I asked this question of my friend, and he said that he'd use the deathnote. He'd employ the eyes of shinigami to zero in on people who're going to die soon and manipulate them to rob the rich. Just like Light contolled his victims. Killing without killing, done by a modern Robin Hood.
As for me, I'd keep the deathnote to myself, so that I could die a painless death if something happens to me, like loss of both legs or eyesight. Death note as means of euphtanasia.