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)
This warms my inveterate cheapskate heart.
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.
Yes, they learn the truth.
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.
A person called one of the money advisory talk shows and the advice given seemed sound. Hire an attorney, hire a CPA, hire a private cop to watch the door to your house. Do that first. Don't just do the first thing that pops into your head. Have a plan when you buy the ticket. It could happen.