Lottery
Hmmm, seems Georgia is once again a Powerball state. We were before, but kicked that to join the Mega Millions game instead. Now we've got both, giving gullible folk the chance to waste twice as much money playing. Guess I'll toss a buck in tonight (hey, I'm as gullible as anyone!), since the jackpot is over the $100 million mark (my usual level before I'll play)
Elizabeth hates when I waste money on it. Not that I spend that much. I might lay down $25 over the course of a whole year. I only buy tickets when the jackpots are big, and only one ticket at a time. I'm not naive enough to think I'll win, but the "dream" that I might is worth the cost to me. Same reason I might spend a few minutes entering various online contests each day.
I've actually been quite lucky when it comes to the payouts. Last year I had a $100 win that I used to pay for gas on a trip. So I'm way ahead of the game in spending vs costs.
But it does bother me when I go to the grocery store and see someone buy $50 or so worth of tickets. The odds of winning are usually so astronomical that they aren't significantly increasing their chances with more tickets. One ticket gets you in the game at least, but fifty is ridiculous. And it really eats at me when I just saw that same person complaining that they couldn't buy their cigarettes on the EBT (welfare) card they were using to pay for the rest of their groceries. Grrr.
Not that I like telling folks what to do or how to spend their money, but if you are obviously needing help, then you shouldn't be wasting more of your money on longshot chances. Probably the reason they need help now... always looking for the easy out rather than working for it.
Ah well, mini rant done with. Time to find that lucky shilling I have at home and give it a rub.
Elizabeth hates when I waste money on it. Not that I spend that much. I might lay down $25 over the course of a whole year. I only buy tickets when the jackpots are big, and only one ticket at a time. I'm not naive enough to think I'll win, but the "dream" that I might is worth the cost to me. Same reason I might spend a few minutes entering various online contests each day.
I've actually been quite lucky when it comes to the payouts. Last year I had a $100 win that I used to pay for gas on a trip. So I'm way ahead of the game in spending vs costs.
But it does bother me when I go to the grocery store and see someone buy $50 or so worth of tickets. The odds of winning are usually so astronomical that they aren't significantly increasing their chances with more tickets. One ticket gets you in the game at least, but fifty is ridiculous. And it really eats at me when I just saw that same person complaining that they couldn't buy their cigarettes on the EBT (welfare) card they were using to pay for the rest of their groceries. Grrr.
Not that I like telling folks what to do or how to spend their money, but if you are obviously needing help, then you shouldn't be wasting more of your money on longshot chances. Probably the reason they need help now... always looking for the easy out rather than working for it.
Ah well, mini rant done with. Time to find that lucky shilling I have at home and give it a rub.