Long Hollow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Did You Get Yours?

Nov 12-0051

 

I bought a Powerball Lottery ticket today. It had been so long, I wasn't even sure how to do it, but the nice kid behind the counter was very helpful. 

I'm not sure why I decided to throw my numbers into that hat. I know what the odds of winning are (ridiculous!) but in all honesty, I have a better chance of winning the lottery than writing a million-dollar bestseller or having a screenplay turned into a real movie.

And since that whole "real job" thing isn't panning out the way I hoped, what the heck?

So I bought my ticket and have spent the afternoon thinking positive and compiling a list of what I'll do with the money. First, I'll pay off all of our loans and relish being debt-free. (Whew! That feels good!)

Then, if there's anything left…

Ha! Just joking. We're in deep, but not $360,200,000 deep, which is the estimated cash value we'd, I mean, we will receive. I opted for cash payout rather than spreading it out over 30 years. Geez, I probably won't be alive in 30 years!

Anyway, back to the rest of my list:  

  • I'll buy Tom a dependable car, so his weekends are free again (for playing ping-pong!)
  • I would buy the materials to finally finish this house (and hire the people to do it, if Tom would let me!) 
  • I'll replace our 26 year-old couch.
  • I'll hire someone to stay with my parents and fix up their 50+ year-old house, or find them another place to live. Whichever they preferred.
  • I'll donate money to my church to help build a new Parish Activity Center, with plenty of classrooms and meeting rooms.
  • I'll travel. There's so much of the world I haven't seen yet, including Disney World and California!
  • I'll donate, and donate, and help out.
  • Okay, yes, I'll buy myself a new camera and a couple of lenses I've had my eye on.

 

What I won't do:

  • Buy a big new house or expensive cars or clothes or jewelry or anything extravagant.


The thing is, except for getting out from under that debt-weight and a new couch and a good car for Tom, I don't need anything. My life is pretty dang awesome the way it is. Heck, if we could just get out from under our debt, I wouldn't mind keeping the old couch!

If you win tonight (if you bought a ticket) what will you do?

 

 

 

 

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12 responses to “Did You Get Yours?”

  1. Ms. A Avatar
    Ms. A

    Nope, I didn’t buy one. I’m better off keeping the dollars I have, instead of spending my dollars on the ones I’ll never get. LOL!

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  2. Lissa @ lafcustomdesigns Avatar
    Lissa @ lafcustomdesigns

    You are soooo much more positive about winning the lottery. I always figured it was like throwing money in the nearest trash can. I think I’ve bought one ticket in my whole life! The good thing is you’ve made a list of things that are important to you. I recently wrote a list of what I’d do with the money I make if, oops, I mean when I get a job. ;-> Some of the same things … pay off the debt, new furniture (still using Mom and Dad’s 45 year old chairs), put a “real” fence on the fourth side of my yard, and a few other things that aren’t coming to mind right now.
    I wish the luck anyway! ;->

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  3. Lisa Gordon Avatar
    Lisa Gordon

    I didn’t buy one. 😦
    Gosh I cannot even conceive of that much money, let alone how to spend it.
    I’m not sure I would really do anything different.
    Gods luck to you!!!

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  4. lisleman Avatar
    lisleman

    First off I enjoy a little bit of gambling. More than a year ago since I tossed the dice (which is my favorite type). It is definitely an activity than should not be overdone. From reading your blog I doubt there is any problem with it. I didn’t buy any tickets but I learned my daughter joined a group at school. When you win – one of the first calls – not the first I know – but an early call should be to a lawyer to set up the right type of arrangement regarding taxes and such.

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  5. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I don't think I'd do anything different, either. But getting that debt off our backs would be nice, and I think it's going to take winning the lottery to do it! Sigh.

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    That list is also the one I made for if, I mean, when I get a job. Or sell my book. Or my screenplay. I'm beginning to think the odds are about the same for all of them!! 🙂

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  7. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    That's why I haven't bought one in almost 20 years! 

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I know four high school classmates who were smart enough to stay in school and get their law degrees, so that shouldn't be a problem! In general, I don't like gambling. The one and only time I went to Vegas, I stuck to the nickel slots, except for a couple of games of BlackJack, then spent the rest of my time by the pool or going to shows. I confess I had a ball at a company Christmas party once where they gave us fake money and let us gamble. I won big at craps. But only because it wasn't my money I was tossing down!

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  9. Jennifer Richardson Avatar
    Jennifer Richardson

    i love your list:)
    i would absolutely love to be able to
    make your wish list come true!
    i think that would be the biggest kick
    about having money…..the making dreams
    come true part.
    i wish you loads of prosperity
    in every way it can find you,
    Jennifer

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    I agree with you – I'm always torn because I want to donate and give, but when you're so broke, you have to pull back a little on those impulses. Sigh.

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  11. Agnes Avatar
    Agnes

    Which camera & lenses would you buy Barbara?

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar
    Barbara Shallue

    Oh, gosh, Agnes, you just set my head spinning just thinking about it! There's a new Nikon D600 that is supposed to be great, but I'm hearing that it has a serious dust-on-the-sensor issue. So I'd probably get a Nikon D700. The DX lenses I have now would fit on it, but they would actually have a drop in resolution, so I'd have to start over, probably beginning with a 50mm 1.4, a 70-200 2.8, and a 24-70 2.8. And I'd toss a speedlight into the basket (sb900). Whew, that was fun!! Thanks!!

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