Editorial: So what would you do with a cool $1m?

It's an oft debated fantasy - could you retire on $1 million?

Northland's latest Lotto millionaires have decided "not just yet" and will continue working before stepping away from the workforce.

The Lotto winners contacted the Advocate last week to share an insight into what it is like to win "the big one".

We were delighted to receive an email from the winners, who want to remain anonymous.

Only their immediate family know of their good fortune - not even their workmates are aware.

The happy couple are in their 50s and live in Whangarei, and discovered their win on the Sunday after the Saturday Lotto draw.

In a nice touch, they opted to go to the Lotto shop where they bought the ticket - Corner Cardz N Magz - to commence the claim process, and were glad they did.

The hug from owner Bobbi-Jo was a personal touch that a Wellington visit would not have provided.

The winning ticket was a Power Dip - the couple had stopped choosing their own tickets a few months ago after winning nothing.

So could you retire on $1 million?

Over one year, you could return $40,000 on a term deposit.

That's assuming, of course, that you have $1 million left after paying off debts such as mortgages.

The $40,000 would not quite be enough of a salary to sustain two people but, if you lived frugally, it could be an interesting challenge.

If you were investing a full $1 million, then shrewd buying of rental properties might see you reap, again, close to $40,000.

There are, of course, riskier money making options - currency trading, for example.

But that's playing with fire if you're not schooled up on the complexities of buying and selling foreign currency for profit.

For me, personally, it's a moot point, as I do not have $1 million.

However, thank you to our latest winners for sharing their story.

It's the closest many of us will get to actually winning, so for that I'm grateful.