Should we feel stupid playing the lotto?

Reply #62

TNPATL — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 13:42:23 GMT

I've had people comment on my playing, but it's my choice. I don't play daily or even every week. If I can fit it in my budget, I play. I look at it this way, when I win, those folks that had something to say about my playing better not come with their hands out

Reply #61

lchoro — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:39:53 GMT

I'm finding that in my area that the homes are selling for substantially more than what the homes would rent for, perhaps 50 to 100% above what the equivalent units are being leased. Either the price of the homes need to drop, the rents have to start increasing at much faster rates, or prices have to stagnate for a long period of time, perhaps 10-15 years to allow 4% annual rent increases to catch up. In addition, the area is building far more homes than there are families who want a home to liv... [ More ]

Reply #60

Rip Snorter — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:03:46 GMT

Interesting observations, and though I don't keep track of such things, my gut feel is you're close to the mark.However, If the economy contracts in any meaningful way, a lot of assets, mostly homes, are at risk of needing to be liquidated to meet foreclosures, mightn't translate into the expected release from the consequences of such debt.My ex-wife and I, living in Georgetown, Texas, at the time of the S L/overbuilding debacle in 1986, had a lot of equity in a home we'd agreed to pay roughly... [ More ]

Reply #59

lchoro — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 16:34:18 GMT

Millionaire status is no longer a sign of wealth. If you were a millionaire 10 years ago on either coast, you need at least three or four times as much to maintain the same standards with respect to the home you live in, the car you drive, the TVs you watch, and the other goods and services you can buy. The flip side of the boom in oppulence is the amount of accumulated debt that's required to achieve the appearance of wealth. The economy takes on about five dollars in debt for every dollar i... [ More ]

Reply #58

Todd — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 13:14:28 GMT

People should be aware that (a) this is a rediculous scam, and (b) the person who posted the link is from London, the same city as the person who is selling their luck , so it is likely that this is the seller posing as a potential customer. You've been warned.

Reply #57

four4me — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 08:32:43 GMT

Yep that was me who told that story my co worker passed away while sitting in his favorite chair holding 20 tickets fan fold style with the number 789 straight on them. The number finally came in he won enough money for his family to lay him out and put him in the ground.On another note i read all the replies to this thread and some have good points. I think your millionaires are a typical bunch they often look down on less fortunate people and proclaim that we must all be idiots because were no... [ More ]

Reply #56

SarahChance — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 07:15:36 GMT

I've been playing for years and won next to nothing. But I'll continue to play cos the lotto is always exciting to watch, and you NEVER know what the future holds. Maybe I'll take a chance on this, I need all the help I can get..... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem category=317 item=5985299043 rd=1 ssPageName=WDVW

Reply #55

Rip Snorter — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:47:09 GMT

Interesting implications to all that.Back earlier this year, and once in the late '90s when I felt a lot of confidence in a particular set of numbers I used to buy 10-20 tickets with the same number on them, with the multiplier. My figuring was that if the red ball hit the multiplier would at least get me my money back with a good return, and if it did better it could foil the paramutual downside of jackpots and the higher bonus prizes.I had a partner working with me on the thing in the '90s..... [ More ]

Reply #54

atlasshrugged — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:21:43 GMT

At the last convience store I worked at, there was a gentleman who came in regularly. He would pick one number and play it strait 80 times. He probably hit about once every 4 months or so. The way I figured it, if he played every draw, and I believe he did, he spent a total of $54,080 a year. When I first heard how he played, I thought to myself, how can he spend that much on the lottery especially when he is hitting only 3 times a year. Then I did the math. He's winning $40,000 each time his nu... [ More ]

Reply #53

LOTTOMIKE — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:06:46 GMT

yep that would be over 20,000 dollars in winnings....

Reply #52

tntea — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 04:12:39 GMT

I had a man to buy $45 dollars worth of st.. for 539 in TN yesterday.. The number fell st tonight.. I sure hope he replayed them for today...I sure wish I had..

