Tag Archives: lottery

Money Musings: You Can Never Be Too Rich to Fail

Recently, there was a news report that a ticket bought in California had won the sixth highest lottery jackpot in the United States, earning approximately US$425 million in the process. The Powerball winner would net just over half that figure if he or she opted to take home a lump sum.

It would be easy to think that this sudden windfall of money would make the recipient financially secure for life. However, there are myriad stories of other big lottery winners who squandered their riches in record time and had little to show for their good fortune after a few years.

Many people believe that if they could earn a large enough sum of money, whether through lady luck or in their regular job or business income, then they would never have to worry about money again. Once their cash inflow is significant, they think that they can live their dream lives forever. Continue reading Money Musings: You Can Never Be Too Rich to Fail

Sudden Wealth Syndrome

“With the present uncertainty regarding our investments, the viability of our jobs, and our financial future in general, I wonder if it might be a good idea to aggressively focus on winning the lottery as a wealth-building strategy. Even though the odds are against us, this might be the only way some of us will ever achieve financial success.”

As strange as it may sound, an investment plan that involves winning the lottery and other games of chance is probably more widely practiced than we may think. I have seen people consistently purchase lottery tickets, interpret their dreams to ‘catch the cash pot’, or bet on horses using disciplined strategies. Some may not consider this activity as gambling, but would prefer to think that they are working to secure a regular income.

Obviously, gambling is not the best route to secure one’s financial future. However, many people still dream of obtaining a wealth windfall. How many times have we heard people say, “If I had a million dollars, I’d never be broke again,” or If only I could get my hands on a lump sum of money, I could pay off my debts and start a new life.” Continue reading Sudden Wealth Syndrome