Would the lotto change everything?

When I was In The Trenches if someone would have asked me what did I need often my answer would have been "Mo Money".  Each day as I looked around and stressed over the next payment or expense the only creativity I could muster was that money would solve the problem.  Of course to a degree that would provide a temporary solution and change and solve my immediate needs but as time passed I learned that there was far more to be learned and gained from the experience. 

Somehow the friends I made during those rough times primarily seemed to be older and in my parents and grandparents generation.  Maybe in retrospect this was because they had reached a place in life that they not only had the time for friendship but also that they were not as apt to measure or assess a person by the outward appearance or lack of appearance of prosperity.

Those that I met had been through the Great Depression.  They had weathered the storms of life and whether they were now prosperous or just making it they recognized that a better measure of a person was by their integrity and not by the kind of car they drove or clothes they wore.  The stories of their experiences made anything I was going through seem like a mere inconvenience or just a part of life and a challenge to overcome. 

Today as I contemplated those who have now worked so hard, so long, and felt discouraged or angry and maybe like things were never going to get better I though of the lotto.  The ultimate "Mo Money" proposition. 

If given the chance would you trade what you are now gaining in experience for winning the lotto?  I suppose many would as evidenced by the number of tickets that are sold.  I admit that I have succumbed to the temptation myself for a total investment/waste of $10 throughout my adult life.  Maybe it's because I like numbers and statistics I just can't get past the crazy odds.  I figure my chances are much better at finding a job or otherwise improving my situation than winning the lotto.

Just out of curiosity and a memory of a show I once watched about lotto winners I did a little googling  and found that even with so great of odds against winning up to 1/3 of the winners ended up worse after winning than before.  I include the following not as a roundup but to substantiate the thought that more money is not always the answer:
Why Lottery Winners Go Bankrupt
1 in 3 Lottery Winners Broke Within 5 Years
Powerfall - $27 Million Dollar Lottery Winner Broke

So what then is the answer?  For those who seek to find one it will be as personal as the circumstances and may not be apparent until the situation changes.  Not meaning to sound ambiguous however this is what happened to me.  It was not until months and even years later that I was able to appreciate and see what I had learned.  Yes, at the time I was learning some very practical skills but what I did not recognize at the time was that the experience was in fact changing ME and not just my finances.  This is what took me longer to see or understand.  When things did turn around I was making different choices, I responded to things with different emotions.  What I thought of as hardships had refined and changed me.  Some things I appreciated more and some had value no longer. 

Whether you are now in the recovery stage, plodding along, or still feeling like you are in free fall in the end there will be change and experience.  If you have received some lemons you will know how to make lemonade. 

Would it be fun to win the lotto?  Yes.  For now we may have to be content with a nice tall glass of lemonade.  And, who knows, in the end we may be better off for it.

Eggs

Did you know?

• That the older the egg the flatter the yoke lays?
• That free range chicken egg yolks are almost orange and the corn fed caged chickens produce eggs whose yolks are pale yellow?
• That a chicken only lays one egg a day, usually in the morning?
• That chicken's prefer to roost at night?
• That possums, coyotes, and weasels are natural predators for the flock?
• That a red dot in the egg is the sign of a fertilized egg?
• That the number of hours of day light determine whether a chicken will lay an egg therefore they do not lay in the winter unless artificial light is added?
• That the difference between a brown egg and a white egg is only the breed of the chicken who laid it?
• That in a farm environment a good ratio between roosters and hens is 10/1?
• That eggs that are past good float?
• That the incubation period for chicken eggs is 21 days?
• That eggs come in many colors and sizes?

• That Winlock, WA is the home of the world's largest egg and every year they have an Egg Day Parade and all day events?  And, for many years it was the major industry of the town and they shipped eggs and chicks throughout the entire country?

