It's amazing that so many people are willing to whore themselves out on reality tv for less than a million since the $$ doesn't last as long as you'd expect if you're not careful.

My husband recently sold his company for a little over 3 million and after researching how much medical costs can be if you don't have insurance through work and how much a comfortable and secure retirement can cost especially if Social Security doesn't last we decided to invest most of our $$, hired a good accountant, and updated our will with an estate attorney. My husband decided to continue to work just for the health insurance for at least a few more years because we knew the $$ would be gone quickly if either of us developed a major medical problem.

Unless you are knowledgable about investing money hire an investment advisor. Yes it will cost a small percentage of the money but if you choose the right firm or advisor it's well worth the money. Interview at least 3 including an independent person, a small firm, and a large firm.

Finally, congratulations on your windfall and rest secure in knowing that if you're careful and don't do anything stupid with the $$ including letting the wrong people know about it you should be financially secure for the rest of your life.

One thing I forgot to mention is that your taxes on the money will be much more than you expect. Right after we received our money we consulted with our accountant and were surprised by how much we needed to set aside for taxes. Before you make any major purchases or life changes consult with a reputable accountant to find out how much you will need to earmark for income taxes and then set that money aside in some sort of conservative short-term investment vehicle so that you're earning at least some interest on the money before you have to pay taxes on it. Also, from now on you may have to pay quarterly income taxes so you need to ask your accountant about that as well. A really good investment advisor will have some legal, nonshady strategies for minimizing your tax burden.

Like you I'm very forgetful and absent minded although my husband is the engineer.

I've found that it helps to have constant running lists written down in a handy notebook that I carry around constantly in a handy notebook. I've also done I keep no more than 4 running lists at a time because I can't track more than that. Whenever I think of something I need to remember to do I immediately write it on the proper list. For example, as soon as I run out of milk I write down milk on the grocery list. When I am assigned something at work I write it down on the work list.

Every morning I look at my work and home lists over breakfast and then usually at least one other time during the day. I try to get at least one thing completely accomplished on my work and personal lists everyday. When at least half the stuff is crossed off on a page I recreate the list on a new page. I used to keep the lists on a Palm Pilot but I found that there's something satisfying about physically crossing something off a list.

I also have set aside Sunday to run my errands and do my grocery shopping. Having the lists ensures I get everything I need and then I don't have deal with any of that during the week.

I keep my schedule on a Palm Pilot because I can back it up at work and home. That's helpful because if I lose the Palm I haven't lost the info. The other great thing about such a gadget is that it easily fits in my pocket so I always have it and I can set multiple alarms to remind me of deadlines and scheduled events that I would forget on my own.

I call my Palm and my notebooks my brains because I would be lost without them.