JoeTaxpayer

Long before Barenaked Ladies wrote their famous “If I had $1,000,000,” people have dreamed of becoming millionaires. It’s fair to say that a million bucks isn’t quite what it used to be. In fact, inflation over my lifetime has eroded the value of a million dollars down to $141,000, or conversely, you’d need over seven million dollars to have the same purchasing power as a million had when I was born. (See the Inflation Calculator if you’d like to see how the dollar has changed in value over the years)

• Sandy at Yes, I am Cheap – Hide from the relatives, pay off debt, buy a franchise.
• Elle at Couple Money -  Pay off debt, buy a 4 family house to rent, help family, set up a charity fund.
• Kay Lynn at Bucksome Boomer – Pay off debt, give to charity, save for retirement.
• Afford Anything – Wow, she’s jumping into rental real estate big time, leveraging the money and planning to retire on the rent once the mortgages are paid.
• Thrifty Decor Chick – Buying new appliances, redecorating, expanding rooms.
• Retire by 40 – All invested to help get to that goal of early retirement.
• Emilie at I came to run – Emilie starts with far more than the even million, as she was looking at a recent megabucks drawing. She’s generous, helping students through scholarships she’d set up, and also helping family get rid of their own debt.
• Jeff at Sustainable Life Blog – Wipe out debt, buy a house, take a vacation, invest.
• Andrea at So Over Debt – A nice mix of investing half, paying debt, and coolest of all, giving away $100K to a number of people just because she can.
• Jesse at PFfirewall – Get rid of debt, buy into a franchise, invest.

By the way, there is no million dollar bill, the largest printed bill was $100,000 and it was only used between banks, it isn’t legal to own any longer.

These were fun to read, I commented on a few of these posts that I’d invest such a windfall, every cent. We have six years to go on the mortgage, and feel no urge to pay it faster. I believe the market will rise more than the 3.5% post tax rate the mortgage costs us. And in our late 40’s/early 50’s (yes, Jane is older) we’re not looking to upsize the house, in fact our dream home is about 2/3 the size of the one we are in. I’d be curious to know if the answer to the million dollar question changes with age, I suspect it does.

What would you do with a cool million if someone wrote you a check tomorrow (you know – the giver has to pay the gift tax, not the recipient. It’s all yours)

It was 35 years ago that the Space Shuttle Enterprise was dedicated. It’s amazing how fast this time has passed, and while I understand the lack of funds right now, it pains me that the greatest superpower on Earth will, for the first time in decades, not have the ability to put a man in space.

The news is out that Borders book store is no longer. As I consider this, I wonder if it’s a sign that books are going the way of the 8-track, cassette, LP, and VHS tape. Or is it an indication that book stored were meant to be independent stores, the neighborhood book store that still seems to be out there but in fewer numbers over the decades. I Google “book store” and up pops nearly a dozen local shops, all closer than my Borders location that will close soon. Maybe Boarders closing will give these stores a bit of a second wind, as I’ll probably stop in them a bit more often. There’s a bigger question, however, as Amazon reported sales of eBooks passed sales of physical books not too long ago, are printed books going the way of the dinosaur? Does it matter? Is there more to a book than the words it contains? As the Kindle commercial mocks, is there something about the feel of a book in your hands, the ability to dog-ear a page and perhaps even write in the margins or highlight some text you’d like to review?

On the other hand, is there a benefit that goes beyond paper in being able to hyperlink words in an eBook, to pull up a definition of an obscure word, or to link to an article that goes into greater detail on the topic? An eBook will also let you search for a word or phrase in seconds while the physical book make take a lot of flipping to find the passage you seek.

Garrison Keillor recently wrote an article titled ‘The end of an era in publishing.” It’s not eBooks that bother him, but rather the barrier to entry is gone. He pines not just for the typewriter, but for the days of a publisher that had to read your work and accept it. Today, whether it be a print-on-demand or eBook, anyone can write what they wish and offer their work to the public.

I find myself torn. I’m not ready to cut loose from paper altogether, but I do appreciate the convenience and compactness of the electronic book.
Are you giving up paper? Have you gone 100% electronic or are you still deciding between physical and virtual?

A Guest Post/Intro from the folk at Bargain Jack……

If you enjoy finding deals and saving money, check out Bargain Jack.
Founded by Dustin and Sharon in 2006, this savvy bargain shopping site turned into a full-time gig for the financially cautious couple in the wake of the economic downfall a few years later. After establishing their site as a money saving authority among family and friends, Bargain Jack has since grown a loyal following of people, who appreciate the quality deals and easy-to-navigate design the site has to offer.

While discounts on computers, electronics and gadgets are prevalent, great deals on other products, such as patio furniture, clothing and books, ensure you will find discounts no matter what you’re shopping for. Bargain Jack not only features the best deals floating around the web but also has partnerships with many major retailers to provide savings found nowhere else.
Fortunately, the navigation of Bargain Jack is as simple and rewarding as the deals contained within. The site is specifically designed to be completely user-friendly, dividing deals into categories and allowing users to filter search results in a variety of ways. There’s no wasting time, sifting through pages upon pages of useless information. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for and fast.
If it’s not the quality and value of the deals that brings you back, the simple to use design, combined with the confidence that you’re always getting the best deal possible, will. Bargain Jack continues to reign as a favorite among frugal-minded bargain shoppers everywhere.

(FTC Disclaimer – this was a guest post, uncompensated. I looked at the site and it looks like a great deal aggregator, I actually found two items I’d been wanting, but the deals had just expired. Take a look, it may become one of your favorite bargain sites.)