nice at the moment. I'm planning to live on without it, but it would be nice.

a house is never "paid off". you will always have upkeep and taxes.

to change my life dramatically? well, i'm 46 now, figure i'll need $50k p/year for about another 35-40 years plus a lump some of $250k to pay off my house...... so about 2 and a quarter million should do it. That would allow me to stop working, the $50k per year would be traveling money. Interesting thing is if I sold my business for what "they" calculate it to be worth i'm all set. Now all I have to do is find a buyer.......

It's rather nice that everyone has a number and that number would make them happy.

What I have seen personally is anyone who "gets" some money; finds it isn't quite enough. This really anoys me. If someone wins or inherits $500,000, they feel that if it was only $50,000 more they could buy a way better house in a better neighbourhod, winning 10 bucks, darn it costs 12 for a decent lunch. Me, if I come across $3.50 I think great; I'm going to have an excellent cup of coffeee and savour my win.