Get yours!

[tvguy]

Neither one of you is going to win anyway LOL

[Scrapper]

It's not that it's not worth buying a ticket....but I never buy lottery tickets. Mostly it just doesn't occur to me.  When I do, I never win, so, it's hard for me to imagine winning and having a fantasy about what to do with those winnings. I think I would probably just buy security.  A nice place to live, set up my children for their lives, and my grandchildren.  I think the rest would be some kind of travel based entertainment. I could travel, which I never have and not have to do it pauper style.  Other than than that it would just be creature comforts I suppose.  But I don't care about boats, swimming pools, saunas, masseuses, things like that. And I don't care about possessions much either. So I wouldn't be buying yachts, cars, planes, furs, or jewelry.  I might buy myself a new chair though for my computer desk. This is one held together with duct tape. Yeah. Maybe a chair.

 We are on the same page. I might finally buy a wrist watch that costs more than 20 bucks....no I wouldn't. 

A friend of mine tells me when these lottery things get huge a person would be silly not to buy a ticket and a fool to buy more than one. Like you, I seldom think of them and haven't bought one in years. I know someone has to win, but I won't stand in line to buy a ticket. Actually, I think the stress of winning would make me sick...too many cousins coming out of the wood work, etc. 

I agree, winning would be at least temporarily stressful.  First move:  Attorney.  Second move....move away, even if it's to a hotel and temporarily.  3rd move:  change all phone numbers and emails!

That's why we would rent the crewed yacht and disappear to the Caribbean while we decide exactly what to do.  If you stayed home?  Everyone and their brother and mother would be knocking on your door, calling you, emailing you... wanting a piece of it.  The taking care of parents, kids, grandkiddos part is a given.  I've always wanted to do an African Safari... so I'd definitely splurge on that!  And Fiji!  

Of course you wouldn't get a billion.  You'd get about 200 million plus, after taxes. or so that's what I'd heard.

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ss...ackpo.html

A winner would have the option of being paid $1.3 billion through annual payments over 29 years or opting for one $806 million cash payment. But 39.6 percent of the lump sum -- nearly $320 million -- would go to federal income taxes.

Plus, Oregon and most other states would take a chunk of the remaining $486 million — something winners in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming wouldn't have to worry about. California and Pennsylvania exempt lottery winnings from income taxes if the ticket was bought in-state.

If the winner chooses the annuity option, he or she would owe federal and state taxes annually in most states. The amount paid will vary depending on changes to the tax code in the future.

[Scrapper]

Health insurance is already free.

Free?  I don't think so.  We pay for ours... plus co-pays... plus our percentage after the insurance pays their part.

My health care plus my wife's is free. I was unassuming SD was talking about giving health insurance to those family and friends who don't have it.

For me, it would be making sure any health care they needed would be available to them.  People not getting the care they need due to either crappy coverage, debt they can't afford, what ever it is... would never be a concern again.

When my wife first applied for health care she was working. I was not but at 62 I received SSI and a pension. I don't have to claim any of my pension until I'm 72.
We both qualified and we both used it to the tune of hundreds of thousands. So I think basically according to age or an income of less than 30K Health care is free.

We're not of that age for awhile... and our children make well above the $30K.  So, I have never thought of healthcare as free.  Plus, back in the day... my hubby was once denied insurance due to his pre-diagnosed degenerative disc disease.  Blue Cross Blue Shield would not even offer him insurance at a higher cost... just NO insurance at all.  Try to get insurance once you've been denied for any reason whatsoever!  So, my point is... IF we ever were in a position to guarantee my children and grandchildren medical care, we would!

[Someones Dad]

My splurge purchase would be a crewed yacht in the Caribbean while we decide what to do with the money.

Recent experiences made me think of another thing I would do with that kind of money.  I would have my own "Insurance" plan that covered all of my family and friends, forever, so none of them would ever have to worry about getting sick or dying.

Health insurance is already free.

Only for a specific few.

[Juniper]

I pay for my insurance. And I haven't bought a powerball ticket.

[Juniper]

 We are on the same page. I might finally buy a wrist watch that costs more than 20 bucks....no I wouldn't. 

A friend of mine tells me when these lottery things get huge a person would be silly not to buy a ticket and a fool to buy more than one. Like you, I seldom think of them and haven't bought one in years. I know someone has to win, but I won't stand in line to buy a ticket. Actually, I think the stress of winning would make me sick...too many cousins coming out of the wood work, etc. 

I agree, winning would be at least temporarily stressful.  First move:  Attorney.  Second move....move away, even if it's to a hotel and temporarily.  3rd move:  change all phone numbers and emails!

That's why we would rent the crewed yacht and disappear to the Caribbean while we decide exactly what to do.  If you stayed home?  Everyone and their brother and mother would be knocking on your door, calling you, emailing you... wanting a piece of it.  The taking care of parents, kids, grandkiddos part is a given.  I've always wanted to do an African Safari... so I'd definitely splurge on that!  And Fiji!  

Of course you wouldn't get a billion.  You'd get about 200 million plus, after taxes. or so that's what I'd heard.

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ss...ackpo.html

A winner would have the option of being paid $1.3 billion through annual payments over 29 years or opting for one $806 million cash payment. But 39.6 percent of the lump sum -- nearly $320 million -- would go to federal income taxes.

Plus, Oregon and most other states would take a chunk of the remaining $486 million — something winners in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming wouldn't have to worry about. California and Pennsylvania exempt lottery winnings from income taxes if the ticket was bought in-state.

If the winner chooses the annuity option, he or she would owe federal and state taxes annually in most states. The amount paid will vary depending on changes to the tax code in the future.

Not going to dispute that...my source was from television news, and there is no way I'm going to go search for the citation to show what they said.  Won't matter to me.

