Winning the lottery, is it really worth it????
By Renhard
@Renhard (3471)
Jamaica
April 28, 2011 10:13am CST
First off let I say, if i won the lottery I would be happy but for how long?
There are multiple cases that I know of millionaires who win the lottery who have miserably life afterwards. Some has to spend all that money on security, then going bankrupt.
I know of one case where his former wife hired a hitman for him as she wanted to inherit all that money for herself.
and another incident in which a girlfriend sued the winner (her boyfriend) as she was eager to get her hands on that money.
I dont know why about this one but for a similar trend I have seen that most people who win the lottery get accused by the law for handling drugs, etc and they are now being seen in court so often, then has to spend their money on bail.
I have seen one more case in which the person loose all his friends even the one he bought a £100,000 house for.
You see it all comes down to "you cant trust no one". And thus you cant be happy. You will then feel really stress. Sometimes you have to go into hiding because of safety.
I remember looking at Oceanna's topic: Person Still Hasn't Come Forward
she stated:
[i]The person who has won $319 million dollars in I forget which state for the lottery, still has not come forward to claim.
I wonder how long you have to come forward?
I never thought of that.
Can you imagine walking around stressing about everyday problems as usual and not knowing you had won and never having to worry again?[/i]
well I have the answer to that as well. According to an article i found online, it stated Before he or she could even collect the winnings consumer groups were demanding that the windfall be seized by the government. The winner has since gone into hiding, fearing the Mafia will come calling.............Maybe it's not the same exact case but it could be similar to that.
Money makes people do crazy things, so tell me IS IT WORTH IT?
[u]
I wont be able to give that quick reply like I used to because I am in the time now of studying for oncoming exams. But please leave your views. I will reply as soon as I can[/u]
[u]
I wont be able to give that quick reply like I used to because I am in the time now of studying for oncoming exams. But please leave your views. I will reply as soon as I can[/u]2 people like this
23 responses
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
29 Apr 11
Of course it is worth it!!! That is provided I win the lottery and win it big! I would not care about studying for my exams anymore because with the extra money, there are much more things I can do without the papers. Happiness in winning the lottery last maybe a moment but happiness as a result of goals achieved with help from free money last a lifetime.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
30 Apr 11
This is one thing I have learnt and it is a saying I heard from a millionaire himself. I think you should learn it as well. "If you think education is expensive, you should see how expensive stupidity is".
Seriously though I am kind of disappointed of you saying you would no longer study if you actually won that money. I feel you should still go through and continue on your path. Also I believe you can never learn enough so I just find it difficult why you would rather stop study.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
30 Apr 11
A good quote indeed 'you should see how expensive stupidity is'. I do agree that education is sort of important as it provides theoritical knowledge. However, the social university provides more practical knowledge. Give me two candidates of the same age - one a new graduate and the other a non-graduate but have working experience, I would take the one with the working experience. So do not be disappointed. Paper is only required in areas which recognises paper.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
Oh i get what you are saying. i think you are saying knowledge is nothing until you can apply it. SO going to school and getting the theoretical information will not put you closer to get a job than someone who actually had done the job already and know how to put his knowledge in practice.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
28 Apr 11
I rarely play the lottery but when I do it is the hopes that I at least get the $1 it cost me to play. lol
Personally if I was a winner the first thing is to learn how to manage the winnings. Not being totally monetarily rich in life I can say that I would not be so quick to spend it so quickly because I know I would not be lucky a second time around. Perhaps all the hard work in life has afforded me to be wiser in life. Sure I would get some much needed things but not frivolous things.
As for others trying to kill me and or sue me for it, well I wish them luck because a good guard dog would be on the watch 24/7 with that kind of earnings. lol, sorry I had to make light of the discussion because I hardly think I will ever win that kind of money. *sad*
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
9 May 11
lol, you just always seem to amuse me. lol. And I have to say that I see your aim when you say it is only to get back that which you have put in there. I would have to say that I would find it really hard to actually play the lottery because I would feel that every dollar I actually place in there could have went into a piggy bank, at least I would be sure of getting back my money in the end. Is it that I am actually mean with my money?
