02 April 2014

Money Buys Happiness and Discontent

Everyone has it in the back of their mind what they would do if they won the lottery.  Quit their job, buy their dream car, go on vacation.  You hear about the people that win hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery and think that they are just set for life.  My wife and I always have that conversation of what would we do if we won that kind of money when they show on the news the people that win those multimillion dollar jackpots.  Think of what you could do with that kind of money.  The possibilities are endless.  There is also the bad side to winning the lottery I assume.  
What would you fear most if you won the lottery?
 Every once in a while, we stop and watch the show 'The Lottery Changed My Life' (or whatever it is called).  We talk about what we could and would do when they highlight the people that win the multimillion dollar jackpots.  It starts out with good intentions.  Paying of credit cards, student loans, investing for the future.  Donate to organizations we care about.  Then the question comes up as to what would happen after that.  Because we don't have enough debt to cover as much as some of these people win.  Would we continue to work?  I think so.  I couldn't handle not doing anything for the rest of my life.  Granted, some vacation time would happen first.  And we sure as hell wouldn't work full time.  You know, work twenty hours a week at a low stress job.  Maybe volunteer some time at a museum.  Then the question comes up as to where would we live?  Would we stay in Minnesota?  Move back home to Michigan?  I suggest living out in the middle of nowhere, but that idea gets shot down every time. 

That is all well and good, and actual things to consider, but what about the downside to coming into a lot shit ton of money?  I would fear moving to a small area, like our hometown, because news like that spreads faster than the clap in a frat house.  You don't want to think about this, but crime happens in small towns.  And when news that a multimillionaire moves into town, what do you think would happen?  You also have to be aware of 'friends' that you are making.  You would have the friends that you have had since forever ago and I don't think you would have to worry about them, but when people that wouldn't give you the time of day back in high school wants to hang out all the time, you might want to take time to think about that.  These sound like dire thoughts, but they have to be considered.  You don't want to be taken advantage of.  The obvious answer to this situation is not to publicize the fortune that has fallen upon you.  In order to do that, I would think that you would have to keep up appearances.  Like having a job, not driving around in a flashy new car, not buying the biggest house on the block. 

Being robbed is obviously something to fear if you ever to win the lottery.  But something more so is people wanting to take advantage of you.  Winning the lottery isn't something that happens every day.  People would take notice.  You can only control so much.  Don't throw out many flags and you might possibly avoid some of these situations.  But most likely you won't in which case you can deal with them.  No one forced you to play the lottery.  You have to deal with the consequences. 

25/120

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