Funding your lottery habit

Reply #48

Scratch$ — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:16:09 GMT

I set a firm budget and stick with it. If you're not able to pay all your monthly bills because of lottery spending, you're spending too much.

Reply #47

maringoman — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 13:06:47 GMT

7 of the 62 people responded that I only play off of winnings which means they break-even or win more often than they lose. Whatever system they got going is one heck of a system.

Reply #46

helpmewin — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 05:25:58 GMT

Reply #45

rcbbuckeye — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:30:44 GMT

Got my tics last Sunday.

Good luck to me.

Gonna get the work pool tics tomorrow morning. Good luck to us. Really to us, because there's a couple of ladies in our pool that have some serious health issues that is going to cause major medical bills.

Reply #44

THRIFTY — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 12:59:14 GMT

Mega Millions jackpot is $180 Milllions for Friday 8/22/2014. Are you playing

Reply #43

LottoMetro — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:44:49 GMT

I don't know why but it disturbs me that someone would sell a part or livelihood of their body just to play the lottery. Food, rent, family...okay, but gambling?

Reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode where people sell their memories for cash

Reply #42

Goteki54 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:08:59 GMT

Gambling itself isn't what causes people to get into trouble, it's them not deciding what is an appropriate gaming budget is and having the discipline to stick to it. Lack of self control leads to self destruction.

Reply #41

savagegoose — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:05:13 GMT

its part of my monthly expenses. got the games on auto buy, and transfer cash ea 2 weeks to keep the online balance funded. its just a matter of actually hitting a winner

Reply #40

RL-RANDOMLOGIC — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 11:16:55 GMT

Anyone on a tight budget could sell a little blood, I have heard that a person can make around

$100.00, Blood banks are always in the market. This way you can save lives while putting some

deserving kid through college.

Reply #39

numberpulse — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:50:16 GMT

I would try to donate plasma for some extra $$ and then save them up for a while...until I decide to spend them on some smaller lotterys that I had in mind.

Reply #38

Coin Toss — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:09:11 GMT

If I had to concern myself with 'funding' my lottery habit I think I'd play a lot less.

Reply #37

Stack47 — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 02:47:44 GMT

I typically go in various dumpsters and pull out scratch-offs that people throw away.

Welcome to LP! Nothing personal, but I won't be shaking your hand.

Reply #36

icebuster — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 23:25:52 GMT

I play using other people's money. I seldom use my own money to play with. I typically go in various dumpsters and pull out scratch-offs that people throw away. If I find a winning ticket then I use the proceeds to play Cash-3 and Cash-4 lottery games. I also play Fantasy 5 and Decades of Dollars too. If I win, then I just keep playing using the winnings. I set a certain budget each game and only play when I have a strong hunch that a certain number or group of numbers will fall.

Lottery is t... [ More ]

Reply #35

RedStang — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:58:40 GMT

.. So you can imagine the take on a day that I have off and actually work all four locations

I'm going to take a guess and say $63.

Reply #34

maringoman — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:37:51 GMT

Yesterday I decided to do something out of the ordinary. So I went and bought $20 worth of different $2 scratch cards and two of the $1 scratch cards. The scratch tickets won me $31. I didn't push my luck so I am slightly ahead this week. I will buy a second MM ticket and leave it at that.

Reply #33

Unkle Richie — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:08:43 GMT

Well I know some, hell maybe even all wont approve but any whoo you can't put the tooth paste back in the tube, now can you? Plus you can't argue with RESULTS. After Work I would drive ohhh i'd say maybe 13 miles probably 15 if im going str8 from work, to a disclosed location open my trunk and switch into my hobo clothing ( just a dingy dress shirt, some run down black Cole Hanns, and my ripped carpenter jeans) and post up at 1 of 4 very promising locations, it's like fishing if you have the cor... [ More ]

Reply #32

ttech10 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 23:15:06 GMT

My lottery budget is $104 a year, so it's really not too much. I may buy a scratch-off every now and then or put another dollar or two into a large jackpot but mostly I stick with $1 each MegaMillions draw.

That money is mostly saved by not eating fast food as much. Instead of a $7 meal at Chick-fil-a I'll make something with what I have. That one decision right there gets me almost all my lotto money for the month.

Reply #31

Stack47 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:57:34 GMT

Spending $6 a week playing MM and PB doesn't sound like much unless that is all they can afford and that's why I'm asking if they should be playing. In other words, if something unexpected comes up, does that mean you can't play the lottery until that bill is paid off?

I only play if I have extra cash at the time

So far that is the number one answer in the pole and it doesn't look like those people are budgeting money for lottery play.

Reply #30

luckyladie — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:37:43 GMT

I have stretched winnings for almost an entire week. I'll win a few extra dollars that I can bank. If I spent $20, I might win $60. I bank the $40 and keep using the $20. If I keep just winning $20 back, I'll keep at it until I am either tired of playing for the same change or keep playing that $20 until I'm down to half of it lost.

Reply #29

ThatScaryChick — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 05:03:21 GMT

If one has to limit their lottery play because of budget, maybe they shouldn't be playing?

Why though? You can be paying all your bills and putting some money into savings or whatever and still budget a little with money for playing the lottery.

Reply #28

onlymoney — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:25:02 GMT

You make some great points, but I don't understand the moral of the story..

Reply #27

onlymoney — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:20:03 GMT

I only play when I'm in a job that pays enough to leave me a whole lot of Play Money . I'm in a situation that does allow this, and I have money saved but there's a voice telling me not to spend too much on the lottery, 3 bucks a day MAX for me, and so this modification also applies to non-lottery related situations in my life.

