When I was a little girl, and first became aware that there was such a thing as a lottery, I knew right then and there that I would win someday. In my young mind, “someday” was around the age range of 40-45. Well, I’m 44 now, and I’ve been preparing myself mentally and emotionally as well as financially to be ready to handle the responsibility of a sudden multi-million-dollar windfall. I’m not careless with money, nor am I a skinflint. I respect it for what it is—a vehicle by which to manifest all that I desire in life.

This is me winning the lottery:

My tastes and lifestyle haven’t changed all that much, because “bling” and pricey cars are not things that interest me. I’ve merely “upgraded” to the next level—moreso mentally than any other way. I’m more comfortable paying for things and more relaxed about my future knowing that by being savvy with my money, I’ll always have that cushion.

I don’t worry about being robbed because it is not in my nature to call attention to my financial status. One just has to be smart about it. I don’t flaunt it in places where it might be dangerous to do so. I am smart, savvy, and avoid complacency. I realize that money does come with a responsibility to it and behave accordingly.

I am so looking forward to being rich. Dirty, rotten, filthy, stinking rich. Or should I say beautifully, abundantly, wonderfully rich. BRING IT ON.

Here are interesting posts and news this week from the MoneyBlogNetwork members and beyond: Five Cent Nickel details the importance of buying flood insurance. Blueprint for Financial Prosperity doesn’t want to be rich. Consumerism Commentary gives thr…

“…Usually making financial decisions that increase our wealth also increase our freedom. When we have more, we can give more and the number of choices we have in how we use our money exponentially grows. But sometimes making a financial decision means having to choose either greater wealth or greater freedom. It is clear that our priority should be freedom….”

I will be honest I do want to be rich and given time I likely will be. However, I am dreading the idea of handing my money over to my kids if or when they are not ready for it.

I would much rather have a “family bank” that they can go to and borrow with the idea that they need to manage it smart after the loan is granted and be able to repay it after they have given the money some proper growth. Money can do good for them is they earn the right to have it and if they use it creatively.

I will also teach them about charity when they are a little older. As a matter of fact, my wife and I are already teaching our 5 year old about giving.

Paris Hilton is a big disgrace to anything decent in this world, I agree. However, I do not believe that this is simply because of the Hilton family fortune. It is all about the upbringing. Something must have gone wrong there. To illustrate the point though, there is also a lot of lazy, arrogant bums out there who live off of wellfare, spending your and my tax dollars and breeding like there is no tomorrow. Therefore, I tend to think that being RICH is not a pre-requisit for being SHAMELESS.

Thank you.

FH

Poor people are exposed to far more “person to person” crime than rich people are, but of course, I don’t have any statistics to back up that statement. If you were to look at regional crime maps, I think you’d find that there is far more crime in impoverished areas than there is in wealthier areas.

But generally, I do agree with the post. Money can bring a whole set of problems with it. I think that most PF bloggers and their audiences would be the most likely to handle the money in an intelligent way.

What do you mean “I mean like lottery rich”? That’s ambiguous. You mean undeserved windfalls? Lots of people get undeserved windfalls just by owning stellar-performing stocks. But they have goals and discipline to manage their profits.

On lottery winners: The lottery is not the only way to become “lottery rich”, whatever that means. You can work a well-paying job and become a millionaire several times over. In fact, your CHANCES of becoming rich by being trained and becoming a skilled worker are much HIGHER than by playing the lottery. You should WANT to become rich as a reward for your diligent labor. BTW, I’m of the school of thought that state-sponsored lotteries are a horrible way to fund things like public schools, since such sudden riches promised and received by players ruins so many members of the public that schools are trying to educate. What a contradiction!

On rich kids being spoiled: Over-generalization. I cite myself as an example. My father was likely a millionaire, although he hardly let anyone in on it. Our family lived by the principles of good education, hard work, and fair compensation. We tithed. We refrained from excessive worldly entertainment. We treasured family relationships. I use my inheritance to fund my frugal living while I work on an advanced degree. What happens when money is managed to take care of your basic needs? You’re freed to pursue loftier goals.

On poor people being robbed: Poor people can be robbed, not by a bank robber. By the used-car salesman. By your employer. By the state lottery games and casinos. By sellers of all kinds of insurance. By credit card companies. By their own refusal to be educated.

I want to be filthy stinkin’ rich, and I want nobody else to know about it. That’s why I’ll never play the lottery or gamble in a casino.