These are a few of the type of things that one might learn while In The Trenches.  For others the learning process might be doing their own yard work, cutting children's hair, changing the oil in their car, or ironing a shirt.  Things that one might have previously paid someone else to do are now all up for the DIY test.   Teaching the kids as soon as possible thereafter also raises their knowledge and experience :)

Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are a couple of our family traditions that if you haven't thought of already you may enjoy:

1.  When we sit down at the table each person shares something that they are thankful for.  This is especially fun with kids because one never knows what might come out of a four year old's mouth.

2.  Invite over people we know that may not have family living close by.  There is always plenty of food to go around and in my mind no one should have to be alone on this special day.

3.  Call the out of town relatives.  My morning is not complete without talking to each of my grown children. 

4.  Put all the worries and projects aside at least for today.  There will be time enough for that tomorrow.

5.  Share one of your favorite recipes.  At our family dinners each person has their special contribution.  I can't think of Thanksgiving without thinking of my friend Tammy's cherry cheesecake, Aunt Rosie's mincemeat pie, or Mom's sauerkraut relish.  If you feel like giving a treasure write out the recipe and pass it on.  If you want it to remain your special secret I get that too, the memory will not fade.

6.  Smile at and hug everyone who walks through the door and when they leave,  even if or maybe especially if you don't like them.  No one can get enough hugs.

These little things make Thanksgiving my favorite holiday of the year.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you are able to enjoy the bounty of family, friends, and food.

Are you content?

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  I Timothy 6:8KJV

I can almost picture the pilgrims and those from all generations saying this as a prayer, a declaration, an admonishment, and a reminder.  I love the King James Translation not is spite of the strange and different wording but because of the eloquence and officialdom of the that somehow grabs my thoughts and makes me chew on it just a little longer like a savory bite of food. Sometimes I have to grab my dictionary just to look something up but even that seems like finding a hidden treasure. 

In modern English the same text might be said like this: 

But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. NIV

I did not know contentment until I lost much.  What?  That does not seem to even make sense.  It was during the season of my own personal battle that I began an exercise that changed my thinking.  When I was without running water, heat, or an income I would conduct the following on a regular basis.

Write down 20 things you are thankful for.

At first this was difficult because I was so focused on what I used to have and now did not.  I would take my spiral notebook and pen and sit there and ponder.

My children -oh yes, I love them so much
Electricity - things would even be more difficult without lights, a frig, and a stove
The sunshine - that was nice too, bright, cheerful, not so cold today
Food - I did have some food

On and on I would write until I got my 20 things I was thankful for.  I did this almost daily for a time and then gradually did it less often.  The list would include everything from the fresh air, the cute birds, my favorite bathrobe, my friends and family, and even the good and bad experiences I had had in the past and expected I would have in the future.

An amazing thing eventually happened.  I became content.  That didn't mean that I did not still have big plans and ideas for the future and hopes for recovering some semblance of what I used to have, like running water, but I knew things were all okay.  I knew that even with little in the material sense I was okay, life was okay, and I was content.

I realized what a powerful thing contentment really is.  Not only is each day brighter but much of the anxiety goes away leaving behind a clear head not as easily swayed but panic, enticements, and that grouchy attitude that makes everyone want to clear the room when you arrive. 

Contentment and Thankfulness.  What better ways to start this Thanksgiving week.

Food round up

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday so what better way to start this round up than with an article about how to put together a budget meal.   The other articles are ones I have picked up either because I thought they were funny or timely.  So hopefully there is something for everyone and will introduce or reacquaint you with some worthwhile financial blogs to add to your reading list.

The Saved Quarter...Budget Thanksgiving Dinner: 3 hours, $30, holiday meal for 8

Everyday Tips and Thoughts...My Unfrugal Confession: I Am A Food Waster (Occasionally)

Food prices are expected to go up. The drought in Texas is one reason because the agriculture industry has been hit in the billions. Optimists are saying 5% and others are saying up to 30% on some items. Regardless of what the actual numbers may end up being food is something we all need, and in many ways it is one of the expenses we have the MOST control over depending on our choices.

Fiscal Fizzle...Why I Expect 10% Food Price Inflation