Classic Rant #704 (March 28, 2012): Everyone's a Winner?

Well, so far not.

The multi-state Mega Millions lottery jackpot has jumped to $476 million, because no one has picked the correct numbers.

Numbers 9, 19, 34, 44, 51, and Mega Ball 24 were chosen yesterday, but no one chose those numbers, so the jackpot stretches up in anticipation for the next drawing on Friday night.

And with the chances of winning being one in 176 million, your chances of winning are lousy, but for dreamers like me, attainable.

We play the lottery at work, so if we won, we'd have to split the pot about seven or eight ways.

If that was the case, I would have no problem winning about $60 million, and after taxes, taking home $30 million.

No problem at all.

I could use the money.

I consider myself to be the working poor. I make a somewhat decent salary, but with my background and education, I really should be making more.

Today is the 16th anniversary of my first day at my current job, and I have more than doubled my salary here during that time.

But prior to this, I worked for companies that paid cheaply, and just about all of them went out of business, so I wasn't making much money back then, and I'm still not.

That being said, I know there are others who are just as deserving of the money as I am, but I really can't worry about them. I have to think of myself and my family, and yes, I do believe that I should win this lottery.

What would I do with the money?

Well, the first thing is that I would have to hire an advisor, someone who knows how to manage the money so that I get the biggest bang out of it as possible.

Second, I would pay all of my and my wife's bills. And I do mean every penny.

Third, I would help my parents pay off their mortgage. They shouldn't have to worry about such things in their supposed golden years.

Fourth, I would set up some accounts for my kids, so they would have some money waiting for them if they needed it.

Fifth, I would probably have to listen to my advisor, and set up some type of foundation so I could write off some of the money. I don't know what it would be directed at, but all rich people have such things to protect their money, so why shouldn't I?

And the sixth thing, and probably the most important thing, is that I would probably put the rest away in the bank in some type of account. As I am getting older, I see that having something in the bank is incredibly important.

Would I quit my job? I really don't know. I can't answer that now.

So, I have laid out my plan for the money.

I deserve it. I have suffered enough.

Again, I know that others are just as deserving of the money as I am, but I have to think of myself and my family.

I hope I win. I deserve to win.

And that's the bottom line.

Where's the money?

Hopefully in my pocket after the drawing is held on Friday.

I can wish, can't I?