Reply #51

Rip Snorter — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:20:49 GMT

Buy your tickets at several locations, that way no one will know how much you're losing but you. Alternatively, if you care that much what other people think, and you want them to think the other way, you could bring in a six inch thick deck of your old slips and hold them in plain view as you stand in line, along with a wad of cash in the other hand. Make them think you're losing a lot more than you actually are.I think I might try that just for grins.Jack

Reply #50

Rip Snorter — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:04:33 GMT

Lottomike:That's actually probably taken from the movie, 'Waking Ned Devine'.... probably available on DVD from your local library..... one of the two only lottery movies I've ever seen, unless you want to count 'Treasure of Sierra Madre', but the lottery was sort of incidental in TSM.Good movie, Ned Devine, though... all about a lottery winner who died and a town that didn't think Ned would want them to lose the benefits of his win.Jack

Reply #49

JimmySand9 — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 16:43:39 GMT

It's all based on the luck of the draw. You might win, but more times than not you'll lose. If you can't handle that, you shouldn't be playing. You'll just get frustrated.

Reply #48

tntea — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 14:04:32 GMT

This is an interesting topic. I enjoyed it very much. I will admit I have spent quite a bit in the TN lottery since Cash 3 has came out. Number picking has become a hobby for me. I liked it so much I started playing online. As for money, I take my winnings and play back.. (what is left after buying savings bonds for the grand babies ) and I have a part time job that I use the money for entertainment use only.I work for some friends in a couple stores they own. When time gets rough for them,

Reply #47

konane — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:43:12 GMT

Waaaay too easy to make judgments when someone has their nose pressed against the glass of someone else's life rather than attending to the full time job of running their own.The lottery offers hope for change in a person's life when the change they desire might not happen without a windfall the lottery offers. On a good day the lottery gives lucky people a little walking around money plus a whole lot of fun for others.

Reply #46

RJOh — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:31:54 GMT

Very few people can afford to play the lotteries just to loose money, but if the States want to make money and offer large jackpots to attract more players then a lot of people have to lose. Just remember when you win, a lot of losers shared the cost of your winnings. Buy your tickets at several locations, that way no one will know how much you're losing but you.

Reply #45

Rip Snorter — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:21:35 GMT

When there's a line and I come in to buy a wheel with a deck of slips I've noticed there's occasionally a certain amount of winking and nodding to go with the sly smiles about it. For the most part I don't hold the opinions of others in high enough regard to care if they snicker... if it gives them amusement, fine enough. They're not entirely wrong. They just aren't entirely right.I don't see many people in this life I'd admire enough to change places with, nor even to adopt their views on any... [ More ]

Reply #44

Rip Snorter — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 13:13:54 GMT

I'm still paying a dollar a pack by the carton on the rez..... But you have to smoke Native American or one of the other brands that's being rolled and packaged on a reservation. Bad enough taste to them to keep a person from smoking too much.Jack

Reply #43

Elizabeth03 — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 12:51:16 GMT

Every time I buy a lottery ticket I wonder if I'm wasting money I can't afford to spend. But I take a chance hoping that I will have the right numbers to win the jackpot .

Reply #42

rabbitfoot — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 22:50:01 GMT

If I read you right earlier, you had a $20,000 debt and was dropping $20 a week on the lotto. How many times do you get in line and buy $2 worth of tickets?No, you don't have to be stupid to play the lotto. Playing the lotto is a no-brainer. Anyone can can hand the clerk a $1 bill and say, Give me a $1 quick pick. It is the person/persons who are playing much more than that while their family other needs are suffering who have problems. Lottos are designed so that everyone can afford to tak... [ More ]

Reply #41

Maverick — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 02:32:15 GMT

I see the self made millionaire doesn't believe in fate or luck. He should be more humble and not judge so much. After all, if he was in rags, I bet he would gladly take my offered dollar and buy a scratch ticket here and there.He needs to remember where his fat azz came from, unless he was born with a silver spoon in his arse... umm I mean his mouth.

Reply #40

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 02:19:43 GMT

i heard a story right here on lottery post about a man who played 20 dollars on one number in cash 3 for years and one night right after he ate supper he was watching the drawing and when his numbers came up he died of a heart attack clutching the tickets in his hand.i guess he might've gotten too excited.....

Reply #39

Shawnintennesse — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 23:59:42 GMT

If there is i wonder what the odds are...Ive heard of older people watching it and finding out they won and dropping dead...

Reply #38

MillionsWanted — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 23:53:35 GMT

I wonder if there's statistics on people dying of heart attack while checking the lottery numbers?Can be nerve wrecking.

