A question about sharing your wealth with others.

Reply #44

RJOh — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:18:37 GMT

I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about playing the lotteries and if it helps me win a large lottery jackpot, I will be more than happy to share that wealth with my friends and family so they can do the same, but not the money.

Give a man money and he will need some more later, but give him a winning lottery system and he will find extra cash to buy lottery tickets. Then when he ask you for money, you can tell him if he has extra cash for lottery tickets then he doesn't need to be b... [ More ]

Reply #43

justxploring — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:12:51 GMT

I do think remaining anonymous would be nice, only to avoid the press and other nuisances. However, it's so easy to simply go to a local store and buy a ticket. Why go out of your way to play a game that has such astronomical odds? This is a game and, although it could change my life, when I forget that it's a game is when I need to get serious counseling. (actually, I probably do now since I often think I've got a chance. lol)

When I look in the paper every week there are lots of homes... [ More ]

Reply #42

guesser — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:39:25 GMT

I should not even dignify that with a response...

If folks are so absolutely scared to death of being known as lottery winners, then they should not be playing the game.

Rich people, CEO's, Pro Athletes, etc. deal with it every day, key phrase there is 'deal with it'. If you can't possibly deal with people knowing you won the lottery, how can you possibly deal with people knowing you are rich ?

If you go from living in a $75,000 house, wearing jeans and driving a Chevy, to living in a... [ More ]

Reply #41

rundown99 — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:57:49 GMT

But you can go to the states where you can remain anonymous and try to win it there...........

Reply #40

guesser — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:17:29 GMT

Why ?

You learn that your favorite word is 'NO'.

IF someone asks you for any favors, you say NO and/or hang up the phone or shut the door in someone's face, family or not. The only 'family' I would take care of are those that have taken care of me, and that's a short list I can count on one hand.

You can let it consume you, or you can deal with it head-on, and you can only claim it anonymously if you won it while a resident of 3 states, which is probably 2 by now (Powerball, that is).... [ More ]

Reply #39

rundown99 — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:52:16 GMT

The only solution is to remain anonymous.......

Reply #38

chasingadream — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:51:39 GMT

why should i feel bad about not giving away something that I won.....

Reply #37

justxploring — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:10:30 GMT

RJOh, I agree with your first sentence. One doesn't have to be rich to give his time or his love to others. I disagree that payback is necessary in all cases however. It depends upon your relationship. Once a neighbor was short on the rent. I didn't know him well, but he had a baby and his wife ran a paper route in the morning. It had to be around 2001, because my Hyundai was fairly new. Anyway, I told him I'd pay him if he would wash and wax my car and vacuum the inside. I honestly don't... [ More ]

Reply #36

RJOh — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:25:24 GMT

Everybody has something of value worth sharing, if it not cash then their time, their labor or knowledge. A person who will not share what he has to offer in exchange for your cash doesn't desire your cash. Giving cash to such people just because you have it is not kindness but foolishness. Sharing should work both ways

Reply #35

fastball 9 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:46:09 GMT

Being rich after a lottery win should not change who you are to begin with. As we've seen with many winners in the past, how they lived prior greatly determined how they were when rich. It all happens so fast, they didn't have time to change and reacted much like most of us would have; mostly by instinct.

However, sharing your cash, I think, is based on what kind of person you REALLY are. Are you kind? Helpful? Appreciate your friends? Have enough common sense to know when someone... [ More ]

Reply #34

cableman753 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:21:06 GMT

well said

Reply #33

Lotterologist — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:10:32 GMT

Sorry to hear of your loss. Good Luck to you.

Reply #32

dingo — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 10:06:18 GMT

I will not give money just to make people feel that I am a good guy. I don't have much money, but I've been through some situation that people were thinking we (our family) are bankers or charity organization. They were asking for $2000 and creating some stories to appear that I really need the money.

