What would YOU do with 30 million rand?

This week’s group post reveals what exactly the Phuthu girls would do with 30 million rand… And thank goodness; it turns out that the four of us have got good hearts after all and won’t spend it all on ourselves! Kerry and I will both help animals, while Louise is looking to support an environmental or medical cause. Elzet, on the other hand, plans to randomly give people big amounts of money… Read on to find out more!

KERRY

Good things:

• I would buy a large house in the UK where my family and in-laws, should they need to at any point, can live.
• I would fly them all over for a long exciting holiday in SA - doing all the things that tourists like doing when coming to visit.
• I would buy the property next door to me and convert it into an animal sanctuary come guest house, consult with the necessary experienced people to provide the best care and build the infrastructure to support the needs of the animals.

Things for me:

• I would stop working (sorry Louise), fill my week with lessons and courses that would challenge me daily e.g. music lessons, art lessons, wood work, horticultural courses etc.
• I would like to fly first class on Virgin Airways (just once).
• I would like to bid (just once) in an auction and not worry about go over my limit and buy something that would one day be a valuable legacy in my family.

The above would probably amount to about half of the winnings, the rest I would put into a bank account and live off the interest that would help pay off the bond, buy an average car, living costs etc. I would like to think that my standard of living would not change, I love my home, I love my environment, I would not change it for the world, but I would now have the flexibility to add onto it if needs be.

Now, I know that I have not utilised the money to bring about world peace and global economic change, but I know that I would use the money to help those around me, my friends and family and possibly a dog or two or three… oh heck, all dogs are welcome!

LOUISE

What would I do with all that dough?!

I would buy a Porsche, quit my business, holiday 10 times a year, fly everywhere first class and buy a holiday home in the Caribbean… NOT!

I love my work, love my car, I holiday twice a year and well, maybe I would fly somewhere first class just once! As for a holiday home, mmm, sounds good but probably overrated.

Honestly, I don’t think much would change in terms of how I live and my perspective on life but it would certainly give me the opportunity to do some good in the world. I would most likely support an environmental or medical cause. If I did win that amount of money I would spend sometime researching a project / programme that I felt was “right”, something that I could get passionate about.

KATRINE

This question is so easy for me to answer, because I have had a dream for years and years and I would want to fulfil that dream if I had the money to do it… I’d buy a game farm - somewhere in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia - and open a wildlife sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than helping, protecting and working with amazing creatures in all sorts of shapes and sizes - from meerkats, chameleons and eagles, to elephants, lions and giraffes - every day. I know it would be hard work, so I would need to recruit staff who are as passionate about animals as I am, as well as run the game farm as a lodge in the form of a holiday destination for animal lovers - which would generate income to keep the sanctuary going once my millions run out. I’d also set up an anti-poaching unit as well as an organisation that would protect endangered species. And where possible, we would try to rehabilitate the animals and release them back into the wild. My man, who shares this dream with me, would be right by my side of course. And our kids would be so lucky growing up in a beautiful and truly African environment, becoming enthusiastic conservationists one day and contributing to saving our planet. Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it isn’t. I just need the money, that’s all! And if I can’t win the lotto, then maybe there’s someone out there who can sponsor me?

Oh, and of course - I would fly my whole family out here for a long holiday and make sure I fly home to visit them at least twice a year for the rest of my life…

ELZET

Step 1: Pull myself towards myself
I would resign (with immediate effect) and book myself in at a mental institution for a short period of time. I would definitely need time to come to terms with this sudden fortune.

Step 2: Investments
Once I’ve reaffirmed that I still have all my marbles intact, I will make an appointment with a broker to invest just enough for my old age to be living comfortably. Not too little, but not too much. I don’t want to invest millions and then die the next day. This money should benefit our family as well as others while we are alive and kicking.

Step 3: Debt and give-aways
After paying off debt like our bond, cars etc. I would give the key people in my life (family and friends) a generous cash boost. A big percentage of this money would definitely go to a cause I feel passionate about.

Step 4: Arrange four trips

1. Israel/Egypt with Sean: Want to go see all the historical jewels.
2. Bundu bashing in Africa with Sean.
3. Will take my mom and sister abroad for a 4-week holiday. Destination: Their choice. Good thing this is only play-play; will never be able to leave my kids this long!
4. Disney Land. It has absolutely zero attraction to me, but I think the kids will have a blast.

Step 5: There is a time for everything…
…A time to covet and a time to shop. I would furnish our house with real grown-up furniture without being concerned by price tags. I won’t waste, but if a certain piece of furniture is a bit pricey I won’t have sleepless nights over it. I would get a landscape artist to design a beautiful, natural garden. It would have wooden benches, a secluded sunny tea-drinking spot, bird feeders and an old-fashioned swing or two around hidden corners… little pathways that lead to bliss. It should be a place where we can hide from the nasty sting of reality.

Step 6: Because I can
I would love to go around and randomly give people big amounts of money and stay just long enough to see the expressions on their faces but leave before they can thank me. Imagine stopping at a robot and handing an old beggar the amount of R2 000 before driving off. Or the girl that packs your groceries: “Thank you hunni, here is a lil’ something for you” (R10 000 - at least she’s working for it). Or the car guard. Or the tired lady whose smile has not reached her eyes for yonks.

Step 7: To work or not to work
I would keep on doing freelance work (to keep me out of trouble and keep my feet firm on the ground) which means loads of freedom to do the stuff  I love doing.