Would a lottery win massively improve/impact your life?

[DodgyGeezer]

Bit of a strange thread I guess buuuuut..... would a lottery win massively improve/impact your life?

One the face of it the obvious answer is "...pish man, don't be daft! Of course it would...", the thing is though I'm not convinced that it would for us.

Let me get it out there straight away that we are not 'wealthy' (by that I mean we've got to think about what we spend money on) but I was looking at the property pawn page earlier thinking that most massive houses do nothing for me so a doubling of our nominal 'next house budget' would make a difference (obviously) I'd not place it in the dream houses or lifestyles of the rich category. I'm pretty much there with my cars - that is to say if I was 'stuck' with them forever I'd not be in the slightest bit upset.

One place it'd make a difference is in holidaying - though given these last 18 months, possibly not even that! The other difference would be in being able to help family more readily which really would be nice to be able to do.

I guess these last year or so have made me realise how totally content I am.

[DodgyGeezer]

welshjon81 said:

Worst "I'm already rich." thread ever.

I wish that was the case! The worst that might be said for the above, I hope, is that I have modest tastes. No desire to own a supercar/hypercar etc. Never flown business class/first class etc,

[DodgyGeezer]

SturdyHSV said:

I may have (deliberately ) misread this, but if a lottery win would only double your 'next house budget', I'd take that to mean your current 'next house budget' is equal to a lottery win amount, at which point I would take issue with your "we are not 'wealthy'" statement .

Git! Let's put it this way then - our house is worth under 1m, a gaff of 2mil would be more than ample (not London/S.E.)

[DodgyGeezer]

The Ferret said:

... have the ability to say "f*** you" at any point. While I don't for one minute think I ever would, the ability to be able to would have a big psychological impact, if that makes sense. Knowing you have to work is the killer, even if you enjoy the job....

In fairness I'm petty much at that point - and I kid you not when I say it's probably saved me from a nervous breakdown. Knowing that you can tell your ahole boss to stick it very liberating - that said I'm also approaching my 60s so I guess that that makes a huge difference too

[DodgyGeezer]

Maximus_Meridius101 said:

Hence the reason you’d soon find that you’d need to go somewhere that that sort of money wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. The lottery people peddle the ‘wonderful lifestyle’, all big houses, and yachts. They tend not to be so open about the begging letters, death threats, and every skeleton, in every closet ever, coming out to try their luck. The smart ones keep schtum. It’s easier said than done, particularly for the ‘typical’ lottery chancer.

as I understand it Lotto provides a lot of help (or various types) for winners - but only if they go public

[DodgyGeezer]

Blib said:

MikeM6 said:

You may laugh, but whether you drive a LADA or a Lamborghini, it will be much more enjoyable if you worked hard for it. Money and nice things will not make you happy for long.

It's also not just PH, I think there is a well published link between winning the lottery and being unhappy.

I recall reading a study some years back. It suggested that aftet six months or so, a lottery winner's mood and outlook returns pretty much to how it was pre-win.

ETA..

I think this is the one.

https://medium.com/the-post-grad-survival-guide/wi...

Edited by Blib on Monday 14th June 13:50

I think the thing is if you're miserable you'll be miserable with money - the mistake people make is equating happiness with money (though I'd rather be crying in a lovely car than at a bus-stop, to paraphrase).

The thing from my perspective is I'm in a very good place, and have been for some time now, so winning a pile (whilst it would, obviously, impact my lifestyle) wouldn't pile extra problems onto existing ones

[DodgyGeezer]

webstercivet said:

Careful with all that boot-licking. Bezos' billions are built on paying workers poverty wages, so low that they can only survive thanks to tax credits (funded by taxpayers); relentlessly fighting any attempt of workers to unionise for better rights; and engaging in elaborate tax avoidance schemes to deprive society of its rightful share. His wealth is also thanks to the generosity of the US taxpayer inventing the internet and giving it away for free (ARPA) and the European taxpayer inventing the web (Berners-Lee at CERN) and giving that away too - in return, he arranges his affairs such that he pays 0.98% tax while you and I pay 20/40%. Finally, there is no serious argument that $190bn wealth provides sharper incentives for hard work and innovation than, say, $1.9bn. Both figures are far more than anyone could reasonably spend.

so who determines what is a reasonable amount someone can earn? Does the state have a right to say "...right, you're a rich bd - you're not going to earn any more..."?