Sometimes we'll be walking through life in a happy daze, minding our own business, when *trip*. You trip over a hole on the floor and a couple thousand bucks fall out of your pockets. This wouldn't be such a big deal if you learn from these lessons and just carry on like nothing happened. Today, I'm going to talk about one of those "holes" in life that could leave you several thousand bucks less rich than you would have been had you been more aware. Today's topic is... the Lottery. Some financial gurus calls this a tax on people who can't do math. Others call it a tax on the poor (poor people are MUCH more likely to buy lottery tickets than the rich). I call it throwing money into a fire in hopes that a magical elf will appear and give you a piece of cheese worth a million bucks. How many times have you walked by a convenience store and decided to pick up a few scratch off lottery tickets and perhaps buy a few numbers in hopes that you will become a millionaire tomorrow? Let me tell you something. Statistically speaking, you're WAY more likely to get hit by a drunk driver while WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK on your way home from work. You're WAY more likely to die while riding the metro or the subway. You're WAY more likely to receive a phone call from your boss within the next 30 minutes offering you a raise. How are people still falling into the trap of thinking lotteries are a way to strike it rich? Simple. Every time they win a small amount, be it a buck or five bucks, the brain releases a bit of dopamine which activates the reward center of the brain - Thus leading to more lottery purchases. Most people don't consider the fact that they had to blow 500 dollars just to earn that small amount. These are tricks lottery companies use in order to control your behavior. My point is, from a mathematical standpoint, winning the lottery is impossible. Here's what you should do instead. Invest all the money that you were going to throw away. Investing in anything else would be better. Buy some currency. Buy index funds. Or anything else. Your kids will thank you later when you actually have something saved up towards their college fund. Thanks for reading!