If I Had $2,000,000

Two million dollars. That is how much Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring cost. I’m having a hard time fathoming either plunking down the full amount for a ring, or imagining what the monthly payments on that sucker has to be. Two million dollars. That is so many zeros, that when I write transition letters at work, helping clients facilitate moving large sums of money around in their portfolios, I use abbreviations and don’t even type the zeros.

Since I heard how much a 20.5 carat diamond costs, I’ve been imagining what I’d do with two million dollars. Bare Naked Ladies gave me some ideas of what to do if I had one million dollars, like riding around in a limo just because you can, or buying a new chesterfield, green dress or a fur coat (“but not a real fur coat, that’s cruel”). But no one to date has prepared me for what I’d do with two million dollars. So I’ve had to use my imagination.

One thing I can tell you is I wouldn’t be wearing two million dollars. Especially as one small, or likely giant in this case, piece of jewelry on my finger. One, because clearly that screams, “Please rob me, I’m loaded!” and two, because I can think of much better things to do with that kind of money. I was talking about this to a co-worker and she agreed. Her idea was that if she was going to pay that much money for something to wear, it had better be some kind of suit that made her look super-model like. Or made her look like whatever she wanted to be that day. Agreed, two million dollars on a super suit that can change your appearance at will is a much better use of the money than a ring. Unless the ring has magic powers that we don’t know about yet.

With two million dollars, I would buy myself a house. (Thanks BNL for pointing me in the right direction). But I would buy it outright so I didn’t have to worry about those pesky mortgage payments and I’d be able to afford to buy something in the neighborhood I already live in and love. Most importantly, I’d be able to afford more than 300 square feet! Second, I would buy my family a vacation home. I haven’t decided if this home will be in Hawaii or Priest Lake, ID, but a house we will have for all to vacation at. Then I would travel in style. I don’t mean Paris Hilton style, but I’d stay in nice hotels (goodbye, hostels!), eat great food, etc.

And if for some reason that didn’t use up all the money, I could afford to take my friends and family traveling with me. Or help send the kidlets in my life to college. Or buy my brother a dog. Or buy myself a pool. And a trainer. And a personal chef. There are so many amazing things I can think of to do with two million dollars, that don’t include wearing it on a finger.

I’m sure KK is thrilled with her two million dollar ring that outdid her sister’s ring and cost half as much as her house. But being the middle class gal that I am, I can’t help but ponder the places I could go and things I could do with that kind of money . . .