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What would you do if you won the lottery? **November 6, 2020** I have created the idea of writing this article after @MikeD replied to one of my comments and relate it to lottery winners who go broke easily.

Every time you heard this question, the answers would possibly be, buy an upscale car, build a huge house, open a business, buy a resort, have a luxurious vacation domestic or international, settle loans and other debts, or pay bills.

Well, it is a hypothetical question by someone who has ever yearned of winning an enormous fortune instantly. However, a lottery winner is more likely to become broke within three to five years. And winning the lottery doesn't necessarily make you happier or healthier. They say that many lottery winners grapple with depression, suicide, addiction, and divorce. It is somewhat like a curse of the lottery because rather than improving their lives, they made their lives worse.

For example, **Andrew Jackson Whittaker Jr.** An American businessman who won the lottery jackpot in 2002. He won US$314.9 million in the Powerball multi-state lottery, and at that point, it was the biggest jackpot ever won in the American lottery history. However, after winning the lottery, he had several struggles with the law and personal tragedies. He had that habit of putting a huge amount of cash in his car. Unfortunately, thieves broke into his car and made away with hundreds of thousands of cash, and it happened several times. The reason why he was putting huge cash in his car? "*Because I can*," Andrew said. Moreover, after winning the lottery, his daughter and granddaughter died due to drug overdoses. He received different lawsuits due to illegal acts, and the worst, the absence of true friends. In 2007, thieves took all his money by withdrawing from 12 different City National Bank branches where his money was stored. In December 2016, his house was set on fire and deemed an entire loss. Unfortunately, it wasn't insured. His life ended at the age of 72 in June 2020 following a long illness. Although many lottery winners go broke after a couple of years, some survived the turmoil and go on to succeed. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whittaker_

Take **Sandra Hayes**, a lottery winner in Missouri who managed to stand on her two feet even after dividing her $224 million Powerball jackpot to 12 colleagues. Hayes said in her interview by Associated Press, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/28/winner-lottery-bankrupt/1731367/ *"I had to endure the greed and the need that people have, trying to get you to release your money to them. That caused a lot of emotional pain."* Hayes had managed to avoid financial misfortune by keeping her economical lifestyle even if she no longer lives paycheck to paycheck. According to her, if the lottery winners are not disciplined, they will really go broke, even if how much money they have. Another inspiring story of a lottery winner who managed the winning prize smartly without falling into temptations and financial misfortune.

