I get to speak with winners on occasion, and I heard a really good idea the other day. A recent winner of $50,000 on a Scratchers ticket told me how she decided to spend it. Once they discovered they won, she and her husband sat down and wrote a list. They made separate columns for different categories of wants (little stuff, big stuff, charities, etc.) Then they ranked their desires and chose a few items from each column. That way, they can add up exactly how much they can do without overspending and make sure they get to do the things that are most important to them with the money. What a sensible way to maximize the opportunity!
Wins don't come around all the time, and whether it's a huge jackpot or just a few thousand dollars (wins of any size are welcome!), it's always good to have a plan. How will you spend your winnings?

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