+44 @SensibleCreeper It's because a majority of the people who have that discipline generally don't buy lottos.

+30 @oregonchick With most jackpots, this is the smart and sustainable option. I think with any windfall, the best thing to do would be to find a financial advisor or wealth management team who can help you wrap your mind around what your $X win really means in terms of buying power and long-term investments and dividends. Before you collect a penny, have an established budget that leaves you set up for permanent financial ease, and also includes specific amounts that you can blow on a few indulgences so you get that "whoo, I won the lottery!" feeling without destroying your long-term financial stability. When I post my craziest ideas here, I always assume it's after a jackpot that's into the hundreds of millions, so I have plenty to set aside for lifelong income, sharing with key loved ones, and donating to charitable causes *in addition to* whatever crazy splurge I think up. But a "small" win of a few hundred thousand or a couple of million could (and should) be life-changing like you described.

+26 @Pastry1 You got 1 life - the most valuable thing in life is not money it is time. ​ Make the most of it - whatever that means for you

+17 @Chromattix I enter the lottery so one day I don't have to be frugal to the extent I am. Yes I'm not going to buy a mansion or six luxury cars but I can't imagine still "living like I do" now when sitting on millions of dollars. I want out of this lifestyle faster than I could ever realistically save up or invest my way out (which I'm also doing, lotto is a plan B that I hope jumps the queue in front of that plan A one day and brings me to my goals several decades earlier lol). I'm not starving but mentally I'm going insane. I can't stand where I live and how I have to live and my job bores me to shit and has irregular hours that tire me the fuck out (I finished at 10:30 at night last Saturday and my next shift started at 9am the following Sunday. You think I'm gonna spend another weekend like that again after winning the lottery?) If I win anything over just $3 million I'm moving and quitting work but not getting anything too flashy (no Ferrari) because I'd rather a lifestyle change more. But if I win something "big" like $30 million then I'm definitely gonna splurge on some nice things since you only live once and there's no point denying yourself things you will enjoy just so you can die with a pile of money (unless you have kids to leave it to but I don't, and any existing family I'd rather help out while I'm still alive to see them enjoy it). ​ I'd just make sure I don't spend more than what my investments are generating which I guess is still being "frugal" but it's a much more loose definition of the term. I've been living the "cheapest" lifestyle out of everyone I know for a long time, partly because I hate working and don't want to do more of it to pay for a more flashy lifestyle, and partly because I'm trying to pave my way to an early retirement *because* of how much I don't wanna work for the next 35 years (starting with saving up for an investment property). I know I'll get there barring some unfortunate and expensive accident but it's frustrating and sometimes depressing seeing everyone else regularly enjoy things that you have assigned yourself as occasional luxuries. I can't imagine getting takeout every day but so many people do. I can't imagine driving a $60k car but there's so many on the road. Nope, I'm treating myself but I'm not gonna be stupid about it. I'm a single guy - I can only drive one car at a time and will never need six bedrooms. But I do want to live in a more exclusive suburb, close to the beach or cultural hotspot. If I want a 1-2 bedroom place there and it still will cost me a few million it'll be worth it for the lifestyle improvement alone. I want a garden but it doesn't have to be the Queen's royal botanical garden. I will pay people to take care of life's boring shit for me. Right now my years of frugality has rewarded me in the form of not being another one of millions of people in debt for dumb shit like expensive cars or holidays, or being just two missed work weeks away from being totally fucked. But... it's hard. It's hard missing out. It's hard saying no to things you can't get out of your head. I'd have to let lifestyle creep in to some degree, it just can't outpace what my passive income will now be. If I was "happy" the way I'm living now I wouldn't be entering the lottery. ​ Anyone who winds up broke after winning a big lottery were doing more than just treating themselves. They were being just plain stupid and irresponsible. Whether I win $2 million or $80 million - I know I'll make it last. Because never having to return to the workforce will be my biggest incentive not to blow it.

+13 @speedracerfx I wouldn't change my lifestyle much. The only thing I would do is buy me neighbor's property, knock down their house and build a garage so I could have a bit of a car collection. I'd put in a pool too. Other than that, you wouldn't know I won the lottery. I like my house (modest 1958 rancher with full basement), and the neighborhood I'm in, so I wouldn't buy some mega mansion. I would hire a weekly cleaning service though, cause I fucking hate cleaning the house. My aunt won the lotto for $5 Million. You'd never know it. She bought herself a new Buick and that was it. She passed away about 10 years ago, and her kids inherited the money. They don't work, but they live pretty frugal lives. They buy new Caddy's every few years, but that's about it.

+12 @gvillager I hate working so I'd quit my job. I'd spend 20-30 hours/week pursuing hobbies, mainly genealogy. I'd travel to the countries and places where my ancestors lived. I'd help (more) people research their family history. I'd volunteer more at the local historical society and animal shelters. I'd sell my $300k house and upgrade to a $600k house. In a few years I'll be trading in my 2016 Hyundai for a Tesla, but won't have to wait that long if I have a big win. I'm fortunate enough to live in a state where I can remain anonymous. So other than having a bigger bank account and quitting my job my life wouldn't really change that much. I'm not impressed with the big mansions or expensive cars, they do nothing for me. The only reason I want a Tesla is because I'm interested in the technology, otherwise I'd probably just buy another Hyundai or similar car.

+11 @breadad1969 If I’m playing the lottery then it’s over $150 million so it’s money that’s going to last all my lifetime even if I spend a few million a year. Frugal is great if you win a smaller jackpot but of you win hundreds of millions and live frugally then you die with millions unspent!