Unemployed: Play the lottery or not?

Comment #31

randommusings — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:44:15 GMT

My hubby was laid off about a month ago. we still play, but don't spend as much as we did at times. But then, my business is doing better than ever (a professional resume writer in a horrid economy is a good thing! lol)

all it takes is one ticket, right

Comment #30

dpoly1 — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:44:15 GMT

Yes sir - and after about 40 Days of Bobobama our economy is sinking !

If you win a big jackpot you will be The Rich and will need to spread the wealth !

I am disabled and spend a whoping $2 - $4 a week - my only hobby.

I hope that if I ever win - that I win before the Tax Rate goes up.

I can spread the wealth myself - without it going through the Rouge Government of: The Savior, Chancellor Pelosi and Premier Reid !!!!!!!

If I spread the wealth - ALL of it goes to an individua... [ More ]

Comment #29

kikideenyc — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:15:29 GMT

I just found out that...

One ticket matched all six numbers in the March 3 Mega Millions drawing. That ticket, which was purchased in Ocean County, New Jersey, wins the estimated $212 million jackpot!

Damn... Now I'm going have to look up some cousins in that area (LOL

Comment #28

kikideenyc — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:31:01 GMT

Heck, we waste enough money on everyday crap we don't need, why not the lottery. I hit every so often with the most being $400. on a boxed number. So the investment ($.50) was well worth it for me. Just three days agos (Sun), I hit for $40., so again it was money that I didn't have. If a dollar and a dream is all folks have to remotely come close to a win, let them have that. Somebody's going to get it. Why not one of us...

Comment #27

ohiopick3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:18:45 GMT

It's each individuals money to spend. Spend it as you wish. You never know

Comment #26

LckyLary — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:24:41 GMT

Arrrrgh! Again they do the same thing - give the odds of winning the jackpot vs. flesh-eating bacteria etc. based on buying ONE ticket ever, and based on pure chance. Not factoring that most players buy 5 or more and play regularly. I've beaten odds of 1/2 million to 1 and 13,000 to 1 but the odds were only on that day on one particular line on the ticket.

I would recommend for someone unemployed who wants to play but shouldn't, offer numbers to other people (friends/relatives) in return they... [ More ]

Comment #25

maringoman — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:38:39 GMT

MarkP

Randy Fletcher ' of Indiana hit $1M 2 days after his divorce was finalized. Can you believe that? 2 days! Ain't that something.

Copy + paste Randy Fletcher had just won the $1 million jackpot on google search for the full story.

Comment #24

mjwinsmith — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:27:20 GMT

A few bucks on a lottery ticket is well worth the investment , not unlike the billions we are flushing down the toilet to bail out the Banks and Investments houses that created all the crap in the first place. At least I have a say so in spending, and losing money on the lottery. But hey, you never know, I just might win the big one. Check back here later on tonight to see if I won

Comment #23

justxploring — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:14:46 GMT

I agree with you. I was looking at the topic from a different angle. Once we had a controversial thread about people who get welfare or food stamps. In that case, perhaps we should assume the recipient is needy and probably shouldn't purchase lottery tickets. Feeding your children comes first. However, if a person has a favorite set of numbers and spends a dollar every week for the chance to win a big jackpot, I don't really think we have the right to judge him. As I said, I do agree that blowin... [ More ]

Comment #22

flpirates — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:37:31 GMT

I have had a car wreck, I was in a boat that turned over in the water, I have been bitten by a cat dog, I had a motorcycle wreck my father is a pilot and we had a engine go out on the plane sooooooooooooo my point being ,it is time I had some luck and win BIG hehehehehehe thats why I play

Comment #21

KY Floyd — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:50:47 GMT

Not everybody who is unemployed collects unemployment, but I'm guessing the story is actually about buying tickets when your income is less than your expenses. In that case, it's pretty simple. The chances that you will lose are far more than the chances that you'll win anything of consequence, so the reasonable assumption is that you're throwing your money away, and if your income is less than your expenses you can't afford to throw money away. I don't expect everyone who's in financial difficu... [ More ]

Comment #20

markp1950 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:33:53 GMT

Since it's a big animation studio, roughly 80 people participate in the pool. Even if they win, they will still

have to keep their jobs because housing is mighty expensive in LA area and there are a lot of people to share the pie.

Let me see, about $1 mil cash after taxes. If I couldn't retire on 1 mil, I'd shoot myself.

because housing is mighty expensive in LA area

Now, let me see, move to a cheaper area?

MarkP

Comment #19

markp1950 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:28:02 GMT

I remember reading a story a few years ago about a man who only had a few dollars left to his name

I know it happened in NY.

He bought 1 ticket during a break. As I remember he won $150 Mil.

His wife divorced him..

MarkP

Comment #18

DC81 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:09:35 GMT

Heh heh, a major animation studio in Burbank you say..... I think that might have been a little too descriptive. But still, interesting... I have a friend in LA who is also going to college for the same thing.

