I only spend about $20-$40 tops a month on the lottery, and I divide it up between Match 6, Powerball, Mix and Match, and Big-4. I play the Big4- tops about 4 times a week 4 tickets. But like I said I quit buying them for awhile. I noticed that when I play more and spend more money, I get less wins.
The secret is to just play once in awhile and what you can afford. I never get more than 2-3 Big-4 tickets at a time, and both times I won they were only one ticket! So that makes it much sweeter and more profitable. I know that if I had more money to play that I would win more often, especially boxed. But my goal is to spend the least amount possible and win the most possible, which works out perfectly with the 50/50 bet. 50 cents won me $2500 and another 50 cents got me $100. That is pretty sweet!
I tried playing the same number all the time too, but always missed by one and it cost me more money. I seem to do better on whims and random number I pick last second. Like I said Iknow people who play like $10 a day and have never won straight yet. I also never just play boxed, as I could not live with myself if it came up straight. I always just throw the 50 cents down. 50/50 is also good because no taxes are taken out and you get the cash up front. You should see the looks on the people's faces when you get it lol.
I loved when I took it in and the clerk looked in shock, and asked the manager, "Umm how much money do we got?" :) So when I win I make sure to go mid-afternoon when the safe is full.