**Charlie Lagarde**, a Canadian young lady who opted for $1,000 a week to fund her education. On her 18th birthday, Charlie bought a bottle of sparkling water at a convenience store nearby together with a $4 scratch lottery ticket. And that is how her fortune started. The first and only ticket she had bought give the opportunity to pursue her dream. Being a young winner, she was offered the choice of either a $1 million (£550,000) lump sum or $1,000 (£550) weekly allowance for the rest of her life. According to **washingtonpost.com/news**, Charlie chose the $1,000 per week. She said she wants to invest the money in her education, and become a professional photographer in the future. She also wants to pursue one of her passion which is traveling, and dream to work for National Geographic. The spokesman for the lottery corporation, **Patrice Lavoie**, called it a https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/03/28/she-bought-her-first-lottery-ticket-on-her-18th-birthday-and-now-shes-set-for-life/%3foutputType=amp *“a great start in life” for a “kind, down-to-earth, and well-advised young lady.”* The odds of winning the lottery are very low and are never in your favor. The concept that you will hit the jackpot one day is just a fantasy at best and a gamble at worst. Winning the lottery will not certainly make you rich or happy. Good luck to those who are planning to gamble, and more than luck to those who win. You need very good financial management and plan to prevent misfortune a few years from now. And most importantly, you need to consider being grateful for what you have been provided and improving close subjective relationships with people around you. While writing this article, I remember my father who once a millionaire and go broke a few years later. But he didn't win in the lottery, he got it from his retirement. Back in 2014, he was a millionaire since he had few millions in his bank account. I actually don't like how he managed his money. And I didn't care much about his plans during those times since I had my own job and was earning on my own. He put up a lending business, build a grocery store for my mother, and renovated our house. All are positive actually. However, in regards to his lending business, it wasn't managed well and just a few years later, he filed for bankruptcy. The reason was, he allowed different people from our place to lend money from him, and some with no collateral. Other lenders flew away and didn't pay him back. Some went missing after the strong typhoon Yolanda hits our country last 2015. Due to lack of financial management and plans, most of his hard-earned money just gone like bubbles in the air. And who suffered the most now? His family. Since I am dealing with this topic, I want to share my answer to this question. **What will I do if I hit the jackpot?** I have three things in my mind. I always tell my mother before that if I won the lottery, I will do this and that. Then she will reply to me, "how will you be able to win if you are not even buying a ticket?" That is funny right? And that is true. I am not buying a lottery ticket. But I might consider it one day. I just want to try anyway. Those three things are not for myself, but others. So the three things that I will do with the winning prize are: **1. Save money for my parent's retirement plan, my little sibling's educational plan, and for an emergency plan.** First and foremost, I will save some money for my parent's retirement plan. As our parents grow older, we need to save money for their check-ups, vitamins and medicines, and for other health-related issues. And of course, I will save for myself too. We will reach that transition to retirement, so we want to prepare for it, and that is the reason why we are working while we are young and still capable. Moreover, I want to save for my little sibling's educational plan. It is the thing that my father didn't do when he still has the money. I always hate him for not considering the advice of other people around him. He is kind of egoistic, and he always thought he is right. But because of that attitude of him, he becomes broke. So if I have a big sum of money, I will always consider saving some for my family and will listen to other people's advice. And of course, save for an emergency plan. We don't know what will happen the next day we wake oof while walking in the streets, or while riding on a vehicle. The most important thing we should have for our family is to get an emergency plan. **2. Help the less fortunate people** It may sound unbelievable to you, but yes, it is true. Every time I see unfortunate people like scavengers, street children, handicaps, and other people with disabilities, I always tell myself that, one day, if I become a millionaire, I will help those unfortunate people. I want to put up a center that will help to educate those street children so they won't follow the wrong path. In our city, there are a lot of street children who suffered because of their parent's misfortune. Some street children become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Some became thieves and do illegal works. And the government won't solve that issue alone. Meanwhile, many people with disabilities don't get a decent job because they are being rejected by some companies. Some employer's thought that their disabilities will hinder their work. Here in Hong Kong, people with disabilities are welcome to apply to some establishments like restaurants and fast-food chains. If you will visit Mcdonalds in Hong Kong, you will see some servers and cleaners with disabilities. If they are capable to do a certain job, why not allow them to work? And lastly, I pity those scavengers who are eating leftover foods thrown at garbage bins. They look disgusting while eating those foods, but at the same time, they are pitiful. While other people are just throwing foods, there are millions of people around the world who are starving and can bear to eat whatever they've got from the garbage bins. If I have the money, I will put up a business and my employees are the less fortune people. While others are indulging in their wealth, others are suffering due to poverty and lack of education. If you are capable to help, why not lend a hand to them? **3. Donate to a charity helping cancer patients** In our country, cancer is considered a national health priority that is one of the leading causes of mortality and mobility, that impacts individuals, families, communities, and the health system. According to Philippine Cancer Control Program, 189 of every 100,000 Filipinos are suffering from cancer. And there are four Filipinos die of cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day. Most of the cancer patients came from a simple family and cannot afford to get treatment. I even have relatives who died due to cancer. I feel pity especially for young people who already suffered from this illness. If you have the money, why not give help to them? Many dreams of hitting the jackpot one day and free them from financial burdens. However, the chances of winning the lottery are very low and it will never favor you. But as long as you treat the lottery as nothing more than a short entertainment paid with small amounts of money you can afford to lose — you will probably be fine. **What about you, what would you do if you won the lottery? I would be glad to read your answers below.** https://www.doh.gov.ph/philippine-cancer-control-program **Written by: @Jane**

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