I totally lost the lottery. And yes, I totally cried.
I had never really got into the whole lottery thing, especially not the big drawings. I think I bought a scratcher when I turned 18 just as a right of passage, but nothing other than that. I heard someone mention that the Jackpot had got up to a whole whopping $235 million dollars or something crazy like that. So later that day when I stopped to get gas, I snagged a Powerball ticket for $2. Couldn't hurt right?
I got to thinking about all the things I could do with such money as that. Sadly, the first thing I thought was, "Wow! No more student loan debt!" (2017 is just great, isn't it?) Just daydreaming about owning a decent home, getting a new car, and being able to afford groceries had me drooling for days. Then I really got to thinking: I would never have to work anymore. There were so many possibilities that I came up with. I got pretty into it, going so far as to make a note in my phone documenting precisely how much money my family members would get, how much I would need for a house and cars, how much I would donate, and how much I'd have left over. (It was fun to pretend, okay?!) So, I came up with the top five practical things I would do if I won the lottery (since people only talk about the rich stuff they'd do).
1. Pay Off Student Loans... And Quit School.
I got some serious heat for this one. "You have all the money you'd need for school, so why drop out?!" And I get that. I have the opportunity for higher education, why not go for it? Well, because I really don't like school. I feel like one of the few who doesn't enjoy school specifically because I don't see myself as a career type. I don't want to be a CEO or a business tycoon. I want to be a stay at home parent, number one. If I have unlimited money, I wouldn't need to go to work ever again, therefore I wouldn't need to get a degree for that higher paying job. I'd stay home and do my best to build a wonderful family centered atmosphere. Also, I'd much rather learn about the world through travel, not in the classroom. HOWEVER, I would gladly pay the tuition for any family member who would like to go to school because I think that higher education should be available for those who truly want it.
2. Donate My Car And Get A New One
My car is a clunker. I love Miss B and she's gotten me to lots of places, but if I can be driving around in style, I would be. My AC might not work and I don't have an up to date stereo, (no aux port, GASP!) but she runs. I know a lot of kids who are working but can't afford a car. So I'd look for someone who works hard and deserves one, and I would give them mine. I'd rather give it to someone who needs it than scrap it all together. I think I'd go to the local high school and speak with teachers about which student they believe needs the car the most and who truly deserves and offer an essay competition in which students can explain why they think themselves or a classmate deserves a new vehicle. It's a tough world, we need to stick together.
3. Invest and Save
Obviously, I don't want to blow it all in a month. I would set some aside in an emergency fund, in case anyone were to get sick or something were to happen. You can never be too careful. I would set up savings accounts for my future children for school and weddings. I'd try to put as much away as I can because again, it's better safe than sorry. Since I wouldn't be working, I would like to invest some money just to see if I could multiply it. At the rate of inflation, I'd like to leave some money to kids and grandkids if at all possible. You'd have to pay taxes on investments, but if it's done right, you'll still be making money.
4. Share With Friends And Family
People always joke that "Oh, don't forget me if you win that lottery!" And I think they are right. If you have the wealth and you have a family that is loyal to you, why not help them out? I know quite a few people who'd betting a house or a car, and if the cash prize is upwards of $200,000,000; a decent car or house is just a drop in the bucket!
5. Donate
I come from a close-knit community and I can think of a few families that could use the lottery much more than I could. I like to think about how J.K. Rowling lost her billionare status by donating that much money to charity. There are lots of foundations that need help, or places you can donate money that go right into research that bypass charity organizations. I also like the idea of making a scholarship fund because I know how much I apprecited those after graduating highschool.
Winning the lottery could just help so many people, I think. So I'd like to get everyone else all fixed up and then I would definitely treat myself. It's such a fun thing to think about, and honestly, it just makes me want to work harder so I can provide all of those things without relying on a lottery ticket to do so. Happy Powerball!
PS. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLEY AND SEEK HELP IF YOU HAVE AN ADDICTION.
