Cole and Jessie knew each other in high school but he left rather than make moves on her and came back engaged to someone else. Now he's a divorced TV producer and she's a PI and they meet again when she's a guest on the show. They get together but he doesn't introduce her to his kids or tell her about his lottery win. Will her cynicism push her to digging and uncovering secrets that would be better off buried? Will they ever get their lottery money?
Several loose threads that weren't tied up and left me going "Huh?" I'll have to think about things and let them mature. Also a bit perplexed about people's strong reactions to Liza because she didn't really make an impact on me in these books. I reread Liza's book (that I'd got a free ecopy of in December) and was disapointed that other loose ends (the lawyers for example) were not tied up.
Needless to say this got me thinking about lottery wins. I liked the underlying message, that money doesn't make you happy (it only makes you rich). I liked the way they continued working on the series and didn't abandon Eve. One thing that did surprise me was the taxes – in France and in Ireland lottery wins are tax-free (as taxes have already been paid on the money in the lottery coffers) If you invest your winnings, you pay tax on the interest it earns, but not on the original winnings. I of course would love to win the lottery, in fact all I'm waiting on is the money, I've already earmarked what I'd spend it on. How about you? Have YOU worked out how much you need to win to give up work for good? How much extra you need for your DH (DW) to give up work TOO? How much would you need to win to buy what you'd like for friends and family? How do you think they'd react? What friends would be put off by your win and would no longer want to know you (because they don't want to be seen as spongers)? Would you be able to make new friends and trust that it's not all about the cash? How do you think it would change you?
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in France … lottery wins
in France … lottery wins are tax-free (as taxes have already been paid on the money in the lottery coffers)
Really? I didn't know this. Hmmm…
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
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a dollar and a dream
there are way, way, way too many mathematicians in my family. They all say something along that lines, "lotteries are for those folks who are really bad in math," or "lotteries are a great way to tax the poor." So, I don't even dream about how I would spend money that I will never win.
Nancy
FF - at least the first year they are, and by the time the
second year comes around you'd be paying tax on the interest and you have enough money to pay the tax bill so you don't care
If you don't invest any of it and keep it all under your bed, you don't pay tax on it
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Nancy - I know the chances of winning are very slim, but
presumably the winners thought so too
I
promise I won't give up work until I actually have the lotto cheque in
my hot little fist, BUT we have worked out how much we need to win for
us both to give up work, pay off the house and invest money so that we
still have our current monthly income.
It means that if we win
less, we know we can't both give up work, and if we win more we can
afford to be generous with family and friends
One of my brighter ideas was to set up a company which would then hire me to read books all day
- I mean if it's a job and I'm getting paid for it, well then I have no choice
and as my current employer could tell you, I'm a conscientious worker
I would be a VERY conscientious worker if I was being paid to read all day
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
taxes
They take over 50% as taxes here in the US. They say they use it for the schools but with the new scandal on LI the schools use it for the lawyers and administrators... it doesn't really trickle down to the schools. One lawyer worked full time for 6 school districts plus the billed them hourly in the millions.... it is being investigated but the law firms claim it is the usual practice and is not illegal. It may not be illegal but it is immoral and truly wrong.
As for the lottery, my sister and I have it planned that if we ever win it big we will be having family and friends included in the win and will share so no kid has to pay for college tuition or all loans will be paid off. As for working... it would truly depend.... I can't see staying home all the time and want the benefits I get at my job. But I would spend time at a place to lose weight and I would take vacations to the places I have always wanted to see.....
As for Liza the different authors hinted at some things but it was never fully developed. I enjoyed the books based on the lotto premise. I would have loved to see the lawyers get a book or at least tied up in Liza's book.
Jeannie
Yes I am a readalholic and I don't want the 12 step program!!!
I am not sure
I would tell anyone that I won (out side of my closest friends and family, then swear them to secracy). I am not sure my life would change that much....I could pay off my house, and fix it up. Pay off bills. I would prob even keep working.
I dont want any false friends or unknown relatives showing up on my doorstep
Terri
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