A home is what my Mom and my brothers need now. If I hit the jackpot, I will buy them a 4 bedrooms home. So they can stay away from my lazy and troublesome father.

Reply #31

justxploring — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:52:07 GMT

Well, this subject could go on forever. I agree that sometimes it's not a good idea to send money to relatives, but I think we all need to use our gut feelings and personal situations to make those decisions. I would definitely pay her medical bills and insurance premiums and send the $12,000 allowable tax exempt gift to my sister if I won several million. I wouldn't tell her what to do with it. That would be her choice. I agree about organizations like the United Way, even the Red Cross. I... [ More ]

Reply #30

guesser — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 07:20:33 GMT

Thanks JX, I grieve all the time, and I also keep it in perspective, people lose loved ones every minute - human and animal.

Barbaro kinda bothered me for awhile, the kids getting killed in Iraq and Afghanistan bother me, any loss of innocent life bothers me....

As far as giving to charity, and the charity doing things you don't agree with, this is where you give to charities you are PERSONALLY involved in. It doesn't take much to learn first-hand, but if you believe in it, then give.... [ More ]

Reply #29

justxploring — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:28:33 GMT

Sorry for your loss, Guesser. Losing a loved one, human or pet, can be very painful. I don't think those emotions are meant to be hidden. Grieving is very important.

Reply #28

guesser — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:00:21 GMT

I used to think I controlled my own emotions, until my mother passed away, and until last month when one of my cats died....

Reply #27

justxploring — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:45:14 GMT

What if you gave a gift to (insert a charity of your choice) and you found out that they used it for bahama vacations for its board members .

GameGrl, of course that would bother me! If I loaned a friend money for medication and he spent it on cigarettes or booze (or lottery tickets) I wouldn't be too pleased either. What I was saying is that we shouldn't give a gift with expectations that the recipient will act in a responsible manner or spend it the way we want. I definitely wasn't talki... [ More ]

Reply #26

guesser — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:51:20 GMT

Speaking of step-kids, mine get zilch.

Because I am not their real dad, and they let me know it.

Both are in college at this time, one chose to live with their dad, the other stayed with us, we are paying her first year, after that she's on her own. I paid my way through college, I got the $20,000 in college debt, and I paid it all off in 10 years. Nobody co-signed for me.

Part two - when in college, I lived in a dorm, we had a small, quiet guy, a Vietnamese refugee, I learned so much f... [ More ]

Reply #25

Prob988 — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 04:51:45 GMT

Winning would definitely put me in touch with my deadbeat brother again.

It will be a delight to say no to him.

Basically, I'm investing the whole thing.

Reply #24

TheGameGrl — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:05:34 GMT

The way I figure it, I shared my wealth with the government tax guy, so any folk want'n a handout can apply thru the federal programs . Thats what they are there for.

One can choose to feel guilty or one can choose to sit quietly and see the true colors of supposed friends and relatives.

I disagree that strings arent attached to a gift. In a puritan society yes wouldnt it be lovely if strings werent attached...but I learned along time ago that a gift given makes the receiver responsib... [ More ]

Reply #23

justxploring — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:39:09 GMT

One thing I've learned is that people often get 2 words mixed up: WANT NEED

You can put 2 couples side by side who make $75,000 a year. One couple will have a nice home and be financially secure with a savings account and an IRA and the other is deep in debt with bad credit. Sometimes it's just circumstance or bad luck that separates them, but often it's their spending habits. I don't know how a person determines neediness, but I suppose as long as you trust the people and your instinct... [ More ]

Reply #22

SirMetro — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:29:11 GMT

Nancy, if you have step-kids, ask them why they do the things out of spite that they do.