The world has finally gone nuts in my lifetime, so I'm cutting back on spending lots of money to buy things I don't really need, lottery related or not.

Great thr... [ More ]

Reply #26

Stack47 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:08:18 GMT

Most people probably justify playing the high odds games because of the jackpot and when the jackpots are close to record highs, they probably justify going over budget to buy more tickets. I knew people who couldn't buy cigarettes because they spent that money on lottery tickets.

When I quit smoking it meant I had more money to spend, but I never budgeted it specifically to something else so I guess I'm not in that camp. Lots of systems require money management and really not for people who... [ More ]

Reply #25

MzDuffleBaglady — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:08:09 GMT

If I have 50 cent, I m playing pick 3 box.

If I have $1.00 I m playing str/box.

Everyday, 2 times a day.

Good Luck.

Reply #24

Jamtastic — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:07:56 GMT

oh, i took it exactly the opposite way. i wonder which team she is on

Reply #23

MsNumberDreamer — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 03:37:29 GMT

She said what is a budget? I took that to mean that she has enough money that she doesn't have to live on a budget. Maybe I read it wrong! I'm saying it would be nice to have so much money that I'm like, what is budget?; have no idea what that means lol

Reply #22

Jamtastic — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 01:39:44 GMT

You wish you were that broke

Reply #21

MsNumberDreamer — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 17:22:12 GMT

Wish I could say that! lol

Reply #20

zinniagirl — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:20:05 GMT

Only a dollar or two here... Needs come first. (Two dollars a week is the limit.). To easy to get the fever and spend everything

Reply #19

HoLeeKau — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:08:12 GMT

I have an entertainment budget. I don't go to movies (I borrow them from the library) or buy DVDs or books (ditto) no magazines or newspapers, I get all that online. I consume alcohol occasionally but never at a bar, so I don't spend a lot of money on that indulgence. I don't have pay tv, I borrow the series DVDs from the library instead -- they usually have them within a couple months after each season ends so it's not that bad. So about 90% of my entertainment budget gets spent on lottery.... [ More ]

Reply #18

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:18:58 GMT

I set aside a certain amount of money each month to play with.

Reply #17

maringoman — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:35:20 GMT

Hello Mrs Tom Brady

Reply #16

cbr$ — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:04:44 GMT

I set a side money, to play in the lottery when I'm going on trips, the state that I'm going to be in the longs is where I bet the most. All other states I go through, I play a little. First winner , I play with that money, It the first winner is to large , [ticket has to be cash my lottery headquarter] , I have to continue to use stake money until second hit.On the return trip I buy tickets to watch here at home.

Reply #15

IPlayWeekly — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:54:36 GMT

I have a $34 weekly budget which covers 3 games.... I often win a few bucks back so my true cost is a lot less than 34. Like some have said, it's not a habit but a business cost... I run it like a business. In addition, I bring my lunch to work daily.

Reply #14

bigbear29 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:36:12 GMT

I play more scratch-offs than I do mm or pb. It is so easy to get drawn in to a game that only has one jackpot winner most of the time.

Reply #13

helpmewin — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:31:45 GMT

What is a budget

Reply #12

sully16 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:22:00 GMT

I have a budget, once that's gone I am done. If I win a little I play some more.

Reply #11

RJOh — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 03:43:48 GMT

I don't think of playing the lottery as a habit but as entertainment same as watching cable TV. I can do without both if they don't fit into my budget.

Reply #10

MsNumberDreamer — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 03:20:54 GMT

I don't think I find myself justifying it for those reasons but I can understand why they feel that way. I don't drink or smoke but my weakness is fast food so that is where I waste money (so to say). I am not an every day/draw player so I usually play when I have the extra money, when I feel lucky, or when the jackpot is at a decent amount. I do think if I could afford to play every day then I probably would then again I probably wouldn't because I am a sore loser

Reply #9

MsNumberDreamer — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 03:14:53 GMT

He's been doing it for a while now so I doubt he will get any help for it.

Reply #8

onlymoney — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 02:13:56 GMT

To some here, the cost is justified due to the fact that they don't smoke or drink, and attribute the expense to a hobby of some sort.

Do you find yourself NOT in that camp? And why

Reply #7

Jamtastic — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 01:42:31 GMT

It is not a habit, it is a regular expense.

Reply #6

LottoMetro — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 01:12:27 GMT

Playing the lottery can become expensive

Yes it can, especially if you continuously play more than a few dollars on games with terrible odds.

I technically don't have a limit on what I spend on the lottery, but simple math tells me I should spend as little as possible. So if I want action I'll buy a few $1 or $2 tickets. Like wait until multi-state jackpot is high and make a wish. If I'm more concerned with getting more of my money back and want better odds, which is usually the case, I'll... [ More ]

Reply #5

rcbbuckeye — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 01:05:50 GMT

I can afford $40 a week easy.

Reply #4

maringoman — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:21:17 GMT

When you play one line of MM PB two times a week then you will need just $6. Then there are weeks that you skip to give yourself a break

Reply #3

Theox- — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:09:42 GMT

That isn't healthy. I hope he gets help soon.

Reply #2

MsNumberDreamer — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:59:01 GMT

Same here. I have to make sure I have everything else in order before playing. I know someone that will spend half of his paycheck playing then have to borrow money for his bills. That is his routine.

Reply #1

Theox- — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:52:46 GMT

I play with whatever spare cash that I have. I will not go broke chasing my dream of winning big with the lottery.

Funding your lottery habit

MsNumberDreamer — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:45:17 GMT

Playing the lottery can become expensive, so how do you fund your habit? Do you have creative ways to afford to play