To low-key stress about the prospect of winning the lottery every time I buy a ticket?

[RagzRebooted]

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to win, which is why I buy a ticket once or twice a month. But after I've bought one, I always think about what we'd do if we won and get stressed about how we'd share it with family. I'd want to, obviously, because I'm sure some of them would if it was the other way around (DH would happily not share any!) and none of us have much money so any amount would make a huge difference to many people's lives. In my fantasy, I would rather either win £10m+, so enough to share with everyone we'd want to or only a few million, so enough to do what we want but not enough to buy houses for everyone (but maybe treat them and help out if needed). The stressful possible scenario involves winning somewhere in between, I suppose.

There are complicated family dynamics, with lots of people in different situations with different needs and who we have very different relationships with. Some of them would probably be quite entitled if we were suddenly rich, others would just be happy for us and not expect anything.

But every time I buy a ticket, I slightly stress about the practicalities of how our lives would work and how we'd share our fortunes...

Anyone else do this, or am I just wierd?

Yes I'd rather win one of the lower prizes than the jackpot

I'm like this. I find it so stressful! I only play scratch cards, because the prizes are smaller.

If you're weird, then Im weirder because I have these fantasy dilemmas and I dont even do the lottery!!!

I have spent time vaguely thinking about this, not stressing about it though. 50% of any big win would go straight to my friend, an agreement we've had for 20 years. Depends on the amount after that. In my most of my musings I've won 100 million on euromillions and that makes things much easier 😄

I stopped playing the lottery because I worried about whether I’d keep working or give up and have no purpose in life any more 😆

If you win a lot I think they offer you proper financial advice. AIUI one piece of advice would be to give some of it away, to minimise Inheritance Tax should you die.

ATM £700,000 held in shares yields about £20K per annum, so you could calculate your income from various fantasy wins

The tricky part, I think, is that friends won't be able to match your wealth.

Good luck

I spend so long thinking about this. I’m not as bad as I used to be, but I waste so much time thinking about who I would give what to. Sometimes I think that I’d have to keep it a secret as sharing it out in my mind gets so stressful. I have gotten to the point where I almost convince myself I’ve won. After many years I’ve finally accepted that I probably never will!

I spend far too much time thinking about this, and I don't even play 😆

I love this fantasy and don't find it at all stressful because it's so unlikely to happen! But I always dream big, so it's easy to give family members a decent chunk as a deposit on a house for the younger ones, or a big lump sum to help out the person with a bad pension and low earnings. I'd like to build and endow a really lovely swimming pool for year round use for our small village, and to create a bursary fund for 18-25 year olds that would enable them to study or train without worrying too.

I know what you mean. Whilst I (and DH) fantasise about the big wins, like you, we get to a certain point and I find it stressful!

Others might disagree but having vast amounts of money would have such a significant impact on our lives I would worry about keeping grounded (and particularly my children) and still respecting the value of money.

That said, we’d give away a substantial portion of it.

That sort of thing is easy for me because I only have 2 family members left and 2 very close friends who I would share with. DH on the other hand has a fleet of family and friends, easily over 30 people, that he would want to share with! I always hope if we win it will be the 100mill prize because we'll need it 😆

Oh ladies a bit of a long one here. I had a day surgery years ago on a Friday. That night I dreamt of the lottery numbers. I struggled out of bed to find a pen and paper but then I only remember 4 numbers. When dh got up relayed the dream, gave him the paper with said 4 numbers and asked him to get a few lottery tickets with the 4 numbers and to choose random numbers to make up the 6. He went to the shop paid for 1 lucky dip. Asked him why he didn't put on my 4 numbers with random numbers like I had asked. DH replied it was only a dream. Yes you have probably guessed it the numbers all came up, his face was a mixture of fear( thinking of the rollicking he was about to get) and disbelief. Obviously I am not meant to rich oh well in another life.

Yeah, 100 million would be easy give everyone a million, put some by for the DCs, buy some houses, then set up my own housing association.

I'm so glad it's not just me!

No way! I'm not sure if have been as calm and understanding as you!

Oh trust me I really was not calm I sulked for ages ☹