Once you've won a big prize from the lottery, you could think that all the hard-work is performed. On the contrary, you would be quite wrong! There are various documented cases of people who have hit it big only to lose their fortunes through bad deals, unhealthy living, selfish acts, and other unfortunate events. So if you want to be a lottery success story, and avoid the famous "lottery curse" that appears to always make it to the front page of newspapers, here are several tips to help.

Get an attorney or financial planner

Before going public with your lottery winnings, it is a great idea to speak to an attorney as well as a financial planer. Certain lawyers specialize in lottery winners as well as how to best begin a wise life that can make the most of their winnings. Remember, the ultra-rich (millionaires and billionaires) got that way by being wise with their cash. They have had their wealth for a long time. You, on the contrary, as a whole new lottery winner, are thrust in to the role of ultra-wealthy, without needing the years of experience that others may have had. This is why a lawyer can give great advice and be a good help while you begin your new life.

A financial planner can also be a vital person to talk to. They can help you make the decisions early on in your life to make certain that you not have to work again. If you make wise investments with your lottery winnings, in place of spending it foolishly, you will truly be a lottery success story.

Concentrate on your dreams

Winning the lottery is one area that most of us dream of doing. So now that you've won, what would you like to do with your winnings? Maybe you've always wanted to travel. This really is now your opportunity to be a world traveler. Or perhaps you have always regretted that you were not able to go to college. You have the chance to get that degree! Making a number of all your hopes and dreams can assist you to seek out the top path to achieve them.

On top of that, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a whole new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. Lots of people do not 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.

Learn to say "No"

Whenever you make a big win at the lottery, you will hear from friends you have not spoken to in years. You will hear from cousins that you never knew existed. You could even hear from complete strangers! How did everybody find you all of a sudden?

Most state lotteries make their winners public. It's in their terms of service that winners has to be willing to go public. They do read this article for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is a great promotional device and it generates interest in the lottery. Additionally, it proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there is 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 new lottery winner, you will have to discover ways to say "no" to the many requests that can be coming to you. If you have a hard time doing this, then you will be effortlessly taken benefit of, and pretty soon you'll find your fortunes dwindling.

One alternative for anyone who may 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 have always dreamed of having all of it, but you'd like 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

Despite the fact that you are going to have to say "no" to a lot of greedy people trying to make use of you, you may discover that you are enthusiastic about giving back to charity. Many millionaires and billionaires have done great things with their donations, whether 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. (If you don't have a regular job anymore, or only work part-time as a result of winning the lottery, you could have a great deal more free period to share and may discover that you enjoy volunteering tour time).

Should you opt to give to charity, do your investigation first. You are going to need to find out 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 find out where they spend their cash, just how much of each gift they receive is utilized for charity, and other facts. This information should help you decide on several worthy charities.