|
|
Lottery winner doesn’t live like a millionaire
After the Big Win: Lottery winner doesn’t live like a millionaire
When Pat Fossum describes her day, it doesn't sound like the lifestyle of a millionaire. "We get up in the morning, feed the animals, go to work, work until 5 or sometimes midnight and then go home to bed," said Fossum, who won $1 million in a Powerball drawing in October. The Lennox mother and business owner said the winnings haven't really changed her and her family, and she doesn't expect they will. Fossum became the sixth-largest lottery winner in South Dakota's history after she bought a ticket at a Sunshine Food store and matched the five white balls but not the red Powerball. She had taken advantage of a new feature known as Power Play. The Power Play featured a multiplier of five, so rather than winning $200,000 she took home $1 million. Mike Mueller of the South Dakota Lottery office said her good fortune also spurred a trend. Sales of the Power Play feature have increased 44 percent since she won. Fossum, 53, said she always has watched her money closely and that won't change even if she could splurge a little now. "I've had to. I never had a whole lot of money. My dad worked hard for everything he had, my mom worked, and I've worked since I was 6 years old," she said. When her mom worked in a Canton restaurant, young Fossum would tag along and act as a waitress for customers who got a kick out of their young server. Fossum opened Seam Designs, an embroidery shop, in Lennox in 1996 and said she never has considered giving up her business and taking it easy. She expects to keep working until she's of age to draw Social Security. There are benefits to her windfall, however. She and her husband, Steve, have paid their bills and no longer have a mortgage. She hasn't accumulated a lot of stuff for herself, her three daughters or her four grandchildren. Fossum said the other residents of Lennox have been full of congratulations for her and don't treat her any differently than they did before her win. "They've just been thrilled for us," she said. Although several months have passed, Fossum said the win still hasn't sunk in. "Sometimes I sit and think, 'Wouldn't it be great to be a millionaire?' " Then she remembers.
Sioux Falls Argus Leader
We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums.
If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment.
21 comments. Last comment 4 years ago by .
Coastal Georgia United States Member #2703 October 30, 2003 1868 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 9:58 am - IP Logged |
|
Very good head on her shoulders, unlike so many we have witnessed.
|
|
|
baton rouge United States Member #11000 January 26, 2005 24 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 10:40 am - IP Logged |
|
live normally , does money make your head get big, it depends who it is
|
|
|
USA United States Member #1883 July 15, 2003 269 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 2:03 pm - IP Logged |
|
Worked since she was 6 years old? That sounds like a bit of an exgeration to me? Some of us myself included have worked since we were young but I never heard anyone say 6 years old. Other than that statement they sound like a good, responsible bunch which is good to hear.
|
|
|
Sparta, NJ United States Member #18644 July 9, 2005 1977 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 2:17 pm - IP Logged |
|
She was probably refering to "chores" around the house, gathering eggs from the hen house, picking berries from the bushes, etc.; not digging ditches. Farm children do that type of work as soon as they can walk without help. It is how farm live works. Computers and spoiled parents didn't exist in that evironment. 
|||::> *'`*:-.,_,.-:*''*:--->>> Chewie <<<---.*''*:-.,_,.-:*''* <:::|||
I only trust myself - and that's a questionable choice
|
|
|
United States Member #623 August 25, 2002 205 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 2:25 pm - IP Logged |
|
Worked since she was 6 years old? That sounds like a bit of an exgeration to me? Some of us myself included have worked since we were young but I never heard anyone say 6 years old. Other than that statement they sound like a good, responsible bunch which is good to hear. If she comes from a farming community, I can easily see her doing age appropriate work/chores. I know that I was paid my first wage at age 7 for tending cows so they wouldn't leave our lane. I also had non paying chores that I had to do like filling the woodbox, gathering eggs, fetching a bucket of water, etc. I play to dream and dream of winning a major jackpot!
