Couple nickel-and-dime it after their lottery windfall

The Times-Picayune ^ | May 8, 2002 | By MARY JUDICE / The Times-Picayune

[MeekOneGOP]

Jerry Berggren hugged fiancee Cathy DeMuynck
after a news conference in Baton Rouge. La.,
Tuesday announced he had won the $48 million
Powerball jackpot. (AP Photo)

[Phantom Lord]

Me thinks he should make a sound investment in a new 'piece'

[VoiceOfBruck]

They're still using two-for-one dinner coupons and shopping at Big Lots and the Dollar Store.

This warms my inveterate cheapskate heart.

[goodnesswins]

Well, at least they are "mature." Will be interesting to compare them to the 20 year old gal who won - a few years from now.

[pabianice]

January 2, 2003 -- $ 48 million Powerball Lottery winner Jerry Berggren of Kenner, LA, has split from his former fiancee, Cathy DeMuynck, citing "irreconcilable differences." Ms. DeMuynck has hired noted palimony attorney Dewey Cheatem... developing...

[Boxsford]

They're still using two-for-one dinner coupons and shopping at Big Lots and the Dollar Store.

This brings back some memories (on a much smaller scale)of the time when I was just out of college. I landed my first teaching job but still could not get out of my college shopping mode at the Salvation Army. Finally, my boyfriend told me that I was earning money now and could shop and buy new clothes.

[MeekOneGOP]

:O) I wasn't gonna go there! LOL......

[Phantom Lord]

Just to be clear, I was taking about his hair, not his women. His hair does not appear to be his own.

[StriperSniper]

and some people come to believe money equals freedom and power,

Yes, they learn the truth.

[Wolfie]

To be fair, I think that picture was taken before he had collected any money. I'm sure by now he can afford a "toup" as good as Sam Donaldson's.

[MeekOneGOP]

Ok, got it! :O)

[Lokibob]

I'd blow the whole pot in 5 years, and be glad I did.

Winners always say "We arn't going to let it change our lives", but it already has. They are being interviewed by the press, that is a big change.

You know how, at Jiffy Lube, the greasy kid comes into the waiting room with your air filter, recommending that it be changed? You say to him "nope, just blow it out with air, and put it back in the car". If I won the lottery, I go for the new air filter, too.

I read in interesting quote from previous lottery winners who shared their winnings with relatives. No matter how much they gave to their relatives, it wasn't enough. If they bought a $100,000 home for the relative, the relative would eventually say "it could have been a bigger (more expensive) house. Still, if I won, I'd share. Probably set up a trust fund for the grandkids and great grand kids to go to college.

[FreedomPoster]

Boortz has predicted she will be living in a rented double-wide and driving a bondoed Camero in 10 year. . . .

[MeekOneGOP]

Wealth demands responsibility, else it goes its' own merry way.....

Not speaking from direct experience, mind you! Never had that opportunity (yet). :O)

[Phantom Lord]

From what I understand, a large number of lottery winners blow the whole thing and declare BK in a few years. True or Flase? I don't know. Never read a study on it, but i have heard it bandied about for a long time.

[VRWC_minion]

Some conservative folks I have talked to believe that if you gave every poor person 1 million dollars they would be broke again within the year.

[Phantom Lord]

They would be. With very few exceptions, poor people are poor because they make bad decisions. Giving them a million bucks would not change this.

After blowing all their money on the full line of NASCAR models and velvet Elvis paintings they would be right back where they were before the money.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I wouldn't say 'all' of them.

But I would say 'over 50%'.

[Marie Antoinette]

Me thinks he should make a sound investment in a new 'piece

Just to be clear, I was taking about his hair, not his women. His hair does not appear to be his own.

LOL! I guess we're all over the map on this one, I thought you meant a new GUN!

[Wyatt's Torch]

That's easy. People do things to make them either poor or rich. That won't change if money falls in their lap. It doesn't change their (poor) decision making process.