I’d Be Happy with Any of Them
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
United States
July 29, 2016 3:30pm CST
I happened to see a bit of the morning news earlier today. It was an accident, since I am off the news as of last month. I feel great about that too. But, back to this morning; I noticed one of the three lotteries in California is now over $400 million. That got my attention.
I have a “rule”. I don’t really play the lottery unless it is somehow brought to my attention. Then I think, perhaps, it is the universe, God or Mother Nature trying to send me a message. What is that message? Go buy a ticket. It’s your turn to win.
Of course this might just be nonsense (so far the most I have won is $2.00), but I can afford the $4.00 that buying one ticket for each of the three games costs me. I drove over to the cute little neighborhood market where I usually buy my tickets right after I saw the announcement.
I have a plan for the money, of course. I think being organized means I am less likely to be thrown for a loop if something good or bad happens. I plan for both, just in case. So, if I win $20 million on one of the games, or the $288 million from the other, or even the big one at over $400 million, I know where the money would go.
One thing it would mean is that my possible “cruising my retirement” blog and YouTube channel would be about me cruising in a suite instead of a lower cost cabin.
Do you plan for the worst and hope for the best or just let life happen? How’s that working out for you so far?
25 people like this
26 responses
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
29 Jul 16
I plan on a short time basis these last years. I have a cancer on remission, but noone knows. I cannot plan there, not for the worst (my children will know what to do) nor for the best on a long time basis. So I try to have fun NOW.
5 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
29 Jul 16
Good idea. Good luck with your continued remission!!!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Jul 16
I do some of both and the results are okay for now. I will be checking out lottery tickets this afternoon too.
4 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
If it happens to be my turn to win. You will hear the cheers all the way from down here. 
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
29 Jul 16
Great. Good luck. The first step, of course, is to see a tax attorney, not just an accountant, but someone who really gets the tax laws.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
It helps when there are two of you. I know that expenses do not double if the number of people in the household doubles, so being single means having less for fun stuff. My life is pretty easy now, but would be much richer if I was a couple. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
30 Jul 16
I was just thinking of the lottery today. I rarely buy a ticket, but like you, every so often I think maybe i should. Now that you have mentioned it, it may be my time. :-)
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
31 Jul 16
@jillybean1222 I find it so silly when people talk about the odds of winning. They come up with some astronomical number. I don't think that's the case at all. For the winner, it's 100% certainty. For the rest, it's zero. This is, of course, as long as they buy a ticket, but only one is necessary. 
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I think the winner is not picked in the way others think. They feel it is like a game of darts. The more tickets you buy, the more likely you will win. I don't think so. I think the winner's name is on the dart. You only need one ticket. If it is your turn, you win. If not, you don't.
1 person likes this
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
30 Jul 16
We love dreaming about winning the lottery too, all the great things we could do for our loved ones.
3 people like this
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
1 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace that's an awesome idea.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Aug 16
@lilnana1111 Yes, thanks, and I would absolutely adore doing it.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I have divided my winnings into five equal parts. One of them is what others would call charity. I would love to give every German or French teacher in California $5K to make it possible for them to travel to the countries where French and German are spoken. I know how important that is. But teachers are so poorly paid, that keeping up to date is tough. I would love to help them do this every three years, which would make their teaching so much more effective.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
Exactly. Those of us who plan ahead, can just forget about it.
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Jul 16
I guess I do a bit of all of 'em! We've got to plan for the worst - it's possible that unforeseen things can happen at any moment. We hope for the best because it wouldn't help to live with a negative attitude. I do like letting life happen, but while being prepared anyway. I think it's working out for the most part, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement with anything . . . and of course winning the lottery would help with that tremendously 
!
!2 people like this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace I know you've done quite well for yourself in your retirement! But winning the lottery would certainly be the cherry on top!
But winning the lottery would certainly be the cherry on top!1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I think we have the same attitude. I planned well, and have no real worries, but lottery winnings would let me do lots of charity and help others while increasing the level at which I live (which is actually pretty good already).
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
5 Aug 16
@much2say It certainly would allow me to help more people than I can now. It would also allow me to dial it up a notch in my personal plans.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I always expect the best except when it comes to Power ball. We bought one ticket just in case but I am not spending it yet lol
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace lol Like everyone else I do a little thinking about all the good things I could do with the money, honestly I don't want or need anything but to be free from any concern about money would be nice wouldn't it? I would probably give away 90% and enjoy the heck out of the other 10%
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
Spend it in your head. It is a very small amount of money for so much fun.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
See a tax attorney. Hire a manager for the big bucks, and tell everyone you have no control over how it is spent. This is one time where lying is a good idea.
@Juliaacv (48420)
• Canada
30 Jul 16
@ElizabethWallace If I could cash it in on better health, then I'd be in line for the tickets also. Otherwise I'm content with what we have, like most people.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
31 Jul 16
@Juliaacv I think most people would love to have enough money to give to the needy, but don't really have that luxury due to their finances.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
My life is paid for too, but I certainly would enjoy having more disposable income.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I love that, get agitated only when there is a reason.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 16
I don't know about cruising you could buy your own cruiser for that and still have change! Fingers crossed!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
Yes, but that would mean stress. I prefer to let others own and handle the stress. I would rather just pay my way.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Jul 16
No I don`t really plan for good or bad. Some months I have and some months I don`t.
I would love to win any money because I would buy me a new life.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
It would only elevate mine, not change it all that much. Instead of cruising in an inside cabin, I would get a suite. I would, however, change the lives of others. I would lift them up. They need it more than I do.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
30 Jul 16
I have bought lotteries a couple times and used to counted my chickens before they announced winners.Needless to say, I got nothing .Now I don't want to get the windfall .
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
I look at it as very cheap ($4.00 in my case) entertainment. I have lots of fun spending the money in my head. Where else can you get weeks of fun for so little?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace - I always hope for the best and plan for the worst. I've never won a lottery ... but one never knows!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 Aug 16
Small price to pay for the entertainment of thinking about it, as long as we only buy one of each.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
30 Jul 16
I wish you much good luck I hope you win. I did plan for my retirement and can happily say hubby and I are doing just fine.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Jul 16
Imagine if you only had one income. I planned well, but there is only one of me. This limits what I can do. Two do live cheaper than one. One often pays double.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Aug 16
@ElizabethWallace Yes I do know that, although I haven't worked in 15 years, so we only had one income. My husband retire 2 years ago.
