Once you've won a big prize from the lottery, you may believe that all of the serious effort is performed. On the contrary, you'd be quite wrong! There are many documented cases of individuals who've hit it big only to lose their fortunes through bad deals, unhealthy living, selfish acts, and other unfortunate events. So if you want to be a lottery success story, and avoid the famous "lottery curse" that seems to always make it to the front page of newspapers, below are some tips to help.
Get an attorney or financial planner
Before going public with your lottery winnings, it is a great idea to talk to a lawyer and a financial planer. Certain lawyers specialize in lottery winners and the way to best begin a wise life that will make the most of their winnings. Bear in mind, the ultra-rich (millionaires and billionaires) got that way by being wise with their money. They have had their wealth for an extended time. You, in contrast, as a brand new lottery winner, are thrust into the role of ultra-wealthy, without needing the years of expertise that others may have had. This is why an attorney can give great advice and be a good help when you begin your new life.
A financial planner is additionally a significant person to speak to. Also they can help you make the decisions early on within your life to guarantee that you never have to work again. If you make wise investments with your lottery winnings, in place of spending it foolishly, you will truly be a lottery success story.
Concentrate on your dreams
Winning the lottery is something that most of us dream of doing. So now that you've won, what would you like to do with your winnings? Maybe you have always wanted to travel. This is now your opportunity to become a world traveler. Or possibly you have always regretted that you were not able to go to college. You now have the chance to get that degree! Making a list of all your hopes and dreams will help you to search out the most effective path to achieve them.
Moreover, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a whole new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. Almost all people don't love their jobs, but find it nice to possess a hobby to take up time. Your hobby can now become your full-time profession, if you wish it. Being happy means spending your time doing the things you love.
Discover ways to say "No"
Whenever you make a big win at the lottery, you will hear from friends you haven't spoken to in years. You will hear from cousins that you never knew existed. You may even hear from complete strangers! How did everybody find you all of a sudden?
Most state lotteries make their winners public. It's in their terms of service that winners must be prepared to go public. They do this for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is a great promotional device and it generates interest within the lottery. It also proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there's absolutely no cheating going on. The flip side of this really is that having their names made public puts a target on many lottery winners' lives. As a whole new lottery winner, you will have to learn how to say "no" to the many requests which will be coming to you. Should you have a hard time doing this, then you will be quickly taken advantage of, and pretty soon you will find your fortunes dwindling.
One alternative for anyone who might not be looking forward to a life of public scrutiny is to try their hand at online lotteries. The relative anonymity provided by winning online implies that a big winner can still remain relatively anonymous. If you have always dreamed of having everything, but you want to still live the life of a regular Joe, then you certainly may want to try your hand at online lotteries.
Give some back to charity
Despite the fact that you certainly will have to say "no" to a lot of greedy people trying to take advantage of you, you could find that you are serious about giving back to charity. Many millionaires and billionaires have done great things with their donations, whether it be to hospitals, colleges, or any other non-profit organizations. You can even donate your time! Despite the fact that it sounds crazy, many millionaires and
lottery winners do it. (In the event that you don't have a regular job any more, or only work part time as a result of winning the lottery, you may have a lot more free time for you to share and may find that you enjoy volunteering tour time).
If you do choose to give to charity, do your research first. You are going to need to discover what your interests are and how you would like to see your hard earned money spent, so make a list about which charities interest you. You may even research your favorite charities to determine where they spend their cash, simply how much of each gift they receive is used for charity, and other facts. This information should help you decide on several worthy charities.