Reply #37

Shawnintennesse — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 23:40:02 GMT

Thats pretty bad.. Youve got better odds at getting heart disease than winning on a scratch ticket!!!...LOL

Reply #36

DirtyWrat — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 23:09:35 GMT

Listed below are the odds of just a few of the many possible ways someone can die:CauseOddsHeart Disease1 in 2.6Cancer1 in 4Suicide1 in 121Homicide1 in 182Car Accident1 in 247Death by Fire/Smoke1 in 1,116Accidental Drowning1 in 1,126Motorcycle Accident1 in 1,204Airplane Accident1 in 4,023Drowning in Bathtub1 in 11,469Lightning Strike1 in 83,930Bee Sting1 in 85,882Bus Accident1 in 99,809Train Accident1 in 142,036Dog Bite1 in 147,717Snake Bite1 in 527,561Fireworks Accident1 in 615,488 How about t... [ More ]

Reply #35

Shawnintennesse — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 11:56:33 GMT

Thats the problem....Something always comes up when youve got cash... We could be doing great with rent and utilities. Until you get a nice peice of money. Then everything that can go wrong does...LOL

Reply #34

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 04:12:10 GMT

yeah he was yammering about how he was making a killing at the casino and lottery you couldn't and i kind of had to prove him wrong......my downfall is i won 5 grand in may and then i blew it pretty quickly on different things.if i had it to do over again i would do things different.

Reply #33

we;reallwinners — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 04:08:47 GMT

I'm new at this, how long have ya'll been playing

Reply #32

Shawnintennesse — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 04:06:28 GMT

I heard that!!!...At least your not in Arizona... It's $1.40 tax out there on ciggs...

Reply #31

Shawnintennesse — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 04:05:02 GMT

LOL....

Reply #30

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 03:58:47 GMT

i think we are all getting robbed blind on that i agree.another story for another day........

Reply #29

we;reallwinners — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 03:54:49 GMT

I agree with you LOTTOMIKE! and there no load involved......what about all that return on the money that we've all investing in Social Security

Reply #28

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 03:51:40 GMT

the lottery is like my personal stock market,at least i know i won't get enroned,lol

Reply #27

we;reallwinners — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 03:46:36 GMT

I think that there is difference between those that just do easy picks, and those that actually study the games.People win the lottery everyday........ and we take chances on our investments as well as walking across the street.I think we are very optomistic when we play...... and if we don't win, we have at least helped to add to the winnings of someone else........right

Reply #26

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 03:20:17 GMT

i got a half*** violent one until the guy realized he was wrong and looked at my winnings.all he could do was stammer.....uh i uh well.......lol

Reply #25

dvdiva — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 02:07:21 GMT

Best quote ever. For me I wouldn't say anything for fear of some violent response.

Reply #24

MADDOG10 — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 01:54:55 GMT

now that is a good habit, and a good hobby also.... and NO you're not a fool.... If it makes you feel good, it's all worth it...

Reply #23

RJOh — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 01:47:28 GMT

I heard in the Ohio news today that tomorrow taxes on cigarettes ares going up 70 a pack making a carton cost $40+ and taxes on alcohol is already high. Everybody concerned about the stupid and the poor paying taxes, who's speaking up for the smokers and the alcoholics

Reply #22

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:43:54 GMT

Reply #21

atlasshrugged — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:38:02 GMT

I like you LOTTOMIKE. -Bonnie

Reply #20

atlasshrugged — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:36:22 GMT

My family mostly thinks I am insane because I am convinced that I will one day hit a jackpot. I spend a decent amount of time looking at the patterns and trends. Not enough so that it takes away from my family but I have fun doing it. It's one of my hobbies. There are people who have hobbies which I think are just as insane and even more expensive than my lottery hobby. My husband, for instance, has jumped out of planes. That costs $180 a pop.As for the lottery diet. I am probably on that as wel... [ More ]

Reply #19

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:44:16 GMT

just like that a**hole in line who told me that i was wasting my money and so i went to the car and showed him two copies where i won on 7866 and 6866 in one week,five thousand dollars on a couple 50 cent bets.i told him it isn't wise to run your mouth when you don't know what your talking about.fool he was.

Reply #18

DirtyWrat — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:31:40 GMT

I heard it was a redneck retirement fund.

