I know some people will think I'm crazy for what I'm about to say, but I'll say it anyway. Here's a bit of food for thought for you guys.
I buy lottery tickets sometimes, but very rarely for huge multi-million dollar jackpots. Yes, you read that right: I actually prefer smaller jackpots.
My reasoning is this: if you do a little research, you will discover many stories of all kinds of horrible things that happen to people who win hundreds of millions. The reason is simple: Winning millions of dollars doesn't suddenly win you the financial sense to manage millions of dollars. Many people who hit the jackpot wind up in debt not too long afterward - they giddily buy houses, cars, boats, etc. until they bite off way more than they can chew, and then it all comes crashing down.
And, of course, there is the Torah perspective of "marbeh nechasim, marbeh da'ageh". Contrary to what people believe, endless money ≠ endless happiness. And it basically robs you of the motivation to do anything productive with your life - after all, why go to work when you have so much money? But remember, adam l'omol yulod - a person will not be happy if he is not productive...
And let's not forget all the "friends" that suddenly come crawling out of the woodwork, with a newfound ahava hateluya b'davar, hoping for a few crumbs of the pie.
On the other hand... I wouldn't mind winning, say, $50,000 to $500,000. A nice sum of money to pay some bills and put something away for a rainy day would make a real (positive) dent in my life, without turning me into a spoiled brat who is never happy with anything (on account of having access to virtually anything money can buy). A small jackpot would make my life easier, yet without dulling the satisfaction that comes from a job well done which gets me a few hard-earned bucks. It would still leave me with the motivation to work hard in life, yet have a easier, more comfortable life while doing so.
#my2cents
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