Once you’ve won a big prize from the lottery, you might assume that all the hard work is done. On the flip side, you would be quite wrong! There are numerous documented cases of people who’ve hit it big only to lose their fortunes through bad deals, unhealthy living, selfish acts, and other unfortunate events. So if you want to be a lottery success story, and avoid the famous “lottery curse” that seems to always make it to the front page of newspapers, here are some tips to help.

Get an attorney or financial planner

Before going public with your lottery winnings, it is a great idea to speak to a lawyer and also a financial planer. Certain lawyers concentrate on lottery winners as well as the way to best begin a wise life which will make the most of their winnings. Keep in mind, the ultra-rich (millionaires and billionaires) got that way by being wise with their money. They’ve had their wealth for a long period. You, having said that, as a new lottery winner, are thrust into the role of ultra-wealthy, without needing the years of experience that others may have had. This is why a lawyer can give great advice and be a good help when you begin your new life.

A financial planner is also a significant person to speak to. Also they can help you make the decisions early on in your life to ensure that you not have to work again. If you make wise investments with your lottery winnings, as opposed to spending it foolishly, you will truly be a lottery success story.

Concentrate on your dreams

Winning the lottery is one area that most of us dream of doing. So now that you have won, what do you want to do with your winnings? Maybe you have always wanted to travel. This really is now your chance to become a world traveler. Or possibly you’ve always regretted that you were not able to go to college. You have the opportunity to get that degree! Making a number of all your hopes and dreams may help you to discover the very best path to achieve them.

Also, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a brand new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. Lots of people do not love their jobs, but find it nice to have a hobby to take up time. Your hobby can now become your full time career, if you wish it. Being happy means spending your time doing the things you love.

Learn to say “No”

When you make a big win at the lottery, you will hear from friends you haven’t spoken to in years. You will hear from cousins that you never knew existed. You could even hear from complete strangers! How did everybody find you all of a sudden?

Most state lotteries make their winners public. It’s in their terms of service that winners must be ready to go public. This is accomplished for a number of reasons. For one thing, it’s a great promotional device and it generates interest within the lottery. Additionally, it proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there is absolutely no cheating going on. The flip side of this really is that having their names made public puts a target on many lottery winners’ lives. As a whole new lottery winner, you will have to learn how to say “no” to the many requests which will be coming to you. Should you have a hard time doing this, in which case you will be easily taken benefit from, and pretty soon you can find your fortunes dwindling.

One alternative for all those who might not be looking forward to a life of public scrutiny is to try their hand at online lotteries. The relative anonymity provided by winning online implies that a big winner can still remain relatively anonymous. If you’ve always dreamed of having everything, but you would like to still live the life of a regular Joe, then you may want to try your hand at online lotteries.

Give some back to charity

Despite the fact that you certainly will have to say “no” to a lot of greedy people trying to make use of you, you might find that you are considering giving back to charity. Many millionaires and billionaires have done great things with their donations, whether or not it be to hospitals, colleges, or any other non-profit organizations. You can even donate your time! Despite the fact that it sounds crazy, many millionaires and Lasnieves website lottery winners do it. (Should you not have a regular job any more, or only work part-time resulting from winning the lottery, you might have a great deal more free time for you to share and may see that you enjoy volunteering tour time).

Should you choose to give to charity, do your investigation first. You are going to need to discover what your interests are and how you would like to see your money spent, so make a list about which charities interest you. You can even research your favorite charities to determine where they spend their cash, how much of each gift they receive is utilized for charity, and other facts. These facts should help you decide on several worthy charities.