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Scratch-off lottery tickets are my gambling vice of choice. I got hooked early. I’d get scratch-offs in birthday cards and in my Christmas stocking. When I was about 12, I won $100 bucks. I thought I was hot shit that day at the comic book store. Almost like I was ordering the finest wine with dinner.
“Spider-Man. 1960’s vintage. Preferably something with a hint of Doc Ock.”
With the Mega-Millions recently hitting $325 million the wife has been pushing me to buy regular lottery tickets. I’ve never been a fan of the straight up guessing game involved in lottery but with a chance at that much cash I had to take a shot. Obviously, nothing. Two people finally won, including a guy from the Bronx.
The more I think about one or two individuals winning such a huge amount of money, the more I think it would be awful. Here is why….
1) Say goodbye to friends- I’m catching hell for this one but it’s the honest truth. Sure you’d love to stay friends with everyone in your life, but now that you’re a millionaire, every personal relationship in your life will change. Your opinion of people will change along with people’s opinion of you. Some friends will be jealous, some envious and some will just flat out hate you. Of course some friends will try and act exactly the same but you’re new lifestyle will cause a rift. They can’t exactly jet set around the world at a moment’s notice or move to the mega-mansion next door. The contact will be less each day. Good job jerk. Way to alienate all the people that put up with you when you were broke.
2) Say hello to the opportunists- Find just a hint of success and they come slithering out of the woodwork; the study partner from 7th grade, the booty call from college, the guy who got coffee the same time as you every morning at Wawa. People that spent mere moments in your life come running back. With the advent of social networks like Facebook and Twitter it would be even easier to find you. None of these people really want to be your friend. It would also be even hard meeting new people. Are they just being nice because you’ve got a huge dollar sign on your chest? (Seriously, burn that sweater. You aren’t Richie Rich.) It would be hard to decipher the genuine new friend from the gold digger. Your old friends would help you decide but you had to go and alienate yourself didn’t you Uncle Pennybags.
3) Say goodbye to motivation- Let’s take me for example; my goal is to be a published author. I think it will happen someday but I’m also a wild-eyed optimist (I get that from my dad–the wild eyes, not the optimism). If I hit the jackpot for a couple hundred million, where is my motivation to work hard? I’d just call every publishing company (fine, my assistant would) and say “Hey, riddle time publisher person. What’s got two thumbs, $200 million dollars and a dumb book idea? THIS GUY!! (thumbs are pointing at me for this example–guess this is really more of a visual joke but you catch the vibe). Chances are I’d have a deal in minutes. Even if I didn’t I’d just write the damn book, self-publish for pocket change and peddle it around until it finds a home on the best seller list (thanks to me buying all available copies). It’s like pressing the Staples Easy Button. Where is the motivation for anyone to work hard with millions in the bank? Liar. No you wouldn’t. Just stop.
4) Say goodbye to the life you knew- Life will never be the same. Ever. You could try and keep things normal. You could put all the money in a sock drawer and live in the same house, keep the same job, and try to keep life the way you know it. Never happen. Money changes everything. You might love your house but you’re going to upgrade. You might like your job but why put up with the stress? From the moment that massive check is cashed (I’d ask to keep that massive check too–hang it in the living room over the mantle) the life you know is gone. Of course, this wouldn’t matter if you hated your life.
Think I’m wrong? Do an online search for “former lottery winners” and I’ll bet you find more sob stories than Lifetime in prime time.
If you think I’m wrong, feel free to leave comments.
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There is actually a show on TLC or something like that called “The Lottery Changed My Life”. One woman actually said she wouldn’t wish winning the lottery on her worst enemy! Seeing the bad side was interesting…I’d still like the chance to see for myself, though!
I’m telling you, it’s would suck. I’d settle for like 50K. Enough to pay the bills.
You only say that because you know you have ice waters chance in hell of ever winning. I would gladly take all of those problems.
You see right through me sir….
Winning the Mega Millions would probably suck. I live in Jersey and their website suggests if you win a very large prize, you should stay in a hotel and away from friends and family for like 2 weeks or so. Oh yea, that will do it. Try the rest of your life with long lost cousins asking you to invest in an ostrich farm.
Woah woahhhhh…No one mentioned an ostrich farm. I’m in!
i thought internet bloggers didn’t have friendsk though?
We have friends AND can spell check.
Oohhhh BURN!
Imagine all the internet stalky girls that would be jockin’ you on the reg. Mr. POPULARITY!!!
ha.
Yes, but I want that chance. I’d buy an island and security. People are overrated anyway LOL
Show off!
dead on chris. id rather have my true friends and family then all the bucks in the world. and that is the truth. (wait a min, how much we talking here?…. no
no no… in our society bucks= happiness. not true. look at any newspaper or tabloid. Im happy with what little I got, and am willing to share. I like prime rib and a beer. but I don’t want a tanker truck of beer an a herd of cattle, enouugh is as good as feast. be well, Chris.
well, maybe a small slice of that German choclate cake, since i alredy ate the 12oz cut of prime rib. What the hell. love your wife/mate and friends . those are the true treasures you might find. tom
but when you cash in, like king,koontz, dickens, poe or clemmons, keiior, let me be your agent/advisor? i mean, its an over night thing aint it? like woulk or uris or jk . even a one hit wonder like bram stoker or mary shelly or marget mitchell or General Lew Wallace that wrote Ben -Hur. ( now there is song/tune that sticks in your head). just saying. thanks chris. tom
Okay, the only reason people’s lives get ruined from the lottery is, only dummies ever win the lottery! I have everything planned that I would do with my money if I ever won (not likely, since I’ve bought maybe 5 $1 tickets in my lifetime). I have no desire to spend a lot of money because saving money is more fun, so the only thing I would really need a decent amount of money would be to travel the world and finish my education. As for losing my friends, if I won the lottery, there would only be a couple of people in my life I would like to keep around, anyway. And I wouldn’t mind sharing with them. The rest are bums, and maybe I could just pay them off or buy the courage to tell them to get lost!
Regardless, you’d be better off to just pretend you were playing the lottery and putting your dollars in a savings account. In the end, you actually win.
Chris, Chris, my young friend, you need a guidieing hand on your finances. for mere 35k retainer, I would be happy to manage that for you. Hold on, I got another call comming in from my cousin Bernnie in Butner NC….
Конечно, на самом-то деле так оно и есть.
Совсем недавно попал на Ваш блог, теперь каждый вечер захожу глянуть, не написали ли чего новенького.
К сожалению только Вы не каждый день Ваш сайт обновляете 