Have you ever found yourself in line to buy a Powerball or Lotto ticket, dreaming of all you will do with it if you’re the lucky winner? Even if you don’t usually buy, don’t really know how to play, and really are not much of a gambler, do you find yourself standing in line when the prize climbs higher than it has ever been?
First, let me set the record straight: I’m not advocating gambling. After all, too much of anything can become a problem. However, studies have shown that the majority of lottery winners are not addicted to gambling or become so. Some financial advisers say your chance of getting hit by an asteroid is better than winning the Powerball. Your chance of winning the Powerball is one in 292 million in the United States, while your chance of getting hit by lightning is one in 700,000.
However, on those few occasions when the dream of winning the prize is too big to resist, I find myself at the counter of our local convenience store with the clerk having to help those like me who only show up a few times a year to play. I sear her face and nametag into my mind, so I can pay it forward to her with a nice monetary reward when I hit the big one.
What would I do with all of that money? What would you do? Well of course, there would be putting some back for your parents, kids and grandkids. There are some organizations that would get bigger donations than usual. Research has shown those who win generally don’t spend as lavishly as we would think and that they give generously to charities and organizations, particularly churches.
Oh, I almost forgot about that “first donation” called taxes. Well, I’m sure they would remind me, and then I’d find out that huge amount just got a lot smaller. But I’ll still take it.
One lump sum or spread out over my lifetime? Hmmm, I think at my age, I’ll take one lump sum. Besides, what happens if Powerball or the Lotto goes broke?
Now to really dream! What to do with some of the money? Yes, I said “some”; after all, I’ll win so big that I can just be rich off the interest from my investments. Some of my friends who also dream about the “Big Win” talk about:
Quitting work, especially the thrill of calling the boss to say they won’t be back, ever.
Starting a business
Buying a nicer house
Buying “another” house for vacations
Traveling more, maybe a cruise around the world
Taking the whole family on that dream vacation
Paying off all your bills. (Oops, this one should probably be first, but it got lost in the excitement.)
Buying newer and shinier vehicles
Buying a “summer car,” (1969 black Porsche — just saying)
Super Bowl tickets for life
Never having to worry about money
One thing is for sure, you’d have many more new friends calling to check on you. Hopefully, our state will pass a law letting you stay anonymous or private. Currently only eight states allow this: Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
OK, probably the best payoff is in the $2 you spent to dream so big, even if only for a few hours. If you won a huge sum of money, even if it’s only a measly million dollars, would it really make you any happier? I don’t know.
They say money can’t buy happiness, but who knows; maybe it can rent it for a while. I’ll let you know after I try it. Unless, of course, I’m anonymous.