|
|
|
USA United States Member #1883 July 15, 2003 269 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 2:32 pm - IP Logged |
|
point well taken, I was thinking differently. Family farm work is one thing while working for someone else is another. Cheers,
|
|
|
Pennsylvania United States Member #17377 June 10, 2005 1302 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 2:40 pm - IP Logged |
|
This is going way back in the day, yet I recall one of my first grade classmates being a paperboy with his older brother. They would take turns on the routes in our city. So , yes its feasible to be working at that age and gain an income. Also there are kids that gather aluminum cans in our neighborhood and send them to a recycle place in our town. They literally have wagons they drag over to the factory . It's good to see a lady establish a business and still keep her work ethics with such a nice win! One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure its one worth watching.
|
|
|
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 10549 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 3:54 pm - IP Logged |
|
In my area if she used her million dollars prize to buy a new 3,500 square foot house in a neighborhood of similar houses and put a couple of luxury cars in the garage, she might have enough left to pay her real estate taxes and pay the federal taxes on her winnings before it would all be gone but she would have to keep working to hang on to it. * What happens most *
* will most likely happen again *
|
|
|
Sparta, NJ United States Member #18644 July 9, 2005 1977 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 6:10 pm - IP Logged |
|
Thankfully the Democrats won't let Bush change Social Security. Now, those of without the benefits of a lottery win, can still have an opportunity at retirement with a handy check every month. NO sense letting that windfall go to our heads.
|||::> *'`*:-.,_,.-:*''*:--->>> Chewie <<<---.*''*:-.,_,.-:*''* <:::|||
I only trust myself - and that's a questionable choice
|
|
|
United States Member #2380 September 17, 2003 2064 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 6:16 pm - IP Logged |
|
This typifies lottery coverage in the press. There would be no way to retire on 650k in the US. This person was never a millionare through the lottery due to tax and even one million is not enough to even think of retirement unless you already have a large retirement fund and own your house free and clear. If you don't even own a house and have a very small 401k then you had better win a much bigger prize unless by some magical means you are never going to get sick, need nursing care or leave anything to anyone else.
|
|
|
Sparta, NJ United States Member #18644 July 9, 2005 1977 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 6:25 pm - IP Logged |
|
This typifies lottery coverage in the press. There would be no way to retire on 650k in the US. This person was never a millionare through the lottery due to tax and even one million is not enough to even think of retirement unless you already have a large retirement fund and own your house free and clear. If you don't even own a house and have a very small 401k then you had better win a much bigger prize unless by some magical means you are never going to get sick, need nursing care or leave anything to anyone else.
If you don't have a supllemental income and haven't met the medicare age, you will be walking on dangerous ground. Maybe in the mountains of Kentucky, or a remote area of New Mexico or Texas, never in NJ/NY area. Taxes, electricity, fuel and gas prices would put you in the bankruptcy courts.
|||::> *'`*:-.,_,.-:*''*:--->>> Chewie <<<---.*''*:-.,_,.-:*''* <:::|||
I only trust myself - and that's a questionable choice
|
|
|
New Jersey United States Member #21537 September 4, 2005 807 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 2, 2006, 9:02 pm - IP Logged |
|
It's nice to hear of a sensible woman. I would do the same thing.
|
|
|
United States Member #983 December 30, 2002 448 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 3, 2006, 9:52 am - IP Logged |
|
It takes a smart person to know that $1 million (more realistically, $650,000 after taxes) isn't a huge amount of money. My dream would be to invest it and someday be a real millionaire. If you start living like a millionaire you will soon no longer be a millionaire, or even a thousandaire.
|
|
|
Bethesda, Maryland United States Member #17193 June 6, 2005 432 Posts Offline |
| Posted: January 3, 2006, 2:45 pm - IP Logged |
|
Worked since she was 6 years old? That sounds like a bit of an exgeration to me? Some of us myself included have worked since we were young but I never heard anyone say 6 years old. Other than that statement they sound like a good, responsible bunch which is good to hear.  hi "AC"........I gather from the story that she grew up on a Farm....and still owns one. Therefore it's entirely possible that as a child she began "working" at that age..(6). On Family Farms everyone pitches in from Elementary School Age.....doens't sound unrealistic to me at all....It's nice that she has a very strong and sensible work ethic as well, however I think those winners who live in the Cosmopolitan Cities are more likely to spend their winnings more liberally, because they are exposed to the Cosmopolitan lifestyle.....She's in a town in SD.
|
|
|
|