JACKPOT

To increase your chances of winning the Powerball lottery buy 47,000 tickets a week for eighty years. Or buy 195 million tickets with all possible number combinations for just one Powerball drawing which would mean that you already have enough money so why risk it on Powerball if it only slightly increases your chances of winning.

Some Powerball watchers warn players to stay away from numbers 31 and under. Also, buying more than one ticket will mathematically increase your odds but not enough to make a difference. Eventually, you'll lose money in the long run. Powerball has been won more often by single ticket purchasers than those who purchased multiple tickets.

From what I gather, picking your own numbers gives you a nearly non-existent advantage over the quick pick. Just keep in mind that your chances of winning Powerball are the same as you living two hundred times longer than the world’s oldest tree. Playing the lottery weekly is rated as one of the worst investments you can make.

Lottery winners do not always have it easy after winning. They spend more money and then discover that only by spending even more money does it bring them the same level of anticipated happiness. Money is like a drug. It gets you high when you buy something with it, but demands you keep on buying in order to maintain your level of self satisfaction. Lottery winners need to be aware of the consequences of winning the money. Often times they lose close friends and feud with relatives. Their spending becomes habitual. It's not unusual for lottery winners to experience mood swings. They begin to identify themselves by their wealth rather than their experiences.

We all think we'd be better off with more money. While it's true we'd have fewer worries about going broke, we're also burdened with the task of managing the money and wringing the most enjoyment from it. Are we getting the most bang for our billion dollar buck? Is life really about wealth or health? What does it matter how much money you have if you feel like hell.

I bought a lottery ticket for 2 bucks. That means I've only microscopically increased my chances of winning than if I hadn't spent the two bucks playing the game. In other words, the chances of my winning the lottery by buying a ticket are only insignificantly better than the person who didn't buy a ticket.

By the way, the first thing most men would buy if they won the lottery would be a car. Then they'd get a financial advisor and let them manage the rest of it. Couples would go on trips and cruises and give money to the kids or the grandchildren. Single women would buy a home or a lavish condominium someplace.

The nice thing about having half a billion dollars is that you can afford to get away from everything if you want to. You can go lie in the sun and take care of your health and buy some toys. But most of all you can be where you want to be whenever you want. You can afford to get away from it all and stay there.