Thread: If you won the lottery, would your life be better or worse?

Better, no question about it. As someone (I can't remember who) once said, "I have been rich and I have been poor, rich is better."

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Better, no question about it. As someone (I can't remember who) once said, "I have been rich and I have been poor, rich is better."

Can you elaborate by giving some reasons as to why you think your life would be better?

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Can you elaborate by giving some reasons as to why you think your life would be better?

Chris L

I used to be able to do structural ironwork, install carpet, weld or do carpentry. I could always find some work doing one or another to support myself. For the past twenty years I've been a professional tattooer. If that ever went down the tubes I would be broke and homeless in short order as at my age now I doubt if I could make a living at any of my previous occupations as physically demanding as they are.

Not having to worry about mortgage, health insurance and all of the other essentials of life would be a blessing. I'm sure I would have my share of other problems to deal with but fear of not making the nut wouldn't be one of them.

I'm in the better camp. It's like Forrest Gump says: "Lieutenant Dan said we don't have to worry 'bout money no more. So I said, ok! one less thing to worry about." All the woes of my life wouldn't be gone, and I'm sure a few new ones would present themselves, but I'd give it a shot.

Where people seem to go wrong after getting a windfall of millions is that it gets blown anywhere, everywhere, and quick. I would designate play money, debt money, and investment. The play money wouldn't be much in the big picture, but it would be more than enough. Thankfully I don't have too much debt, but what I do have would go away. All my worries about debt and the other money drains on life would all but disappear. It would leave me to worry about things I would much rather worry about, such as ways to intelligently invest the remaining money.

It would give me a chance to focus on the things in life I actually want to do, instead of working for the man.

As for the problems that would arise, I see two: people looking for handouts and my own impulsive habits. As for the latter, that's why I would designate play money. Once it's gone, it's gone. For the former, I'm fine not answering my phone or door.

Well i've never been rich and had to work hard for everything i have. Things have gone ok this far by doing so. No complains.

I already live in my own house i built about 10 years ago. No neighbours too close. Have a lady i like to share my life with and 2 almost adult kids who haven't messed their lives. 2 dogs and an old car i've learned to fix and repair.
I even have the sort of work i like.

Of course huge sum of money would make our life easier on some point but honestly i can't say if there is anything major in my life that i would want to change. Owning as much as possible, even things i like, has never been a ideal thing for me. I bealieve getting things too easy makes them lose their value sooner or later.

After thinking about 5 minutes i know: i would buy me a black Dodge Monaco year 1969. I had one when i was younger. However to be honest i wouldn't need to win a lottery to buy it.

And no: i'm not jealous to the rich people. Wouldn't care less.

Money is good as long as you keep it as servant, not as your master.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Can you elaborate by giving some reasons as to why you think your life would be better?

Chris L

because there is nothing in life that a lack of money will not make more difficult or that sufficient wealth will not improve.

... "money is the root of all evil"...
ChrisL

I believe the quote you referred to actually says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil:..." It was the Apostle Paul addressing Timothy in First Timothy chapter six, verse ten. The LOVE of money is GREED. So Paul actually said greed is the root of all evil. Money is neutral in the equation, it is a tool. No better, or no worse than it's user. Take a claw hammer, for example. It can be used to build a house and it can also be used to kill the homeowner. That is up to the one who possesses it. Not the hammer itself.

Having said that, I am living on a fixed income and many of my family are in poor health. Money could make their lives easier!

Jeeter

Thanks for the clarification, Jeeter! That does make more sense to me.

Chris L

Short answer: Yes, my life would be better.

Why? It would enable me to do the things I like. I could tell my boss to keep me in the team at an intern pay, basically creating a new job, plus I could use all my skills to do the things I'd want and help the company I work for grow in creative ways. I could decide to take a 3 month holiday, or to work 3 weeks straight with just 6 hours of sleep and the rest work. I could decide to study, would I feel the need, and what not.

Hmmm, many words to say that it would give me freedom.

life would be endlessly better.

like others have said, I would be free to do anything I want.

I could buy a beautiful house outright for myself.

I would still work, but I would have the luxury to only do it a couple of days a week, and anything I would have spent my money on, i would on a grander scale.

I would go out to nicer restraunts, I would drink nicer wine when I did etc.

People who say money cant buy happiness just dont know where to shop