David Bullard tells us why he won’t be following Buffett’s advice.

David Bullard*&nbsp|&nbsp@Moneyweb &nbsp|&nbsp31 December 2009&nbsp00:21

JOHANNESBURG Its been a wonderful year. Merely surviving during the great recession would be celebration enough but prospering is definitely a reason to crack open the Krug at R2 000 a bottle. The share portfolio has bounced back nicely, property is cheap to buy and interest rates are low. Obviously it cant last but if youve got money the choice of potential investments is bewildering. And to cap it all I received notification just before Christmas that I have come into a large amount of money. Being nosey bastards youll want to know how much but thats none of your business. All I am prepared to say is that, when translated to the local currency, it produces eight digits before the decimal point.

This has thrown me into something of a quandary because the first thought you have when you suddenly find yourself with a large pile of moolah is what on earth you should spend it on. If I were to follow the sage advice of Warren Buffett I would be seeking out investment opportunities and looking for something that would bring me spectacular returns over the next twenty years. This may be great advice but what the hell am I going to do with all that money when Im almost 80? Whats the point? I certainly dont plan on leaving it to the relatives. Buffett is 80 and known to be a man of modest taste. He still lives in the same house he has lived in for ages and drives an old car. The only real difference between him and his neighbours is that he is a billionaire.

Now Ive never really the seen the point in having a lot of money and not flaunting it. I knew a bloke once who refused to drive a flashy car just to demonstrate to everyone he had money. Instead, he would sellotape the latest statement from his private banker on the inside of his windscreen detailing his immense paper wealth. He stopped doing this when someone smashed his windscreen. Clearly this false modesty doesnt work so Ive decided to buy a new car. But I am going to compromise. I am going to buy a relatively inexpensive car and add things to make it expensive. I took a new Audi R8 out for a drive the other day but the roads around Joburg are so potholed that I can see myself spending a lot of time sobbing by the roadside with a burst tyre and broken wheel. That applies to most of the sports models so anything with wheels that look as though the rubber has been painted on is out on grounds of impracticality. Which leaves the SUVs. I liked the idea of a black BMW X5 until I realised that I would be mistaken for a member of the VIP protection unit. So Ive gone for a Toyota HiLux double cab with modifications. Ive put on a much bigger bull bar at the front and welded sections of railway track to the side. This means that the doors no longer open and I have to get in through the sun roof but its a small price to pay for safety. Now when the taxis come up on the inside to squeeze in front I can sideswipe them off the road without having to worry about scratching my paintwork.