Anyway, people in general seem to look down upon lottery winners, even more so if they fit certain stereotypes. But that doesn't change the fact that all of them also dream about being rich, unless they are wealthy, then they are probably more likely not to care since I'd imagine the... [ More ]

Comment #17

ambelamba — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:04:46 GMT

I am graduating college this May. And I wonder what will happen to me.

I am interning at a major animation studio in Burbank. Yeah, it's one of the biggest one in America. I hope I can get hired by them after graduation.

But the future is very uncertain.

Today I saw a copy of MM tickets at the studio. It's a company lottery pool. How many people are in the pool? Since it's a big animation studio, roughly 80 people participate in the pool. Even if they win, they will still have to kee... [ More ]

Comment #16

diamondpalace — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:29:33 GMT

If the lottery is so easy to win, I would not want to play.

Comment #15

Halle99 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:10:17 GMT

Excellent points justxploring. I absolutely .

Good luck to all the pot is MINE....I know.

Comment #14

libra926 — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:58:53 GMT

Excellent point justxploring.......excellent point....and I couldn't have said it better....you read my mind......;..

Comment #13

computerhead723 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:21:01 GMT

So true if people want to buy tickes or beer or ciggs. thats their choice , look after 8 years of George Bush and 10 Billion a month in Iraq who cares if someone buys a ticket at the lottery ....just think if he wins what would the people say then......

when in NY state the Governor Taxed ciggs. aprox. $2.75 per pack the NON-SMOKERS SAID THATS GOOD FOR THEM !!!!

BUT LAST WEEK HE TAXED THE SNOW - SKIERS AND BEER DRINKERS AND SODA DRINKERS i SAY GOOD FOR THEM ...SMOKERS HAD SOME SWEET REVENG... [ More ]

Comment #12

bigato1010 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:06:35 GMT

just play a dollar only , at least you in it.You part of the game. Good luck anything is possible.

Comment #11

susie545 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:50:58 GMT

Good points. But, y don't they drop de price to dem 10 cents tickets once more. lol again.

also, don't waste baby's money on lottery tickets with no job

Comment #10

GamerMom — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:22:31 GMT

I was going to say the same thing but use McDonald's as an example.

As for holding the line up I always do quickpicks. It doesn't take that long to print out 50 quick picks.

Comment #9

justxploring — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:19:08 GMT

I don't understand why someone would question this at all. If you collect unemployment, that means you worked for it, since you need to qualify based on previous employment and wages. Even if you collect a disability check, it means you earned the money, since it's based on your social security earnings. We might as well say that people over 65 collecting Social Security or anyone on Medicare shouldn't play either. Then we need to make a list of all the bad habits people shouldn't be blowing the... [ More ]

Comment #8

hjones — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:35:14 GMT

Ok. I think I've got the winning ticket, so everyone can save their money and not buy anymore.

Besides, my jackpot probably won't go up any more than the lousy future value of $212Mil.

Why don't they say the jackpot is $9.3 Octillion, paid over 26 Billion years

Comment #7

maringoman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:25:05 GMT

It's their right to do with their unemployment checks what they desire, right? Its a free country after all, I say we let unemployed people play the lottery.

Comment #6

CowboysFan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:21:13 GMT

I remember reading a story a few years ago about a man who only had a few dollars left to his name and he used the rest of it to buy lotto tickets and he ended up winning. I can't remember if it was here in California or some other state. You never know when its your turn to get lucky so there really isn't any harm in buying one ticket.

Comment #5

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:10:04 GMT

What is wrong with some dropping $20 or more on tickets? Some people can afford to. Buying $20 worth of tickets doesn't really hold up the line any longer then buying grocerys or paying for gas so I don't see what the problem is.

Comment #4

RJOh — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:25:31 GMT

When I buy $20 worth of lottery tickets, I've made out play slips so the clerks don't spend any more time serving me than they do with those unemployed customers buying cigarettes and beer.

Comment #3

MissNYC — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:23:49 GMT

My thought is that someone has to win right? So for that 1 person, the idea that it can't happen, isn't true. I don't think there is anything wrong with an unemployed person dropping $1 on a ticket, but I do think there is something wrong with anyone dropping $20 or more on tickets. That could by lots of other things and they hold up the line.

Comment #2

JAP69 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:21:08 GMT

When the unemployed buys a lottery ticket they are putting money into the U.S. treasury as well as the states if taxed.

Pretty high tax rate on that amount of money.

I might add the tax rate is going to be increased. More of your lottery win will go to the treasury.

Comment #1

charmed7 — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:11:12 GMT

Everyone know now the meaning of budget. So i think its ok, to spend

a few bucks, here and there on the lottery. Never know where your

blessing will fall.

Unemployed: Play the lottery or not?

Lottery Post — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:39:30 GMT

by Dan Weiser

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot is worth an estimated $212 million. Right now, it is the largest lottery jackpot in the country, including the multi-state Powerball. In fact, it's the largest lottery jackpot in the world.

The next drawing is Tuesday night and a winning ticket will bring riches to at least one person. $212 million dollars is the stuff dreams are made of, but in these uncertain times winning would be ... well, hard to put into words.

The unemployment rate... [ More ]