Raleigh United States
Member #205,098
March 11, 2020
1 Post
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Hi everyone! I recently decided I’d like to purchase $30 worth of scratch off tickets each month. I’m strict about my budget. I plan on purchasing the tickets in one transaction, once a month and scratching them throughout the month. My question is should I purchase...
Thirty $1 tickets
Fifteen $2
Ten $3
Six $5
Or a combination of the above? And why?
My goal is to have fun while keeping the door open for a surprise win. If I win 40 cents per dollar back I’ll be more than happy, 60 cents per dollar I’ll be super happy. If I break even I’ll be THRILLED! Any profit is a bonus.
My hunch, since my budget is so limited and my goal isn’t to win big, is to play the $2 or $1 tickets. I think they may strike a balance between my budget and opportunities (# of tickets). It just seems to me that six $5 tickets a month (72 tickets a year) just isn’t enough tickets to potentially see the odds balance towards possibly winning back 40-50% of what I spend. What do you think?
Pennsylvania United States
Member #109,270
April 9, 2011
1,628 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by dollarscratcher on Mar 11, 2020
Hi everyone! I recently decided I’d like to purchase $30 worth of scratch off tickets each month. I’m strict about my budget. I plan on purchasing the tickets in one transaction, once a month and scratching them throughout the month. My question is should I purchase...
Thirty $1 tickets
Fifteen $2
Ten $3
Six $5
Or a combination of the above? And why?
My goal is to have fun while keeping the door open for a surprise win. If I win 40 cents per dollar back I’ll be more than happy, 60 cents per dollar I’ll be super happy. If I break even I’ll be THRILLED! Any profit is a bonus.
My hunch, since my budget is so limited and my goal isn’t to win big, is to play the $2 or $1 tickets. I think they may strike a balance between my budget and opportunities (# of tickets). It just seems to me that six $5 tickets a month (72 tickets a year) just isn’t enough tickets to potentially see the odds balance towards possibly winning back 40-50% of what I spend. What do you think?
Thanks in advance!
I would keep switching it up. Don't rule out a $20+$10 or even a $30. 15 $2 tickets will let you play longer and better chance at maybe getting $10 back. However I would mix in a $20 or $30 here and there to potentially find that $100 or greater. You get less tickets but better chance to find a higher value winner.. If you are looking to just have fun and make your money last longer, then stick with the $2's and 5's.
Cape Canaveral United States
Member #192,037
September 3, 2018
1,131 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by dollarscratcher on Mar 11, 2020
Hi everyone! I recently decided I’d like to purchase $30 worth of scratch off tickets each month. I’m strict about my budget. I plan on purchasing the tickets in one transaction, once a month and scratching them throughout the month. My question is should I purchase...
Thirty $1 tickets
Fifteen $2
Ten $3
Six $5
Or a combination of the above? And why?
My goal is to have fun while keeping the door open for a surprise win. If I win 40 cents per dollar back I’ll be more than happy, 60 cents per dollar I’ll be super happy. If I break even I’ll be THRILLED! Any profit is a bonus.
My hunch, since my budget is so limited and my goal isn’t to win big, is to play the $2 or $1 tickets. I think they may strike a balance between my budget and opportunities (# of tickets). It just seems to me that six $5 tickets a month (72 tickets a year) just isn’t enough tickets to potentially see the odds balance towards possibly winning back 40-50% of what I spend. What do you think?
Thanks in advance!
Hi dollarscratcher, and welcome! I'm with omiller on trying a variety, including considering higher $ games.
Also, I'm not sure how many times you've tried scratch offs so this info might be too basic, but either way if NC games are like ones in FL most are number match, but some alternative game formats will take longer to play, like crossword, bingo, etc., which can be good if stretching out the entertainment factor is desirable.
Something else to consider, especially pertaining to higher price point games, is that each tickets doesn't necessarily have to be played in one sitting, or even day. You may have already ruled out playing a ticket over multiple days, but if not then it might be an option to try (I've done it at times, lol). Think about this...in FL a $1 number match game typically has one winning number and 5 numbers to compare to the winning number, so if you purchased ten such games you'd have a total of fifty number match attempts across the ten tickets (5 x 10). A $10 game here has six winning numbers and 15 to compare, or a total of 90 match attempts (6 x 15), equivalent to 18 $1 games. I know the thought of playing a $10 game over multiple days (probably 15 days max, realistically) only to find it's a loser might sour you to the concept, but it might also lead to a sizable win (only takes one!)...or you could do something like work a $10 game into the mix and expose a match number every other day (which would take 30 days), all the while concurrently playing the other $20 as you wish throughout those 30 days. Such a scenario for sure takes discipline, which it seems you have, given you've set a budget (excellent move, btw), and are committed to sticking to it (also good).
Either way have fun and hope to see you post some nice wins!