LANSING, Mich. — A second chance Michigan Lottery drawing gave a 55-year-old Inkster woman the financial relief her family was looking for.
Fran Price said she couldn't stop crying when she received a call from the Michigan State Lottery telling her she'd won the $1 million Play it Again Giveaway.
"When I saw the number on my cell phone, I knew I had won," said Price in a press release. "I was at work and tried to stand up from my desk but my knees buckled and I fell to the floor. I couldn't stop bawling while the woman from the Lottery told me the good news.
"I sent my husband a text that said 'BINGO BABY' to let him know our lives were going to change."
Price knew she was a finalist for the giveaway, but it wasn't until she got the call that she was sure she won. Price chose to take the one-time lump-sum payment of $735,000 instead of the annuity.
"This came at the perfect time for us. We've had some financial trouble recently, and this gives us so much relief to know we can pay our bills and have some cushion that will help us for years to come," said Price.
She plans on using part of the winnings to pay off her house, buy a new car and to take a trip in the spring with her husband. The rest of the money will be invested she said.
Price won the drawing by redeeming players club points earned through the state lottery's online gaming program.
Love these happy stories!
Me too; caused the water pipes to leak a taste behind my eyes. So happy for such a deserving couple.
Congrats to the lucky couple.
She has very sensible plans for the money. Pay off the house #1 priority when you hit a big prize. A new car and a vacation, probably something they haven't had in a while.
When I started reading the story, I thought the woman was a tattoo artist since it said "INKSTER WOMAN". I had no idea that Inkster was the name of a town in Michigan!
Nice. Unfortunately, Calif has stopped all large Second Chance prizes and only give out a few $25k and less.
California, like Massachusetts restricts second chance promotions to residents only. California sent me an email stating I was an out of stater and ineligible. MA had it in the fine print when I tried to enter losing $30 tickets on-line.
Congratulations! Mr & Mrs Price Spend Wisely
What started out as a decent promotion, has turned to junk. But they have a lot more entries for the reduced prizes bc you can scan the numbers in. That and the reduction in top prizes has ruined scratcher games.
Nice story!
I wouldn't have far to fall if it were me as I am 5'5" tall LOL!
How wonderful for Fran & her family. Hopefully she can use her good fortune wisely. After paying the house off depending on the amount left,a new car & a trip- one could burn through the rest IF one does not proceed with caution. $700K is not a hell of a lot in terms of the " for years to come" statement. Nevertheless,as always l wish them and all future winners well.
CA has many things that are deterrents. The pari-mutuel policy is a joke. I also don't like that 2nd tier prize for SLP averages $35-40K, is often split and doesn't carry over like it does on the other JP games.
If they had a better 2nd chance system, they wouldn't have to bother with cheesy promos, like the current SLP raffle.
Congrats to the lucky couple, enjoy!
I am happy for the Price family! Thanks to the Lottery Post Staff for this good news.
Pay off the mortgage, buy a new car, take a trip and invest the rest. Sounds like a plan to me. Happy for them.
I couldnt imagine winning anything..Ive tried to feel what it would be like,I dont know what I would do if it happened to me.Great story,
What the He** does that mean?
Dang it! That was my $735,000. We had such plans for it.
Oh, well. Congratulations to winner, anyway.
Congrats!!!
thebizdude: I hear you loud and clear about pari-muteul, plus those players can't do Powerplay or Megamillions.
She looks a lot younger than 55!
Exactly this!
Best wishes to them!
.
My story every time.
I seriously doubt she's going to take your street corner gig away. There's a good chance she may give you a nicer piece of cardboard to write your sob story with.
WOW!! is that the best you can say.... WOW!!!
Congrats! Vacation time!
I love stories like this (not the falling part, but the winning part)!
"$700K is not a hell of a lot in terms of the " for years to come" statement."
Very true but after Federal and state taxes it will be more like $430k so a sound budget is even more critical if they want it to last for years to come. If they use the funds to supplement their current income they should be fine...definitely can't quit your job and expect it to last.
Mr. and Mrs. Price.
I agree Mrs. D!
granted it is not a life changing score. however it is a realistic score. cracks me up when people won't play a lottery until it reaches 300m or more. they sneer at their state lotteries and only want the "big" one. nothing wrong with winning a lottery prize that is less than 1m. you only have so many years left to play any lottery anyway. trying to defeat astronomical odds because you think it has value doesn't work. play your state lottery games "every day" and accept a meager win amount with not quite the exuberance that she did but saving your money so that every 4 or 5 months you can get in on the big one is not the way to go. life is much shorter than you think.
I'd be more than happy to win the smallest jackpot. And I am influenced by the second place prizes. However, living in Calif they are usually extremely low.
Aww... I love reading happy stories like this.
Every time I read this headline I see "winner fell from second floor when she found out."
LOL!!! thats how I read it at first glance!
Caller ID or Not, I doubt I would have believed a phone call. Strange that the Lottery actually calls them.
Our state sends emails and makes you CALL them or fill out a form. To many scammers saying you won some kinda lottery.....
I think 700k after taxes is life changing....
God Bless them for winning!!
Congrats and I would like to win a cool million too in mega millions or powerball.-weshar75
Glad to see someone won something off those second chance drawings...good for her! to bad it happened in Lansing and not Ann Arbor. Go Blue!
have seen a lot of complaints about the pari-mutuel californial second prize payouts. people out there should lobby to get it changed. a total complete abstainment from playing the lottery there would do it. if everyone stopped playing they would change it overnite. don't let them push you around and dictate this.
You are correct, vote with your wallet. I try not to get upset about it because I have folks get me tickets occasionally. It does anger me though most times five #'s MM $330K or so; other states $1 million. But KY and MA are much more progressive in that respect that California, plus we have Megaplier and Powerplay. Once again, politicians with their hand in the till. As many folks that play in CA they could well afford to pay like every other state/territory does. Oh well.
Best wishes to her and her family!
That was very lucky lady right there.
I would have fallen as well...after jumping out of my seat.
I agree with everything you said, with the exception of "granted it is not a life changing score"
how is 700K not life changing?
maybe to someone who is wealthy and has a net worth of millions already, it would be a drop in the bucket.
For me, it would be a major game changer.
someone could take that money not spend it, invest it wisely and live off the dividends.
that means I would never have to work for anyone else as lone as I lived!
I agree with you on playing your state lottery game. the odds are way better and the payout could still
be a life changing score:)
funny.
you are what is consider not real short, but short enough. medium short.
my sister bff now that is a short woman at out of heels only 5'11 to 5'1
and this is a great story...Congrats to the happy nice couple.
"is a short woman at out of heels only 5'11 to 5'1"
If I read your comment correctly, were you implying that she loses 10" without her heels? That must be some outrageous clodhoppers as I would hate to see her have to run in them.
The cash value was $735k BEFORE taxes. I think she ends up netting in the mid $400k range after all taxes are paid. At their age, this amount could still be life changing as long as they have a sensible budget and not quit their jobs just yet.