Disclaimer: There’s a difference between someone who is addicted to playing the lottery, and someone who simply enjoys playing occasionally by buying a ticket or a scratch-off here and there.
For gambling addicts, help is available. The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program (NCPGP) provides gambling prevention, education, outreach and treatment services throughout North Carolina. In South Carolina, The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) provides individualized treatment plans and services and is a government backed program.
Those who love the lottery as a fun pastime, and spend $3 to $20 or more a week, can save a lot of money by putting the same amount spent on the lottery weekly into a savings account or jar in your cupboard.
By the end of the year, depending on the weekly lottery amount you were matching, you could save enough to buy an expensive electronic like a new iPhone, computer, a 65-inch 4k TV, or enough money for gas, food, and hotel during a weekend getaway.
There are many simple things in life that bring us joy. For some, it’s playing the lottery. Happy playing, and happy saving!