[GPnative]

We are not lottery players, but we did in fact buy a couple tickets for the Saturday drawing. Just kind of figured, what the hell. It is fun to ponder "what if", but whether we became filthy rich or not, we are just not the type of people who would go out frivolously spending. Nope, if we won, my first task even before purchasing anything would be to call my employer and say "I will not be in.....ever, Thank You" That is what I would want and enjoy the most about winning, not having to work for the man anymore.

[cletus1]

It's not that it's not worth buying a ticket....but I never buy lottery tickets. Mostly it just doesn't occur to me.  When I do, I never win, so, it's hard for me to imagine winning and having a fantasy about what to do with those winnings. I think I would probably just buy security.  A nice place to live, set up my children for their lives, and my grandchildren.  I think the rest would be some kind of travel based entertainment. I could travel, which I never have and not have to do it pauper style.  Other than than that it would just be creature comforts I suppose.  But I don't care about boats, swimming pools, saunas, masseuses, things like that. And I don't care about possessions much either. So I wouldn't be buying yachts, cars, planes, furs, or jewelry.  I might buy myself a new chair though for my computer desk. This is one held together with duct tape. Yeah. Maybe a chair.

 We are on the same page. I might finally buy a wrist watch that costs more than 20 bucks....no I wouldn't. 

A friend of mine tells me when these lottery things get huge a person would be silly not to buy a ticket and a fool to buy more than one. Like you, I seldom think of them and haven't bought one in years. I know someone has to win, but I won't stand in line to buy a ticket. Actually, I think the stress of winning would make me sick...too many cousins coming out of the wood work, etc. 

I agree, winning would be at least temporarily stressful.  First move:  Attorney.  Second move....move away, even if it's to a hotel and temporarily.  3rd move:  change all phone numbers and emails!

That's why we would rent the crewed yacht and disappear to the Caribbean while we decide exactly what to do.  If you stayed home?  Everyone and their brother and mother would be knocking on your door, calling you, emailing you... wanting a piece of it.  The taking care of parents, kids, grandkiddos part is a given.  I've always wanted to do an African Safari... so I'd definitely splurge on that!  And Fiji!  

You had me at Fiji. So, if we both win, we can hang out on the same yacht with 650 million each and discuss our options with the best financial advisor we can afford, and we can afford a damn good one. 

[chuck white]

I know who the winner of the power ball is going to be. (THE IRS)

[cletus1]

I know who the winner of the power ball is going to be. (THE IRS)

Yep. Have you read about expired tickets? The government is the gambling mafia. 

[tvguy]

I know who the winner of the power ball is going to be. (THE IRS)

I hear a lot that poor people don't pay income taxes. Well this is a good way the government can get cash from them anyway. They are the ones who waste their money the most on this bullshit.

[cletus1]

I know who the winner of the power ball is going to be. (THE IRS)

I hear a lot that poor people don't pay income taxes. Well this is a good way the government can get cash from them anyway. They are the ones who waste their money the most on this bullshit.

Come on man. They are just trying to make the rent. 

[Cuzz]

We are not lottery players, but we did in fact buy a couple tickets for the Saturday drawing. Just kind of figured, what the hell. It is fun to ponder "what if", but whether we became filthy rich or not, we are just not the type of people who would go out frivolously spending. Nope, if we won, my first task even before purchasing anything would be to call my employer and say "I will not be in.....ever, Thank You" That is what I would want and enjoy the most about winning, not having to work for the man anymore.

My plan if I won the lottery......

Continue to go to work but not tell anybody about winning, if that was possible. Instead of quitting I would mess with them until they fired me. I wonder just how far I could go.  

[Juniper]

I confess. I've never bought a powerball ticket in my life. Or any of the number lotteries. Only scratch offs.

[chuck white]

I confess. I've never bought a powerball ticket in my life. Or any of the number lotteries. Only scratch offs.

Scratch offs are to quick. You only get a small dose of hope.  With a ticket, you get days of hope. If your like me, you can stretch that hope out for weeks, by not checking your ticket.

[Juniper]

I confess. I've never bought a powerball ticket in my life. Or any of the number lotteries. Only scratch offs.

Scratch offs are to quick. You only get a small dose of hope.  With a ticket, you get days of hope. If your like me, you can stretch that hope out for weeks, by not checking your ticket.

or lose it.

[chuck white]

I confess. I've never bought a powerball ticket in my life. Or any of the number lotteries. Only scratch offs.

Scratch offs are to quick. You only get a small dose of hope.  With a ticket, you get days of hope. If your like me, you can stretch that hope out for weeks, by not checking your ticket.

or lose it.

Yea, I bet I was the who bought that ticket in Medford, that never got found.

[cletus1]

There has never been a jackpot winner from from any US Territory. I might buy one anyway and be the first winner. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottery_jackpot_records

[Scrapper]

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

After Saturday's Powerball failed to draw a lucky winner, the jackpot jumped to a whopping $700-million, which is the second largest jackpot in the game's history.

Worth buying a ticket?

[Wonky3]

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

After Saturday's Powerball failed to draw a lucky winner, the jackpot jumped to a whopping $700-million, which is the second largest jackpot in the game's history.

Worth buying a ticket?

A friend of mine once advised that a person might be a fool not to buy one ticket  (Someone has to win), but a fool to buy two tickets. 

I guess I'm that fool. I won't be buying a ticket: Just not interested in finding a place to buy one and driving there. 

That said, I kind of like the idea of a State Lottery. At least some of the money comes back to the people, and if we each bought just one ticket it might be a way to help offset costs otherwise raised by taxes.

Or not? Maybe I don't fully understand the thing. (It's been 30 years since I bought a ticket, ignoring my own feelings about the system)