Lottery Winner or Lottery Loser?

[Buzz Saw]

I don't play the lottery, always was afraid I'd win. At work when the jackpot is high, my coworkers always go around and take up a collection to play, I always politely decline. Of course the next comment from Mr. Collector is "well what are you going to do when we all win and quit our jobs, you'll be the only one left here working". The only possible response to that is, "seems like it will be a pretty good place to work". They quit asking.

 

[scloyd]

Years ago before I retired (from electric utility) I was working late on overtime. It was a really hot day and I stopped at a store/gas station in Earlville, Illinois and bought a cold drink and a $1.00 scratch off. By golly, I won $500. I immediately went inside to cash it in and they didn't have $500 in cash. I had to cash it in at a different store. Anyway, long story short...when I finally got home that night I found out my son was in a fender bender and we had a $500 deductible. Easy come, easy go.

 

[AJL67]

I don't play the lottery, always was afraid I'd win. At work when the jackpot is high, my coworkers always go around and take up a collection to play, I always politely decline. Of course the next comment from Mr. Collector is "well what are you going to do when we all win and quit our jobs, you'll be the only one left here working". The only possible response to that is, "seems like it will be a pretty good place to work". They quit asking.

A big group of workers at a local grocery store here had a lottery pool, they won 220 million i heard after lump sum and taxes they each cleared so where shy of 10 million dollars. I can tell you the people that didn’t play were not happy ?

 

[Honkytonk Man]

My ex wife (may she rott) had a friend, that i also disliked lol, that bought her parents scratch cards for Xmas, one of the cards was $100,000 winner. Her parents cleared let’s call it 50% after taxes, bought the other daughter a car and blew the rest on one of those months long world cruises, everything first class. Didn’t give the daughter i hated a dime so…. The perfect outcome as far as i was concerned ?

Oh that's priceless.
And a win-win for, AJL67!

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

My wife's grandparents are were lottery winners 20 years ago. They won the Florida Lottery. I think they made out with 6 million after taxes.. They already had money and It was only 6 million (6 million was a lot more back then), but there were still plenty of unpleasant situations.

Family members with great plans for businesses (those failed), scammers at the door all the time. Real estate investments with huge tax payments..

The first thing my wife's granddad did was go to Dollar General and but them out of his favorite shorts. They are very down to earth people, so it didn't kill them.

I still hold out some hope that they invested some wisely or squirreled some away... But I ain't holding my breath.

To be honest though I'd hate to be in that situation.. You can't help everybody, even though you want to. I've had money, and I've been broke. Happiness is not closely related to money. Love can't be bought, though people always try, and love is the only thing worth having

 

[Rockyrepose]

The divorce rate is considerably higher amongst winners which kind of proves that money doesn’t buy happiness.

Or does in many cases.

 

[jaytex1969]

They quit asking.

That is a sweet shovel in your avatar!

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

for a long time it was thought giving people a ton of money out of no where was the problem. Now it's more considered that most people who playing the lottery enough to win just aren't good with money and numbers and are kind of screwed over by their own mind and inability to understand their situation.
And from watching people who tend to play a lot, they're often desperate people who are of the type where it doesn't matter what life throws at them they'll screw it up.

But.. You can't increase your odds by playing more. That's the whole scam right there.

Odds are often not affected in the ways they seem to be.. People where I live believe all kinds of lottery voodoo, it's pretty insane.

The person who plays Mega Millions once had just as much of a chance to win as the person who's played the same numbers (or different numbers) for 40 years.. or 200 years.

I play cash 3 and win from time to time.. I know its dumb, but my wife and son seem so excited when we win.. I just do it anyway.

 

[mawnansmiff]

My late Mother was no gambler but she did invest in Premium Bonds.

She had £40k of bonds (the maximum allowed) and she told me she won something most months, maybe only £50 but sometimes £500 or more. This was way above anything any bank could offer as interest and likely as not paid the bulk of the costs of the 42 Cunard cruises she went on over the years.

The beauty of Premium Bonds (and why Mother didn't consider it gambling) was that you never lose your investment, you can claim it back at any time (given a month's notice) and get back every single penny you invested so it's a totally no risk venture.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[captpat]

Lottery = Moron Tax

 

[AJL67]

Lottery = Moron Tax

I prefer “stupid people’s tax” thanks.

 

[mortonbriar]

I purchased my first ticket about 5 years ago, and I didn't win anything so no need to learn that lesson twice.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I prefer “stupid people’s tax” thanks.

I don't understand the difference? Cretin's tax? Idiot's tax? Dim bulb's tax?

I am a once a year moron.

 

[AJL67]

I don't understand the difference? Cretin's tax? Idiot's tax? Dim bulb's tax?

I am a once a year moron.

Personal preference.

I’ve won a few thousand here and there, but much like a casino the house always wins in the end.

 

[anotherbob]

But.. You can't increase your odds by playing more. That's the whole scam right there.

Odds are often not affected in the ways they seem to be.. People where I live believe all kinds of lottery voodoo, it's pretty insane.

The person who plays Mega Millions once had just as much of a chance to win as the person who's played the same numbers (or different numbers) for 40 years.. or 200 years.

I play cash 3 and win from time to time.. I know its dumb, but my wife and son seem so excited when we win.. I just do it anyway.

I always tell people you have as much if not more of a chance of finding a huge box of money.

 

[Mr_houston]

We always say that the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math. ?

 

[mso489]

Investments are a gamble, of course. Supposedly you can do it in an educated or well-advised way. Sometimes, but not always, this works well.

 

[Buzz Saw]

That is a sweet shovel in your avatar!



View attachment 158272

Thank you, 1972 FLH

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[Servant King]

If I hit, free Captain Black Grape for everyone! ???



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That's not sweetening the deal... ?

 

[karam]

Damn so it wasn't me - I still have the ticket in my wallet, Switzerland participates in Euromillions and you can't move away from the fact that every news agent and petrol station was advertising "230mn CHF Jackpot".

I've somewhat of a fascination with lottery winners, though personally I've won less than 50 euros over the years of paying the dumb tax.

I always say to myself that if I won I'd keep very quiet for at least 6 months. Staying in my job, no crazy purchases, certainly nothing big like a flashy car. Certainly I'd make sure those near and dear to me get a nice windfall, ideally without knowing the benefactor because I am sure it'd screw the relationships. Certainly some good donations, setting some aside for my kids - but not a ton and not before they prove themselves by study and work - so they are set and safe for life.

Google "the king of chavs" for a true hero :P