After yammering on last blog about what a burden it would be to have $151,157.29 to spend each day, I decided to do a little experiment. For the last seven days as soon as I woke up, I chose something on which to spend my mythical $151,157.29.
Sunday: The first day of the week seemed a good day to spend money on a church, and a church in my little town needs – really, really needs – a new elevator. This would enable this wonderful, loving church to better serve its congregation as well as the community as a whole. The tab is $150,000. I would write that check and have $1,157.29 left over.
Monday: Someone who is very dear to me has $100,000 in student loan debt. I would wipe that out. He would be able to use all his brain power on his chosen profession, teaching the next generation. He would not have to worry about this burden, and I still have $51,157.29 that I have to figure out how to spend.
Tuesday: Someone else I love very much has $50,000 student debt and a $60,000 mortgage. This person has worked hard to be an adult, do adult things and build an adult life. They need to be rewarded for the hard work. Yep – check written. Debt gone. $41,157.29 change left
Wednesday: Time to spoil myself. I paid off my own mortgage and my car loan. $146,000 gone; $5157,29 remains. I know it’s selfish, but I would enjoy knowing I own my home outright, free and clear.
Thursday: Our local library is trying to establish an endowment for the care of the building. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. But, like all buildings, especially public buildings, it is always in need of repairs, upkeep and updating. I’d put in the whole day’s take. That would be a nice bump in the fund raising. Nothing left over for the first time.
Friday: There is a vacant acre right in the middle of town that would make a lovely garden. Gardens are places of peace, beauty and rejuvenation. Our town is no different than other towns: it is in desperate need of peace, beauty and rejuvenation. I would buy that land and have more than enough to get the garden started. It would probably take the whole $151,157.29. But what a beautiful result. Nothing left over again.
Saturday: For a little city, we have a sizable homeless population and not a single night shelter, and today is very cold. I would take all today’s money and all the leftovers and get a shelter up and running. As this would mean obtaining a building, establishing an organization, hiring a staff and buying beds and supplies, I might do that with all of week two’s proceeds – or three, or four. There is a big need out there.
So, there it is – one week’s list. It was easier than I thought. There are a lot of selfless as well as selfish ways to spend money. Maybe having $151,157.29 a day would not be such a burden after all.
Would that I could know.