Winning The Lottery -- What If...?

[ResidentEvil7]

I'm sure somewhere on this site, this topic was brought up, but since I'm a lazy ass to go look for it, here it is:

After watching local news this afternoon and someone in downstate Illinois won $1,000,000 on a scratch ticket, I started to day dream about what life would be like if I won some life-changing lottery prize. I, for a few years every month would play a scratch ticket called "$5,000 A Week For Life," and the most I won on it was $500; same day I bought my Leonardo 2002 Playmates statue.

If I had won $5,000 A week for life, I would find a way to let my best friend and my family know so we can celebrate here in my man cave with beer and grilled food brats, burgers, cheese fries and nachos; cash in the ticket at the nearest claim center, which is only a 10-minute drive from where I live, save up every week until I can put a down payment on a nice house with a large finished basement (arcades, pinball, vending, neon lights and a bar), a nice kitchen, large master bedroom with a master bathroom; 2 garages (one for the car and the other for the gym). Then save up enough for a bigger basement where I can have Fushion Bowl install a bowling lane. My best friend and I would live together and just live life as if every day were our last. I wouldn't have to rely on a job. And eat all the sushi I can handle, because that's my favorite Japanese food and I go out for it at least once a month.

Just fantasize, if you win a big enough jackpot, how would it change your guys' lives? What would you do; what would you get?

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7

I started to day dream about what life would be like if I won some life-changing lottery prize

It's probably best not to burn too many calories worrying about that.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I'm giving away all the money to charity. I don't believe in lottery won money as being legitimately earned for religious reasons, and I wouldn't play the lottery anyway as it constitutes gambling.

Even putting religion aside, its scary reading about how many people's lives have been ruined after winning the lottery.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

I'm giving away all the money to charity.

If my family wins the lottery, we will adopt more dogs and rescue them from being put down at the shelter.

[IndigoErth]

A million off a scratch off? Lucky them. I can't even get $5 the times I've done one.

Not even sure I'd want an instant lump sum like that. Would rather a $5k a month for life deal. In that case... actually afford my own place, fix stuff at mom's that needs doing but isn't a priority right now due to the cost, save up a bit and gift a nice sum to closest family and friends, donate a better amount to things I already do yearly or would like to, live comfortably, but not extravagant.

Honestly, probably keep working to give me something to do and a reason to get out of the house, but maybe dial back the number of accounts I cover. Then again, I like my accounts, so I'd feel bad choosing anyone to let go of.

[Wildcat]

We’ll it’s a nice thought. I’d definitely get a house and such but I would not want to live extravagantly either. I used to think it’d be cool to have a collection of supercars but not really anymore. I’d still love to have a Lamborghini though. Those are my favorite.

I don’t play any lottery. I’m not against it but I know I’m not lucky enough to win any significant amount. Plus I would like to earn anything really nice.

I’ve been watching a lot of the show American Greed lately. It’s interesting how far some people go. Even people who were already legitimately and legally rich. It’s just an ego thing.

Some cases are actually funny. The ones that don’t involve killing people I mean. Like one guy who would scam women claimed he was a big Hollywood composer and worked on Jurassic Park. He kept saying he just wasn’t credited for whatever reason that’s why his name never shows up on anything. He even had a fake Oscar trophy

[triplexxx]

Never work again, never again talk to or deal with corporate a-hole managers, coworkers, or clients, though will still do community service work from time to time. As far as what I would buy, never craved big luxury items and am not very materialistic, probably do some more traveling and do more activities I consider fun more often, though would definitely wait for the money first, see how much is withheld or has to be paid for taxes, then categorize the net amount, put some aside for investing, interest-accumulating savings, and some for spending, ask for higher credit card limits so if my spending habits increase any, can earn more rewards, may put some aside for charity, though would make sure it's a charity I believe in and where the money actually goes towards the cause.

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

I'm giving away all the money to charity. I don't believe in lottery won money as being legitimately earned for religious reasons, and I wouldn't play the lottery anyway as it constitutes gambling.

Well just for the record, nobody ever "earns" every single thing they get in life, and many work very hard in life and never get what they fully earn, and for some, all that work ends up costing them more than it ever makes them. To each his own, though if you don't believe in gambling (which many endeavors in life are), there's always sweepstakes.

[CyberCubed]

Invest half of it, share some of it with family members, buy a house, use the rest for vacations.

A lot of people who win the lottery make the mistake of spending it all right away (like in the first few years), and then they're back where they started. The trick is to invest half of it so you'll *always*have money coming in, then spend what you want on the rest.