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

Before going public with your lottery winnings, it's a great idea to talk to an attorney and also a financial planer. Certain lawyers specialize in lottery winners as well as how to best begin a wise life that will 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 many years. You, on the flip side, as a new lottery winner, are thrust in to the role of ultra-wealthy, without having the years of experience that others may have had. This is why a lawyer can give great advice and be a great help as you begin your new life.

A financial planner can also be a significant person to speak to. They may help you make the decisions early on in your life to make certain that you never have to work again. If you make wise investments with your lottery winnings, instead of spending it foolishly, you will truly be a lottery success story.

Winning the lottery is a thing that most of us dream of doing. So now that you have won, what do you want to do with your winnings? Maybe you've always wanted to travel. This really is now your chance to become a world traveler. Or possibly you have always regretted that you weren't able to go to college. You now have the chance to get that degree! Making a number of all your hopes and dreams will let you to seek out the very best path to achieve them.

Also, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. Plenty of people don't 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.

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 may 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 prepared to go public. This is accomplished for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is a great promotional device and it generates interest in the lottery. It also proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there is 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 whole new lottery winner, you shall have to learn how to say "no" to the many requests that can be coming to you. Should you have a hard time doing this, then you will be conveniently taken benefit from, and pretty soon you can find your fortunes dwindling.

One alternative for anyone who might 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, you might want to try your hand at online lotteries.

Despite the fact that you will have to say "no" to a great deal of greedy people trying to take advantage of you, you could find that you are thinking about giving back to charity. Many millionaires and billionaires have done great things with their donations, whether it be to hospitals, colleges, or any other non-profit organizations. You can even donate your time! Even though it sounds crazy, many millionaires and lottery winners do it. (Should you not have a regular job anymore, or only work part-time resulting from winning the lottery, you could have a whole lot more free time for you to share and may see that you enjoy volunteering tour time).

In the event that you do decide to give to charity, do your investigation first. You will need to find out what your interests are and just how you would like to see your hard earned money spent, so make a list about which charities interest you. You can even research your favorite charities to see where they spend their cash, simply how much of each gift they receive is used for charity, as well as other facts. These facts should help you decide on several worthy charities.