Once you’ve won a big prize from the lottery, you might feel that all the hard work is performed. Alternatively, you would be quite wrong! There are several documented cases of people who have hit it big only to lose their fortunes through bad deals, unhealthy living, selfish acts, as well as 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, below are a few tips to help.

Get a lawyer or financial planner

Before going public with your lottery agent winnings, it’s really a great idea to speak to a lawyer as well as a financial planer. Certain lawyers specialize in lottery winners as well as how to best begin a wise life which will make the most of their winnings. As usual, the ultra-rich (millionaires and billionaires) got that way by being wise with their cash. They have had their wealth for an extended time. You, alternatively, as a brand new lottery winner, are thrust into the role of ultra-wealthy, without the need of the years of expertise that others may have had. This really is why an attorney can give great advice and be a great help when you begin your new life.

A financial planner can also be a significant person to talk to. Also they can help you make the decisions early on within your life to make certain that you never 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.

Focus on your dreams

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

Additionally, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. Many people don’t love their jobs, but find it nice to possess a hobby to take up time. Your hobby can now become your full time profession, if you wish it. Being happy means spending your time doing the things you love.

Discover ways 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 might even hear from complete strangers! How did everybody find you all of a sudden?

Most state lotteries make their winners public. It’s within their terms of service that winners has to be prepared to go public. They do this for a range of reasons. For one thing, it’s a great promotional device and it generates interest in the lottery. It also proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there’s absolutely no cheating going on. The flip side of this 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 to say “no” to the many requests that will be coming to you. If you have a hard time doing this, then you will be conveniently taken benefit of, and pretty soon you will find your fortunes dwindling.

One alternative for anyone 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 means that a big winner can still remain relatively anonymous. If you’ve always dreamed of having everything, but you want to still live the life of a regular Joe, then you certainly may want to try your hand at online lotteries.

Give some back to charity

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

If you do elect to give to charity, do your research first. You certainly will need to discover what your interests are and just how you want 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, the amount of each gift they receive is used for charity, and other facts. These details should help you decide on several worthy charities.