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
9 May 11
No not mean with money as it is not easy to earn that one dollar so if you do not win it is quite disappointing.
Me amusing? 
By the way we here at home dump all the change we get daily into a piggy bank and 2 - 3 times cash in and get $200 - $300 so best not play as the extra cash in the piggy bank saves us several times a year. 
By the way we here at home dump all the change we get daily into a piggy bank and 2 - 3 times cash in and get $200 - $300 so best not play as the extra cash in the piggy bank saves us several times a year. @Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Lol, but that is true, that small change that you would have been putting in trying to win a big amount a money could really add up to something big. Yup I agree that it is just best that we just put the money in a piggy bank and don't watch it too much and then in a matter of no time it will start to grow.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
30 Apr 11
Lotteries are only used to exploit the poor. Nobody who has money plays them, what's the point, even if you win you will have people wanting some of the money, they didn't win it but they think they are entitled to some of your good fortune. If I played the lottery and won several million dollars I would then buy one million dollars worth of lottery tickets for the next lottery guaranteeing I would win because I would increase my odds.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
30 Apr 11
I would have to say I find this rather interesting. i was kind of thinking the same thing. Have you ever thought of all the possibilities for winning the lottery and how much money it would co0st to purchase all those possibilities. if you know maths good then it will be real easy to calculate something like that. I am wondering if the money to buy all the possibilities is actually less than the prize money? What do you think?
@Loneliest1 (4)
• United States
2 May 11
well its probably less since the state taxes your A$$ before you get the money and they dont just give u one lump sum.... its actually a continual payment......
@celticeagle (160797)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Apr 11
Well there is always good with the bad. It is the person's responsibility if they chose to go buy a ticket. If Fate choses to lay all this other stuff on them then so be it. Money is always a problem. Either you don't have enough or you have alot and every one wants some of the action!
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
Yes that is true. It really is. May I ask though what if you were this lucky person. What if you were the one who won the money. What would you actually do with it, please think about it and be honest, dont just say anything that pops up into your head. Imagine you see a pants down the road, wouldn't you buy it? What about that sweet looking car, it looks magnificent doesn't it.
1 person likes this
@millertime (1394)
• United States
1 May 11
You are right when you say that sometimes it turns out badly for the person that wins all that money, but that's not always the case. I would wager that a lot more people have great improvements in their lives after hitting the lottery. It's not the money itself that is good or bad, it's what the person does with it and how they handle it. If nothing else, it would provide a lot of security for someone so they have the peace of mind of knowing they don't have to worry about money anymore. As long as they manage it right and don't go wild with spending, they are taken care of for the rest of their lives. I think it would be great to win and I know one thing for sure, I would really like to find out for myself! 
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
Now you imagine, you went to the bank today to draw out some money but is only 300 usd remains in the account. You cant draw out that because you might need it for emergencies so you leave the bank. SO you only have 300 usd in your name. You see a shirt that you want and a shoe you dont have money to buy that either. You pass your dream car in a mart, you cant even look at the price tag, you took a glimpse though. The figures on the tag you bought on a lottery ticket. You realize that you have won. You won 5 million usd. How would you feel what would you actually do with the money? Thing about the question carefully and dont just say anything that comes off the top of your head. Try your best to imagine it.
