What would You do with a $ Windfall?

 Every one sooner or later has fantasized about winning the lottery or some distant relative leaving you a fortune. Have you taken that fantasy any further to practicality? I know of some people who have thought the fantasy through very carefully depending on the sum. A margarita fueled fantasy gab fest is really fun, but haven’t we all read about the misery that some lottery winners endure? Haven’t we all watched Lost and felt the pain of Hurley?

What if your unexpected windfall was from someone very dear and near to you and you wanted to honor that person? I think this is a whole new concept from the fantasy or lottery winnings. Would it change your financial plans on giving and spending?

Jill Ginsberg received a windfall from her Mother when she died unexpectedly. Her Mother happened to be a Holocaust survivor. Jill calls herself a cheapskate, but in reality she is like most of us, working, saving, and spending with-in our means. The dilemma that presented Jill was how to honor her Mother with this money. Hundreds of hundreds was born. http://www.hundredsofhundreds.com/

Jill started in October, 2010 giving $100.00 every day for the month. Reading her daily blog is heartwarming and I recommend a hankie! Jill’s daily blog about the people and her thoughts are wonderful. I think it is the best daily blog I ever read!

Here is a quote from Jill:

“When I got this unexpected gift, I wanted to do something different, to make a difference for others and also for myself. My family and I have given charitably for years and will continue to do so. There are lots of wonderful organizations out there and we support some every year (I even started a non-profit). So, it's not like I don't believe in the power of organizations to make change.
Giving the money away $100 at a time to strangers was pretty much the craziest thing I could think of; it went against everything we've practiced as "strategic philanthropists" but there was something about it that seemed like a great challenge.”

Here are the rules Jill uses for her gifting:

• The recipient is a stranger, and someone I am not likely to see again

• I must have a conversation with the recipient (ie can’t just leave a big tip)

• I can’t venture away from my routine in search of a recipient

• The gift is not in response to a request (in person, writing, etc)

Jill has started giving $100 bills away again. What a great legacy for her Mother and for Jill Ginsberg!

Could you do what Jill is doing? Reading her blog she discusses what her thought patterns are and her impressions. Like much of life it seems easy enough until you actually try to do it and the challenges become perfectly clear. I am in awe of Jill and asked her permission to blog about her mission. She of course said “of course”!