Why do you play the lottery? Most people play because they want to hit a mega jackpot and make all their dreams come true. But the beauty of the game is that even if you don’t hit the big prize, you can still walk away a winner. The recent spate of $1 million winners in the Mega Millions lottery is a perfect example.
In the month of April 2016, New Jersey was home to four $1million winners. That means that four people matched five of the six winning numbers. That’s an impressive statistic when you consider that matching all the numbers except for the Mega Ball are about 18,492,204 to 1.
Since April, each successive draw has yielded another million dollar winner in Hartford County and California. The winning tickets were purchased at Klein’s ShopRite and a Six Store Food mart respectively. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a quick purchase at your local grocery store can change your life!
But you’ll probably find that those winners are regular players. And even if they were hoping for the big jackpot, a little win like this can still make a big difference.
The latest winner is a landscape designer from Round Lake, Illinois. Jameson Fuller was at work when his wife sent him a message informing him that a local store had sold a winning ticket. Of course he checked his ticket right away and called her back with the good news. He still finished his day’s work but admitted that it was a little difficult to concentrate.
It just goes to show how your life can change in the blink of an eye. Of course Jameson has some ideas on what to do with his winnings. Top of his list is treating his parents to something nice such as a new car. And he wants to put some of his winnings towards his retirement. He’s a regular player and buys lottery tickets about three or four times a month. You can just tell that Jameson is a deserving winner.
But these are more than just feel-good stories. They hold some important lessons for all of us who enjoy playing the lottery. Firstly, it takes patience and perseverance. While some people may scoff at you for playing the lottery when the odds are overwhelming, the truth is that you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket. Even if you’re chance of hitting a jackpot seems small, you still have a chance.
Secondly, you’ve got to keep trying. Buy your tickets on a regular basis and watch every draw. Don’t throw your ticket in a drawer the moment you get home and forget about it. And if you’re the holder of a winning ticket, sign the back of the ticket straight away and keep it in a safe place until you can redeem it.
Thirdly, don’t focus solely on the jackpot. Even smaller prizes can change your life. Perhaps you won’t be able to quit your job straight away, but add it to your savings and you might be able to retire a little earlier. With some smart investing you could even turn a small jackpot into a big one.
Finally, think about how your winnings could change someone else’s life. Whether you use your jackpot to help out friends and family or a favourite charity, just being in a position to help others can bring you more happiness than a big pay out.
The Mega Millions jackpot is currently $218 Million! But even as the big jackpot keeps growing, the Mega Millions Lottery is changing the lives of ordinary people in 44 states, including Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There’s nothing to stop you being a part of that and all it takes is one ticket to enter the draw. How would a little jackpot change your life?