@Loneliest1 (4)
• United States
2 May 11
Well, you got a good point but another perspective to look at is that the persons who usually win the lottery are ...... not so...... uptodate...... meaning they are the ones who usally blow the money on crap..... look at the people in jamaica.... how often does someone win the lottery???? never... why? bcuz of the crime rate.... and the illiteracy among the people..... i can say this.... im jamaican and proud of it! separate from that... if a person .... say an accountant where to win the lottery they would invest or .... do what they do best.... account and i bet you compared to the average gambler... there money could last them a lifetime.... why? bcuz unlike the average gambler/consumer there is more to money than spending... which i figure is the main issue.... people overspend thinking of the lottery as a way to get rid of their issues.... an example of the guy who sent his daughter to this school he could never afford normally after he won the lottery..... the children at the school own private jets...... lol and he won the lottery..... transferred his daughter there..... total waste of money.... the education wasnt different just the environment and facilities provided..... and for the case of people coming to hunt them down..... look at the lady who won the lottery like four times.... nobodys gone to bust a cap in her A$$ for money yet....... really..... the mafia??? i dont think they go after innocent people.... only if u owe them or call in a favor or something... or is that just television? anyways.... is it worth it to win the lottery? if your a sensible person yes ... why? bcuz its an oppurtunity to further re-enforce your stance on life..... if ur not so sensible then just blow it.... u may never be that happy again..... NO DAY BUT TODAY AND TOMORROW ISNT PROMISED!
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
LOl, i love this response. Yup and I understand fully what you are saying. SO you are concluding that if you have sense it would also be good to win the money cause you could improve on it. And if you dont have sense it would still be good to win the money because you would be happy at least for a short time because you don't even know if there is a tomorrow.
@aprilsong (1884)
• China
29 Apr 11
Well, the reasons for so many unhappy endings of winning a lottery, in my opinion, are like these: they are rich so suddenly from poor, since it is the money they earned little by little, they can't get used to being rich, or don't know how to do with it.
second reason is some of them are mad and completely lose themselves after getting so much money. i do think such kind of get rich without one's work is a good thing.
another reason for bad result of winning a big money is because money let people expose their greedy sides. everyone has good sides and bad sides, it is often the case that money let one shows all his or her bad sides. we have seen this in so many stories. including Arabian Nights.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
I agree with what you are saying totally. Money do reveal terrible sides of people. People start to loose care of love ones because they know they have money which they can use to enjoy there self somewhere. They know they can use money to make others feel jealous. Oh and one more thing, they know they can use money so that people will want hunt them down and kill them. lol.
@animegirl334 (3263)
• United States
30 Apr 11
I also heard of the cases where people win the lottery and did not end up happy. I heard of a woman who won the lottery but then ended in a car crash right afterward. But then there was also an old lady who dreamed of the lottery numbers, went to buy the tickets, won and was happy. I don't think that winning the lottery guarantees happiness or unhappiness. Sometimes it has to do with luck, like maybe if too much luck is used to win the lottery then you don't have enough luck in other respects of life. Like Karma maybe. I don't really know these things but I think that life is difficult with or without money
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
I dont really believe in karma that much. Like you say an old woman win and his happy. Yes I expect her to actually be happy because she is not in the state to waste the money on foolishness. She wont buy a car because she cant drive etc. SO she wont be showing off to others and maybe the people around her might not even have an idea that she actually won the money. So she will be basically be happy. But for the other young people that is another story. They will tend to show off with everything, they will also want to buy new things just to get other people to envy them and then this is when everything start to turn out wrong.
@craftyhomebody (443)
• United States
30 Apr 11
having money is not every thing it doesnt make you happy yes it makes life
easier but you get boared because you have everything you want and if you
have money you do have alot of fake friends and to go do anything you get
stuck with the bill and if your single it makes you wonder does this man
love me for me or for my money so there is god sides and sad sides to having money
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
i agree with that as well. If you win some money the best place i think you can find honest friends is if you make friends who are already millionaires, people who might still be higher in status than you and have no reason for that money you have won. If you get what I am saying. To put it in other words, if you had one 1 million dollars, and you actually made friends with a person who have more than 600 million dollars in his bank account. It would easier to believe that he is your real friend because from the figures you might see that he really don't envy you for your money in no way so the only thing that may be keeping your relationship between you and him together is real and not fake in anyway, unless maybe he still want a hold of that money to make his money increase to 601 million. But then again real millionaires tend to seize every opportunity and will not even want to loose a dollar so I guess it all boils down back to you cant trust anyway. And being able to not trust anyone will bring pure stress and bad health in your life.