Reply #17

SirMetro — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 19:36:53 GMT

play for profit...what a novel concept....I just sorta kinda figured it was a different type of dieting program I was on...spend money on tickets...no cash left for those snacks and sweets I really don't need any way.Sir Metro

Reply #16

Pick-4_Master — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 19:29:49 GMT

Your friend is a self-made millionaire of course he's gonna rag on Lottery Players he already has money,if he didn't he might be one of those playing as well.

Reply #15

Tnplayer805 — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 19:13:45 GMT

lol in the country there isn't anything else to do for fun. (Believe me I live in a small town

Reply #14

lchoro — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 19:11:34 GMT

is it my imagination or doesn't it seem that a disproportionate number of lottery winners seem to come from rural locations? or is the lottery much more popular with the rural folk since it's one of a few diversions around

Reply #13

Tnplayer805 — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:20:37 GMT

I hear all the time lotto players are bad at math. I'll be honest I'm very good in math and I know the odds of winning. I hate it when people think they are smarter than you because you play the lottery when they don't know anything to begin with. I play for fun. I don't think I'm going to win until I do.

Reply #12

lchoro — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:08:04 GMT

Also, referred to as a tax on the mathematically challenged.

Reply #11

LANTERN — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 17:15:32 GMT

I have heard that also.Somebody has to pay them, right ?Haven't you heard then people say, better them than me ?Most people don't even try to learn anything at all about the lottery games, they just buy their tickets and leave it to luck.It's their money and they can do whatever they want to do with it and somebody does have to pay the taxes and besides they are very much willing to pay them.If everybody was winning there would not be a lottery right ?Most people are not really interested in w... [ More ]

Reply #10

MillionsWanted — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:51:47 GMT

They say lotteries are taxes on the stupid and/or poor.

Reply #9

lchoro — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:55:24 GMT

He's on a religious crusade. There are always going to be people who blow money that they can't afford to on things like lotteries, religious donations (televangelists come to mind), junk from infomercials, hoarding unwanted cats and dogs, or any number of things. The question one should ask is whether there's a portion of your monthly budget that's reserved for discretionary expenses, some of which goes to junk food, entertainment, charity, or to other frivolous things, and whether the money... [ More ]

Reply #8

RJOh — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:31:38 GMT

In Ohio we say Buy a lottery ticket, chances are you'll have fun , not you'll get rich . If you're not having fun then maybe your friend has a point.

Reply #7

lottoloser* — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:29:20 GMT

Yea, Rjoh, I guess that money could be better spent on cigarettes and beer.

Reply #6

Litebets27 — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:28:46 GMT

As a fellow Nurse, I know how you feel Lottoloser*. Good luck to you.litebets

Reply #5

lottoloser* — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:22:20 GMT

I can see the point of what my friend is saying, but I think it's unfair of him to lump all people who play the lottery into one category and label them as irresponsible. If I won the lottery,according to how much I won I would make plans to retire (I'm 30) buy a large piece of land in the country, build a plain house, drive a plain car and live out the rest of my life in comfortable obscurity, where I can get up early in the morning with the sun and go to bed when the sun goes down (as it is no... [ More ]

Reply #4

RJOh — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:18:26 GMT

I've had strangers standing in line with a couple of six-packs and a carton of cigarettes tell me I'm wasting my money buying lottery tickets but being a friendly guy I smile, get my tickets and continue on my way. RJOh

Reply #3

orangeman — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:12:26 GMT

It all depends on what type of lottery you play.Pick 3 is winnable. Mega Millions and Powerball are too much of a long shot. Orangeman

Reply #2

Litebets27 — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:59:56 GMT

First of all, what are you playing for? Do you dream of winning a jackpot and using your winnings to get what you want/need or think that you want or need? who are you playing for, yourself or your friend or the people standing in line with you? Keep your head up, follow you dream. There are millions of people playing the lottery, young, old, rich and poor. Your friend isn't in the loop or the game and is just speculating.Yes poorer people play harder trying to obtain what the richer people alre... [ More ]

Reply #1

CASH Only — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:45:39 GMT

NY Lotto is a very bad bet.

Should we feel stupid playing the lotto?

lottoloser* — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:42:48 GMT

I know someone who is a self made millionaire who rags on people who play the lotto for being fools and idiots because the odds are so stacked against them, and even among the few schmucks who win most of them end up going into debt because they never learned how to manage money. He will say, most people playing the lotto are poor and with money problems already, and you can't and won't build wealth by having a tremendous amount of money dumped in your lap all at once with not the slightest plan... [ More ]