And in the beginning...

One day last week as I was driving around at lunch, I had an idea.  And this is it.

I work a traditional full-time job and am very grateful to have a job in this day and age.  It has allowed my family many conveniences and for that I am thankful.  However, in the past year or so, I've really thought about how much I'd like to start something on my own.  What that is, I have a vague idea and am currently exploring options, but it's not like I just invented the Snuggie or something grand like that.  So, I can dream all I want, but in reality, it's not like I'm going to start pulling in big bucks on my own in the next several weeks or so.  Unless....I WIN THE LOTTERY!!!!

(I know, I know - I probably have a greater chance of starting my own business and it going global before I win the lottery, but just hear me out.)

In the past few weeks, many lottery winners have been featured on our local news website.  These people didn't win Powerball or anything like that, they just had some luck on the scratch-off tickets.  $100,000 here, $200,000 there...to me, that's pretty awesome.  Again, I know the chances are slim, but how cool would it be if that happened to you?  Talk about having a great day.  So, here's where my idea comes in.  I thought it would be rather neat if I conducted a project to see how much I could win (or lose) by purchasing scratch-off lottery tickets.  Who knows, this could be the funding for my own business, allow me and the kid to sail around the world, help out some people who really need it...it could really work out...or it could be a waste and this blog be the poster-child of how much the lottery is a complete scam.  I'm thinking it will be the latter, but I figured why not?  Either way, it will be educational...or something like that.

So, here's the plan:
$20 out of each of my paychecks will go to buying four $5 lottery scratch-off tickets.  I may alternate which scratch-offs I purchase, but I know at least $20, every 2 weeks will be my maximum. (See, I'm not getting all crazy with it or anything.) I'll alternate gas stations each time I play as well. I'll report my winnings and losings each time and we'll see just how accurate those prize odds are.  This is all in good fun, I'm not delusional...just thought it would be a fun(ny) summer project.  Let's do this!

June 3
Purchased:
      -Giant Jumbo Bucks
      -Carolina Riches (8th Anniversary)
      -Black Pearls
      -Instant Carolina 5
I have to admit, it was a little unsettling dropping $20 on four lottery tickets.  I don't think I've ever spent that much money on gambling.  For real, this is new to me.  But, for some reason, this "project" seems like a really good idea.  (Maybe it's due to all the heat we've had recently...freakish hail storms...planets out of alignment??)  Anywho, after I purchased my tickets, went back to my car and scratched away.  That took awhile and really kinda pissed me off because I just had my car washed and there was lottery dandruff everywhere.  That scratch stuff has distance.  Here are the results:

....drum roll please......

I only won $5 off of Black Pearls. Nada on the rest of them.  So, the stats for this round:

Initial investment: $20
Winnings: $5
Balance: -$15...ruh roh.