I have a step-daughter that has helped case-harden my resolve to always rub salt in the wound attitude whenever oppurtunity presents itself. At the end of what had been a fantastic day at the park, you get home only to get beat up (not physically, just verbally or just with her general attitude) because the step-kid had a good time that day and is feeling guilty because she is having a better time with t... [ More ]

Reply #21

LckyLary — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:10:25 GMT

Most people I know (in person) probably would help me in some way. People that help me now when they're not rich are most likely to share even more when they are. People that are rude to me now, I wouldn't expect anything from them other than hopefully they move far away, which would be reward enough! One thing is except for an extreme emergency I would NOT ask a friend or relative who won to help me with anything, if they wanted to on their own they would. i.e. I don't expect a new Hummer but b... [ More ]

Reply #20

truecritic — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:05:09 GMT

Henny Penny - Chicken Little - Goosey Loosey - Ducky Daddle - Foxy Woxy - Macki the Iraqi - Condi Wondi - Georgie Porgie - Dicky Licky

I hope one of them didn't win the lottery - they don't plan on sharing any of it with anyone! Especially those last 4

Reply #19

justxploring — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:38:54 GMT

I would never call someone and say I won the lottery and you're not getting any of it! What's the point? Well, you have the right to act in whatever manner you please, but just remember that everything we do has its consequences. I can't understand why someone would do anything purely out of spite.

Reply #18

lottolaughs — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:09:14 GMT

Sir Metro,you are right on! The instant gratification will be well worth it!

Guess I should've explained that my cousin is 41,lives with mommy and works a mere 12 hours a week in some dead end job. I was just trying to help him out. Why he wouldn't help me is derived from pure laziness. THAT is why winning will be so sweet

Reply #17

justxploring — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:17:10 GMT

Love the graphics! I once asked this question on LP but nobody answered.....was it Henny Penny or Chicken Little who said the sky is falling? I was told the Henny Penny story. She told Goosey Loosey who told Ducky Daddle and Foxy Woxy.

Maybe that's what is wrong with our world - blame it on the childhood books we read. Perhaps Macki the Iraqi told Condi Wondi who told Georgie Porgie that the sky is falling. He passed the info along to Dicky Licky but nobody seems to care.

(dph... [ More ]

Reply #16

RJOh — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:00:14 GMT

Your situation is not unique, most people don't have enough extra time or money to help their relatives and family members pursue their gambling or any other addictions. It's very selfish of you to expect them to do so. If you were really willing to pay for their help then you could have hired someone else and not asked them.

I've helped family members with money and time when they've asked and when they had extra money to spend their only thought was I should be happy for them and not ex... [ More ]

Reply #15

SirMetro — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:52:09 GMT

Ah but the instant gratification one will enjoy can occasionally be worth the few problems a few well paid mercenaries can take care of for you.

I grew up on a farm. Many many times, when the crops such as peas, snap beans, corn or watermelons would become ready to harvest, I would watch many many times as my Mom would pick up the phone and call all the relatives and let them know they could come get as much as they would like to have at no cost. They only have to gather it. And everytime, th... [ More ]

Reply #14

s5thomps — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:33:11 GMT

I would also say no, Your immediate plans should be to take care of your family and set aside money for your future so you would not have to work unless you chose to. Personally I have a list of people that have helped me along the way that I would certainly help out. My mom is at the top of my list, My father passed away a couple of years ago and left her in pretty good shape financially. As for myself I have not been doing to well in the finacial department. She has helped me to stay afloat th... [ More ]

Reply #13

truecritic — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:30:19 GMT

I was taught by the Little Red Hen

Check Google if you don't remember that story.

Reply #12

justxploring — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 17:00:54 GMT

Be careful. Being vindictive might cause more problems than you expect.

Reply #11

lottolaughs — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:27:38 GMT

I'd have to say no. Many times I have asked my cousin for help in doing some tedious lottery data gathering so I could work on more important things and he has continually refused me even when I offered to pay him. So, when I win, I can't wait to share my good news with him. In fact, he will be the first person I call

Reply #10

dphillips — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:00:54 GMT

Hey, I look at it from this standpoint. If you didn't give me any money toward the lottery, then you'll not receive any money when I win. The end of the discussion, period!

