I would save my dog first, because he loves me unconditionally and the stranger would probably sue me for pain and suffering or some other BS. I would take the date over the concert, because it is rude to cancel on someone because something better came along AND I don't really care for live concerts (and considering my favorite band is Metallica, I'd have a headache for days). I would top the date off by stopping by my mom and step-dads and popping in some porn, because that would scare them out of the living room, them I could enjoy their new 52" LED TV all by myself (with my date, maybe).



If you won a million$+ lotto, would you take the lump sum, or would you take the yearly payments?

Lump sum, without a doubt. Every time I hear about somebody hitting it big, I calculate how much that would mean for me. Then, for fun, I divide it up into what my major purchases would be, how much I would invest, and how much I would give to charity and my favorite causes.

I would take the lump sum, pay a crew to save both the dog and stranger and buy another ticket for my date to the concert and burn the porn....after I watched them alone.

I'd take the lump sum, pay off my house and invest the rest.

Lump sum on the lottery. I'm amazed that anyone would trust any government with their money!

Concert. There's a reason the weekend lasts two days. "Look, <date>, I know we'd planned on going out to dinner tomorrow night, but something came up. Can we reschedule for Saturday?" I'd be really annoyed if I passed up an Evanescence concert for a date with someone who turned out to be a major douche bag. And if he "can't" (i.e. won't) reschedule, he's not worth pursuing.

Lump sum. Pay the applicable taxes, pay off my house, invest the rest. I know my ass from my elbow when it comes to investing. :p

Lump sum on the lottery. If invested properly, it will yield a higher amount.

Lump sum, If I wanted installments, I can just ask my bank account to do that...

This completely depends on what the yearly payments are, because they might end up being a higher amount in the long run, depending on the interest/compounding rate on the lump sum. If the future value of the lump sum is significantly less than the payments future values, I'd probably just go with the payments.
If vice versa, I'd go with the lump sum.
I'd get the math done before I actually decided.

**NEW QUESTION**

So, you get 2 career offers. One requires you to relocate but it's a career path that you REALLY like but the pay rate isn't as high. The other offer is in a career path that is tolerable but the pay rate will make you more than comfortable and doesn't require you to relocate.


Which would you choose?

Clarification needed: Am I relocating to a place I love, or somewhere that's just.. eh.

I am court ordered to remain where I am until my kids are in college so that's a no brainer for me. Besides, I couldn't, in good conscience, move them away from their dad and I can't leave them, court order or not, so I have to stay put.

I left it open for that reason....you decide. What one person may like someone else may hate.

I don't *have* a career path that I REALLY like (still trying to figure that one out ...), and if we moved right now, we'd have to reimburse my husband's company for paying for his MBA. So yeah, give me that money! :)