SavvySugar

I'm Asking: What's Your Lotto Dream?

SavvySugar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:00:49 -0800

Picture yourself on a boat on a river. Or a private island. Or in a Manhattan penthouse with a Carrie-closet filled with shoes. We all have a lotto fantasy, but when it comes down to it, most of you say you'd still work if you won a pot of gold.

What's your big lotto dream when you're fighting through a rough week or pondering what it would be like to be unconcerned with finances? Would you buy out the block, go back to school, buy your mom a new home, or slip away to a quiet paradise?

How The Amazing Race Winners Are Spending Their $1 Million

SavvySugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:30:10 -0700

California lawyers Victor and Tammy Jih form the brother-sister team who won The Amazing Race 14, and are now $1 million richer. When asked about the first thing they'd do with the million, Tammy responded:

I took my entire law school education out in loans so I will be paying that back. It would have taken me 10 years of working to pay those back so it will be nice to not be saddled with such an enormous debt. I have been coveting a pair of black peeptoe Christian Louboutins.

Victor will also use a portion of his share to pay down debt. What would you do with a $1 million prize?

Source

Happy News! A Group of Teachers Wins the Lottery

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:49 -0800

In these tough economic times, there's one group of teachers that doesn't have to worry about making ends meet. Fifteen educators in Shasta County, CA hit the $76 million jackpot on Monday!

The team of administrators, teachers, a school nurse, and a psychiatrist have been playing the same numbers for seven years. The winning assistant principal said he's happy to see people who chose careers in education finally strike it rich.

Since a basic understanding of statistics would keep most from playing the lottery, I'm assuming this group doesn't include any math teachers!

And the school won't need to hire an entire new staff right away at least. Most of the winners say they plan to keep their day jobs!

Source

State Lotteries No Longer Recession-Proof

SavvySugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:30:14 -0800

Slim odds have prevented many of us from playing the lottery, and now the economy has more Americans resisting the urge to put $5 on the Super Lotto. With retirement savings down the drain and an uncertain job market, people aren't as willing to take a chance on the lottery.

Nationwide, state lottery sales fell about $215 million in the past few months compared to the same time last year. More specifically, they're down by about 10 percent in California and 4 percent in Texas. John W. Kindt, a gambling critic and business professor at the University of Illinois, said the decline in lottery sales "is an unusual phenomenon." Previously, state lotteries have not been affected by economic recessions.

While it's positive that Americans are being more cautious with their spending, the government programs that typically benefit from lottery sales will receive less money than in recent years. Education programs are the most common recipients of lottery proceeds - in states like CA and TX, these programs have seen about $1 billion in funding from lottery sales alone.

Source

I'm Asking: Would You Still Work If You Won the Lottery?

SavvySugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:00:28 -0700

I've fantasized about winning the lottery, especially on particularly tough days at work, but when it comes down to it I think that I'd still want to work after picking lucky numbers. When ilanac13 commented that it's hard to say whether or not her job is fulfilling but that she'd still work if she won the lottery, it made me curious to see how the rest of you would handle the situation. Would you keep your job, find another one that you'd like better and not have to worry about the salary, or quit altogether?

Source

Most Lottery Winners Blow Prizes in a Few Years: Surprising?

SavvySugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:30:34 -0700

We're constantly discussing preparation for the future around here - which doesn't mean we wouldn't know how to put a large amount of cash to use immediately - but I'd like to think most of us would use foresight and take steps to keep much of that money stored away in a safe place.

It seems that I've been giving people the benefit of the doubt, because I was surprised to learn that 70 percent of lottery winners and those who receive large amounts of cash from lawsuits and the like spend their stash within just a few years! Does this surprise you, too?

Source

Man Wins Lottery - and His Church Shuns Huge Donation

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:30:31 -0700

The chances of winning the lottery rely on a lot of prayer and the immutable laws of statistics, but one such lucky soul bagged a jackpot, and couldn't even give the winnings away. A Florida Lottery jackpot winner took home more than 6 million in cash and was hoping to follow his religion’s tithe commandment - offering 10 percent of his winnings to his church. Unfortunately, his church wanted no part of this money and refused to say exactly why they turned down the $600,000 donation, though many churches don't approve of the lottery or gambling in general.

Other churches, who caught wind of the story were amazed. “I’m against the lottery, but if one of my members won. . . . I wish and hope he would give 10 percent to the church,” said Pastor Dr. Lorenzo Hall of the El-Beth Divine Holiness Church. “We are in the process now of building a youth center, and you would be surprised at the people that can be helped with $600,000.” Hall adds he wouldn't ask where a donation came from and would welcome the lucky-lotto-man's donation anytime.

When it comes to giving back, does it matter where the dough comes from?

The Unenthused Millionaire Lotto Winners Are Ba-ack!

GiggleSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0700

You may not remember - cuz you were too busy prying your sleep heavy eyes open - but we met this duo yesterday. Robert and Tanya Harris were the big-time lotto winners (think: hundreds of millions of dollars) who appeared on The Today Show and couldn't contain their ~~excitement~~ buzzkill over this life-altering win. He quit his job and she's getting a brand new luxury car, but neither of them could muster up the will to feign enthusiasm and crack a smile. So how are these thrill seekers gonna blow their money? Let's check back in.

Unenthused Couple Wins Millions in Lottery

GiggleSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Robert and Tanya Harris live a modest life in a farming town in Georgia, so imagine their ~~surprise~~ indifference upon discovering that the lotto ticket in their possession was worth $270 million dollars. Winning the jackpot means no more hard hats and no more tools for Robert; he's free to live a life of leisure! Naturally, homeboy is ~~jumping for joy~~ pouting and frowning. Tanya can finally get the Mercedes of her dreams, so she's as ~~elated~~ nonchalant as ever. It's an ~~extraordinary~~ mediocre story of ~~good~~ average fortune, really.

Your Two Cents: Do You Play the Lottery?

SavvySugar — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:06:22 -0800

After a frustrating day at work, many of you have probably said something along the longing lines of, "If only I could win the lottery." But in reality, how many of you actually play the odds?

Source