My favorite charity would be the ASPCA. They, the animals, have no voice and they are innocent victims. People, on the other hand, know better -- so I'm not full of compassion and mercy (unless they are babies and the elderly.)

So, having said my mouthful, no winner owes a family member, a friend, or an associat... [ More ]

Reply #9

Lotterologist — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:51:13 GMT

Would I let other people make me feel bad for not giving them money? People don't control my emotions...I do. Family or not family, I would give to the godly man, but not the sinner. Don't cast your pearls before swines. They'll trample them and charge after you

Reply #8

justxploring — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:46:16 GMT

Interesting question. I voted No. A friend (notice the quotes) said to me a few weeks ago that she would share with me if she ever won. I asked if she bought tickets and she answered only once in a while when the jackpot is high. Well, my answer to her was I have been buying tickets regularly for many years and if I win, I probably won't share my prize with you. She didn't appreciate the honesty.

By the way, although it has absolutely nothing to do with the lottery, this perso... [ More ]

Reply #7

Rick G — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:39:17 GMT

I voted no.

My response to the guilt-layer: Are you prepared to give me the same amount of time and money I've invested in this pursuit?

After that, we'll talk .

Reply #6

Coin Toss — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:34:05 GMT

Add me to the No votes.

For one thing, there would be too many others.

For another, I remember one winner who was interviewed and said he had several given people a million dollars each, and every single one of them came back to him asking for more.

We play Mega Millions with a friend of ours who has a shop. Everytime he asks how many want to play he gets the song and dance about the chances of being hit by lightning...blah blah everyone here knows that routine I'm sure. But there is... [ More ]

Reply #5

tntea — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:23:22 GMT

I could not image asking a lottery winner for any of their money. I have never really thought of anyone I know who would ask me for my winnings. I am a very generous person right now... Winning a big one... I would put the money in trust funds for my grandchildren.. and if anyone asked me for money, (which I know wouldn't be a friend or family ), I would tell them I have it put away for the children.

Reply #4

MrBobb — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:08:14 GMT

I voted no. Actually I would have voted HELL NO!! if it was one of the options. For me, that sums it up much better.

If folks want money, they can do what I do: set aside money to play and study the game(s). Since Alabama has no lottery, I have to drive to Georgia for my tickets. Or get them while I'm on vacation. Counting travel and game analysis, I spend a fair amount of time and effort playing the lottery, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna give it away to every Jane or Joe who deci... [ More ]

Reply #3

guesser — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:59:29 GMT

Nobody will make me feel bad about it, they can play the game just like I can.

The ONLY way someone is going to get something out of me is by me judging how they have treated me in the past: if it's someone I have not heard from in 'forever', then no. If it's someone that has kept in touch with me, and they are honest, hard-working people, then what I would consider doing is something based on need, but I will never give anyone money.

What I mean is, if someone has their car blow up, I... [ More ]

Reply #2

stavros — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:56:36 GMT

If I were to win big, I would freely give to family and friends the amounts I felt comfortable with. I would not feel pressured into doing this, and would not feel guilty about not sharing if that were mu choice.

Reply #1

JAG331 — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:19:13 GMT

I would probably feel guilty about saying no to friends and family who asked for excessive amounts (i.e., more than I think they should get from my win!). Lotteries should require that lottery winners go through mental counseling and coaching, about what responses and demands to expect from friends and family.

A question about sharing your wealth with others.

Guru101 — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:09:35 GMT

We've all read the horror stories. Someone hits the jackpot. All of a sudden family, friends, and people they didn't even know came running to them for money. Eventually, they end up giving it all away and they're back to where they were. My question to you all is: Would you let other people make you feel bad for not giving them money? I would certainly share some of the money I won, but I REFUSE to let someone make me feel bad for not giving them any of it. They might make you feel as if you're... [ More ]