Which prize do you choose?
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Which prize do you choose?
Even after taxes, the lump of cash would let me get out from under my debt. Which frankly would be the mental equivalent of a weekly massage for life.
I like the security of $500 a month, but I am a little more comfy just having a bunch of cash in hand.
Free groceries makes life easier. You've always got food, and the money it frees up is as good as a cash prize.
I'll take the $500. That will come in handy without wrecking my taxes too badly.
I'll take the $500 a month. That would serve as the ultimate final safety net between me and homelessness, which is otherwise the just desserts of any white man as lazy as I am.
$500 a month, por favor.
My analysis:
$75,000 will earn about 3750 as an investment per year at only 5%.
500/month 6000 per year guarenteed. Probably not as good as option one.
A 2010 Porsche 911 S loses value quick, terrible pick
Free groceries for life (no sharing outside the immediate family) $10400 200/week max value.
An annual week-long luxury vacation for two to Europe, for life $8000 per year value as a guilt free vacation
I hate to spend money, I'm a cheap bastard in many ways, the vacation works well for me as if I won it, I would use it. I would love to really know Europe so this is perfect.
If this means "any food item I can think of, delivered immediately to my home", I'll take it.Quote:
Free groceries for life
Otherwise, monthly $500,-.
Free groceries. It's both my major discretionary spending, and a way for me to benefit from this that might not screw up my pension. Most of the rest would be dealt with as a zero sum balance. Non-monetary benefits, however, are generally left alone.
$500 a month, because I know how I am with money. If you gave me $75,000 in one lump sum, I would spend it long before 12 and a half years (the time it would take me to "save up" with the $500 monthly) were up. My thinking would be "I've got all this money! I'm fine!" which would be followed quickly by "Oh shit! Where's my money?" If I had smaller amounts of money over time, with the promise of more, I could a) spread out my spending and b) see forward to my next payday and have a greater incentive to save up for something bigger.
I'll go with the groceries, assuming they're whatever I want and not white bread and government cheese. I could easily (and happily) get $500 worth of groceries a month.
Might be a short life, but a very tasty one...Quote:
Originally posted by Zuul
Not necessarily. :DQuote:
Originally posted by OtakuLoki
Fresh fruit and vegetables, Maine lobster, artisan breads, all sorts of different and interesting cheeses... It'd be easy. And delicious.
Don't forget the duck, the cooooow (said with full reverent awe), and especially at least one cut of wagyu beef, just to see if it's worth the hype, the goose, the mahi-mahi, the lamb, the rabbit...
$500.00/mo.
I'd take the 75 grand, move out of the stupid Berkshires, and put it toward taking classes and getting a degree finally.
Hard choice, but I took the 75K, assuming this was AFTER taxes. That would give me ample time & money to either get a book published or take some classes to improve my life.
Cash prizes are tax-free in Canada and I'm a long-term kinda guy, so I'd go with the $500 for life, although the free groceries was very tempting.
I like the $500 per month for life. I could use that to have the nice dinner if I wanted to, or use it for the groceries, or save it up and use it for the vacation. So, overall I like that one as being the most flexible.
$500/month for life? Of course I will take it! Want my bank info?
Why yes, I would like your bank info.Quote:
Originally posted by Papaw
OK, those who turned up your noses at the $75,000 and chose the $500 per month, how much bigger would the lump sum payment have to be in order to sway you the other way?
For me, double it. If it was a choice between $150,000 right now, or $500/month forever, I'd go with the lump sum. Inflation being what it is, $6,000 extra a year won't be much to care about 20 years from now.
Hit the magic million number and I'd take it in a flash, even at a bad tax rate. Anything less and I'll keep with the steady cash flow, regardless if it's only able to pay for gas in 20 years.
Well,
The $75,000 = 12.5 years of the $500 a month. However, even modestly invested, say at 2%, the lump sum becomes about $100,000 over that time.
My thinking is that I would just piss away $500 a month, saving nothing. Sock away $75,000 and I feel way ahead of the retirement/kid's college/mid-life crisis Mustang game.
Groceries. I'd be able to buy things that I long for, but dismiss because of the cost.