@titchy1231 (732)
•
29 Apr 11
in a way it is worth it but i would be careful with what i do with it if i won. i have heard that some people are unhappy when they have money, but i suppose it depends what you do with it. i would get what i need, house, car and maybe buy a holiday home abroad somewhere, then i dont know what i would do. i could buy some properties, do them up and sell or rent.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
30 Apr 11
You see the think about it is that when you get rich too quick, people tend to really envy you. You are still going to be in that society with your friends and family only difference is that you will have alot of money to spend. To major difference with people who make millions than win millions is that, the one who earn their money live in a similar environment themselves. So what will happen now is that, people from that environment will you see you as normal because that is there norm, to actually have money. While for people who win the cash, they will be in an environment of people of mostly of lower class. Now here is where the envy comes in. People will start to grudge you and here will comes the time where you cant really trust anyone. Not being able to trust anyone will start to put burdens on your shoulders, trust me.
@greenmachine45 (430)
• United States
29 Apr 11
I don't play the lottery too much every once in blue moon maybe a pull tab or scratch off but can't remember the last time I played those. Seems like years ago. I think a lot of money makes people become greedy. Those that can't manage their money get in over their heads with big houses and fancy cars. There was this guy who won like a half a million or maybe it was a mil anyway it was a whole lot of money more than they most likely will ever see in their lifetime. These people looked scruffy and they were griping because they didn't win the big one. But still they won enough to live comfortably heck if I won that kind of money I would probably be in awww or disbelief until it all sunk in but I surely wouldn't gripe and be disappointed winning more than I make in a year.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
30 Apr 11
LOl. I see what you mean. They now are just too greedy. I wish that the competition had in its fine print "greedy players get disqualified" Now i bet it would have hurt if they had to return all that money. You see in life there is a thing everybody should learn called satisfy. One should learn to satisfy with what they get because it could be possible that they did not get anything at all.
@mohdromly (165)
• Malaysia
29 Apr 11
For me ,what I see over my life I see people that around us can be a friend and enemy
depend on situation.My advice always share you happiness with old people at retirement house and beggers such as Bill Gates, and when you do all this things in your life and you will realise how harmony your life it is.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
I don't really get this. Could you explain more in details for me? It sounds really interesting but I really don't understand it. I get the part which says people are around you can be enemies or friends depending on the situation, but I don't get the part about Bill Gates.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
29 Apr 11
I think if you do good deeds and plan for the money to be used in good ways, then it would be worth it. If you are going to spend it unwisely, then no, it would be worthless.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
So what if you had won that money. What would you personally do with it? Seriously think about. Dont just say something. Think about it deeply before you answer. You have just collected the money and now the money is in the bank. You take a look in your account and saw that your balance was at 8 figures. hmmm? Be honest wouldn't you go buy that cheap pants down the road, after all that cheap pants money is practically negligible comparing to all that money.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
29 Apr 11
I don't buy lottery tickets BUT... I have won decent amounts (several hundred) off pull tabs or scratch tickets after spending only six dollars or less. Based on that, I should buy a lottery ticket once in awhile on the off chance I win something - even if that 'something' is just 3 dollars or 300 dollars and not 300 million dollars. Either way, I'd still likely walk away with more than I spent for the chance, right?
I think the key here is not to allow something like winning a lottery to CHANGE YOU. If I won something, I wouldn't change anything about myself. The people who become miserable count on winning to make them happy. They become embroiled in wasting it on all these *things* that aren't going to make a difference in the long run anyway, and quickly they become bored, dissatisfied, and unfulfilled all over again.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
Wow i see you have been a very lucky person. Maybe you should go buy that lottery ticket because luck i believe always run on your side. It is just amazing how you are lucky like that.
