A fellow blogger Dr. Victor Bodo wrote about the types of happiness. He identified 4 types of happiness by origin – coming from pleasure, from purpose, from spirituality, and one from following a wise path. Lottery winnings can greatly impact the first type of happiness. However, I don’t think they can make me younger, smarter, healthier, wiser, or more connected to the family and community, leaving the 3 other types of happiness unchanged or at risk.
I once met a lottery winner while standing in line for bread. Those who have lived in communism know that shortages were common, and waiting in long lines for basic stuff was a daily chore. In my case, it was bread. An old man stood in front of me, loudly sharing the story of his life. Years ago, he had won the national lottery, with the prize being a large apartment. Winning didn’t spare him from aging—or from standing in line like everyone else.
So, in case I won the lottery, I think I’d rather invest the winnings and live a normal life than surrender to a life of luxury and riches. I might get myself an electric car 🙂
Last year I blogged that I think money can’t make you happier beyond a certain limit. I still believe it.
Veselin.blog 
Definitely a lifestyle upgrade. But not a Ferrari and a Rolex type of upgrade. Just some new stuff as mine is tired and old, I would definitely keep my car, a 12 year old car that has done me wonders. She would definitely get treated to a big service and a valet. I don’t need or want a mansion, just a cosy 2 bedroom with a garden and I’ll be happy. So that would be a small portion(hopefully) of the winnings, the rest, gonna put that money to work to make me more money. A few investments to make extra income.
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My dad was an accountant who worked for a wide range of clients, individuals and small businesses, in Cambridge UK. You get a number of quite interesting clients in Cambridge. Quite a few years ago now somebody walked in who had stock options in some company and they’d just sold, so suddenly he had a lot of money. He didn’t know what to do with it, but he didn’t want anything extravagant. Apparently he did buy himself one thing: a new bicycle for getting around town. Cambridge is a very bike-friendly place.
I don’t know what I’d do. Maybe go part time!
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Sounds like a solid choice compared to Ferraris and big houses.
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You have to buy a lottery ticket before you can win, which explains why I am unlikely to win any lottery.
On occasion I do it, but not with any expectation I will win. If I did win on one of those rare occasions, I would likely just reinvest it and continue doing what I do. As you say, maybe buy a new electric vehicle. Maybe an e-bike for those times I want to ride further than my fitness will permit. Maybe a tiny home out in one of the nearby forests. The rest would go towards investments.
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I like this post. Maybe I’ll write about something like this, too.
In many ways, I feel like I won the lottery. I’ve been very fortunate in life, thus far. Your story about meeting the man who won the larger apartment, yet still got old and had to stand in line for bread, is a good example of how, when it comes down to it, we are all humans. And we all have to deal with the limits that come with being human. Money can’t buy everything.
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Money can buy alcohol. That old man looked drunk. I skipped from the story it because it was 35+ years ago but now that I think about it, quite relevant.
The kids in school who started smoking and drinking early were the kids who had more money. Money is not always good.
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Well, I have to admit, I like my alcohol. But I wouldn’t buy that over providing for my own needs. The old man was probably self-medicating, because he likely remembered times when things were more hopeful, and he didn’t have to stand in line for bread. He probably used to have a lot more faith than he did at that time, as he waited to buy something as basic as bread.
I’m reading an interesting book right now about how East Germany formed. It’s reminding me a lot of current events, which makes it a bit depressing to read. But, on the other hand, it’s also fascinating. I worry that pretty soon, the greedy oligarchs will give us Americans more of a taste of that breadline reality.
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Life is too short to read depressing books 🙂
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Not if you come from a country where people don’t learn from history.
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They say the history repeats itself but I’d say that the doom prophecies sell books and news.
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There’s probably truth in both ideas. I do see a lot of similarities, though. Maybe the “isms” aren’t the same, but the methods of oppression are looking increasingly similar.
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I know one person who’s won a large jackpot at the casinos. She was a housekeeper at the Moundhouse brothels when she one. She’s a train wreck now.
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