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Well, we didn’t win the 90 million dollars. My fiancee wanted a ticket, I wasn’t phased so we dropped the $7.whatever on a ticket. No surprises – it was a waste of money.

I browse a lot of forums, due to the somewhat laid back nature of my job. I can’t believe how much people are up in arms over the fact that they didn’t win. What the hell? Are they really that disappointed? Did they really expect to win? It’s only a one in 45,379,620 chance of winning!

It’s amazing how for some people, the best thing that could possibly happen to them is by chance. I know I’ve spruiked the concept of life planning a fair bit, but really – if you want to get somewhere, just plan for it and make it happen. Don’t sit around in a life that you hate just hoping that one day it will change, because it won’t!

What does this have to do with me not winning the lotto? Nothing really. My direction wouldn’t have changed if we won. Sure, there would be a lot more money in our lives, but we would still be getting married, still head off backpacking through Europe in the new year, and still fly to Canada after that to enjoy life. It would have made my life easier, not better.

What’s my point? DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO! Obviously there are times when this doesn’t apply – in the short term you may have to make sacrifices or take risks, but plan to do what you want to do! Don’t wait for the opportunity to come along and tap you on the shoulder, because chances are it will never happen.

I browse a lot of Internet forums – Mountain biking, cars, property and so on. You wouldn’t believe how many people are talking about the 90 million dollar Oz Lotto tomorrow night.

“What cars would you buy?”, “Where would you buy a house and what sort?”, and so on. I was talking to the guys at work about it last week and I’m convinced that nothing “amazing” like winning 90 million will ever happen to me, but I take comfort that along with that I don’t believe anything terrible will happen to me in my life either. I’ll just ride the wave, enjoy it to the max, and then die one day.

Australia is the new America. Rampant consumerism, and while I like my “stuff”, it’s insane to think that my life could be that much better just with more money. In fact you only have to look to the “stars” to see how the money ends up owning them in the long run.

For instance – I am relatively healthy, in a good career and with my fiancee who makes me so very happy. I am lucky enough to know my passion – bikes. I love the outdoors and my freedom. Obviously I’m not going to say that money wouldn’t make some of these things easier to acquire – bikes for instance – I could have hundreds if I was loaded, but what is the point? Where is the satisfaction in having a few hundred bikes when in reality you will only ever ride maybe 5 of them regularly? Being rich is a false economy. I’m not going to love my fiancee any more if I’m rich, I’m not going to get any healthier if I’m rich, and I’m not going to feel any more free if I’m rich either.

I’m sure if you think about it in your life too, the benefits will be limited as well.

Winning a lump sum of money like this will just throw all frugality out of the window, and before long you will be “two steps back”.

Maybe I’m just sour about others winning, maybe I’m in denial, but I honestly think that people bank on money (no pun intended), that bit too much. If money is the thing that will make you the happiest in life, it’s time for a reality check. There is so much out there to make you smile, make you laugh, or give you a rush that doesn’t cost a cent!