What I Would Spend Lottery Money On

Everyone has probably heard the phrase ’money does not buy happiness’ by now. However, this assertion is not often true. A longitudinal study by Gardner and Oswald of lottery winners and a control group without any wins revealed that the winners had more markers for happiness (49). These results suggest that winning money can lead to happiness. If I manage to win the lottery, my focus will be achieving this happiness. I will not allow myself to get stressed over how I want to use my winnings to get even more money. Instead, I will choose to relax and appreciate my luck. Therefore, if I win the lottery, I will focus on rewarding myself, my best friend, and family members who had always supported me even before I got the money.

My first move will be to reward myself with a car and a new apartment. I believe that there would be no reason to play the lottery if I do not expect a sudden change in life. Often, people who play the lottery are those who choose not to wait for success through the traditional way of business or employment. Therefore it is quite understandable that they would want immediate gains from success in gambling. This assertion does not imply I will burn through the money. Instead, the amount of money I will spend on personal wants will depend on how much I win. The more, the money, the more I can use to buy myself the things I have always wanted.

I think it would be sad to want something in life but still be unable to get it when you have the means because you are worried about societal expectations. Therefore, I will not do what others expect me to do, but rather, what I have always wanted to do within legal limits.

I must also consider my family if I win the lottery. I cannot accurately quantify the money my parents have spent on me. Therefore, it would only be logical that I give some back to them if I win a lot of money. Money usually has a significant influence on how people relate and differences in income can cause people to grow apart and interact less. Therefore, if I win the lottery, I will appreciate my parents, and this can show them that I have not changed as a person because of money. This strategy will send a message that even though my net worth has changed, I still value people and place them over the money I have won. I will also consider my parents because I know that if I am ever in need again, they will not hesitate to step in and help me. Therefore, giving money to my family is, in some way, me helping myself.

I will also share some of the money with my best friend. Often, the person who knows most about an individual is not her family members but her best friend. We have shared dreams and goals, and both of us always include each other in our future. Spending the money I win alone will probably not bring me happiness because I will still be lonely. However, spending it with a person I value and know does not care about the money as much she does about me can be a great experience. I know of all her wishes, and I would be happy to make even one of them come true. The other reason that I will choose to share the money with my best friend is that she would probably do the same for me. Additionally, while money can get spent, the friendship will probably last longer.

Ultimately, I will use the lottery money to meet my immediate wants and those of my family and friends. This choice is because overthinking the use of this money can deny an individual the happiness money can bring. Personal rewards within the budget can make a person happier and improve mental well-being. Additionally, giving some money to family members equals reciprocating all the times that they have supported me. They will also act as my backup in case life gets tougher, and I no longer have the money. Additionally, sharing some of the money with my bets-friend will allow me to really enjoy the other things that I gift myself. We have known each other for quite a long time and always promised to help each other. Therefore, I will also share the money with her because she will do the same for me.