In your second paragraph I would have to say that I agree with you totally. If I also won I wouldn't change my life style in any way possible. I would just pay off anything that I might owe. I don't know yet as I have not have any children as yet but I feel if I did i would buy much more things for them so I guess their personal standards would have increased. But that is the most I would have ever done relating to improving my standards.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
28 Apr 11
After the governemnet takes their fair share of your wiinnigd, you don;'t have as much to spend or to save as you might think. In the end, all you gain is a few extra dollars. The lottery is a gamble. it can be fun but it won't make you rich.@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Well I agree to that in some extent. Well i agree that it wont make you rich at least not directly. It just put some cash in your pocket. I believe though winning the lottery is an OPPORTUNITY to get rich. Yes that is how I see it.
It is like this lets say you are a bit poor, but you are still surviving. You know it is possible to come out of that poor status but most of the times you need money TO BEGIN WITH. Notice I say to begin with because this money wont actually make you rich and because this money can disappear in the blink of an eye. It is what you do with the money that will actually take you out of that low status.
You should note that having some temporary money cant give you riches.
What actually give you riches is when you have a steady or increasing rate of HIGH income. That is it. So winning the lottery dont provide you with that steady rate. But you can use that money and actually get a steady rate for example investment. And that is one of the best things I see that should be done with the money. It is best in my eyes that you actually invest the money than waste it or give it away. Because after investing it you would have earned more that you can save and give away as please and you will still be receiving back.
That is why I fell in love with the saying: Dont waste money, Use money to make money.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
28 Apr 11
In a way yes, but in a bigger way no. I think that in the end, its not really worth it. Given some of the insane taxes that can potentially be off of lottery winnings, there is really not that much to be gained by winning the lottery. Not to mention that the more that you make in the lottery, the more that they take, so the more you don't have. That's discounting the fact that the chances of winning are perhaps one and a million.
Plus you might make all kinds of new friends, but for all of the wrong reasons. There are gong to be people who would never really give you the time of day, wanting to put their hand out, in an attempt to get their hands on some of your hard earned lottery winnings. The same thing with family members just really coming out of the wood work. So really there is too many headaches that come with winning the lottery. So no its not worth it.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
So you are one as well that think it is not worth. Well I know alot of pressure would increase on you. But I was thinking about it again the other day and i feel I would keep the money but not actually spend it. I would have invested it immediately and continue living my life just the way it is. That is actually the best way I actually see of doing things.
@lipstick2009 (1236)
• Philippines
29 Apr 11
That is why I don't want to win bigtime , 1 Million is enough for me so I can buy all i want which are simple ones.
I have always wanted to live a simple life and I am not the super ambitious one who would work hard for money like an oxen. If other people are like that, and it makes them feel good about it then I have nothing to say against what they are doing.
But being ambitious takes a toll on one's health, cause u got all the stress and the tension and that causes sickness.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
You see this is the problem right here. You are going to end up buying one cheap thing, then it move up to two then three then four and it continues. By the quint of an eye the money will be finished and all wasted.
I believe that winning that kind of money is an opportunity to be rich, just an opportunity. And taking advantage of this opportunity depends on what actually you do with the money. If you spend it like that you will end up loosing it all. I believe you should use that money to make more, if you get what I mean. I am talking about investing. If you actually invest that money then you will end up getting a steady rate of income from that money alone rather than wasting the entire money on some few little things which will not build up on the money. Well that is how I see things and I guess people are so different to now see things my way.
@sfleric (83)
• China
29 Apr 11
Most of us may envy those who won a great number of money from the lottery.
But it is ironic that few of them have a happy ending.
The unexpected gain drives them lose their mind.
There are so many examples showing their pathetic living conditions after they spend all the money at a surprising speed you can not imagine or the money breaks former harmonious relationship in between their family members.
So I think it not a good attitude to pay much attention to the lottery.
Sometimes I would buy one ticket just for fun.
@Renhard (3471)
• Jamaica
12 May 11
I totally agree with what you said about the money coming unexpectedly drives them lose their mind. And There are so many problems that might actually arise by this sudden gain of money.
So you say you would buy on ticket for fun. SO what if that one ticket was the lucky one? What if you had actually won the money? What if it was 2 million dollars. What would you actually do with the money?
