A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Start a foundation to give farmers breaks and more affordable loans to get them out from under the horrible food industry cycle and bribe them with no interest and no payments for 3 years if they go non-GMO. I'd also give a large donation to the Verified Non-GMO project so they could test products from those companies that claim to be non-gmo but don't label as such, like Trader Joe's products.
Go find crumbling old mansions and make them beautiful again.
Open a book and coffee shop and let my friend be my partner and run it - she has always wanted one.
Completely fund an orphanage in a 3rd world country.
I'm sure I'd think of more.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I don't consider it a waste. All of our lottery profits fund pre-k programs and college scholarships. I'm just contributing to education when I buy a ticket.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I don't consider it a waste. All of our lottery profits fund pre-k programs and college scholarships. I'm just contributing to education when I buy a ticket.
I don't consider it a waste. All of our lottery profits fund pre-k programs and college scholarships. I'm just contributing to education when I buy a ticket.
Here too. Our lottery fully funds 2 years of junior college in state...
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
I don't consider it a waste. All of our lottery profits fund pre-k programs and college scholarships. I'm just contributing to education when I buy a ticket.
Here too. Our lottery fully funds 2 years of junior college in state...
In Texas, the money funds education, and programs for Texas Veterans.
I have no idea what ours in VA funds...........Never even thought about it funding anything. FNW any idea?
We had to vote on it a few years back.
It was supposed to go to the Hope Scholarship (college). 100%. And it did. But we had an abundance of funds left over, so we had another vote. The extra funds went to fund pre-K. Yet, we STILL had money, so they are using it to fund 2 year junior college.
I'm actually impressed the way the government has handled the funds...
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
I have no idea what ours in VA funds...........Never even thought about it funding anything. FNW any idea?
I looked it up for you, Lexxy.
Since 1999, all Virginia Lottery profits have been used for public education in the Commonwealth, for kindergarten through 12th grade.
In Fiscal Year 2014, the Virginia Lottery had sales of more than $1.8 billion. Of this total, the Lottery generated a record $538.6 million, or 29.7%, for public education grades K-12; 59.7% went back to players in the form of prizes; 5.6% went to the retailers who sell Virginia Lottery tickets, and 5.0% went to operational expenses.
When Virginians voted in 1987 for a state-operated lottery, some people made the assumption that they voted on how to spend the Lottery's proceeds. This was not the case. The lottery proceeds, which are approximately one-third of lottery sales, were to be used as determined by the General Assembly.
The use of the proceeds has changed over time. In 1989, lottery proceeds were dedicated to capital construction projects. From 1990 to 1998, the lottery proceeds were transferred to the state's General Fund. Starting in 1999, a state budget amendment sent lottery proceeds to local public school divisions to be used solely for educational purposes. In the year 2000, more than 80% of Virginia voters said yes to the creation of the State Lottery Proceeds Fund. The measure, now a permanent part of Virginia's Constitution, directs all Virginia Lottery profits be used solely for educational purposes.
LITERARY FUND
By law, all unclaimed Virginia Lottery prizes go to the Literary Fund. The Literary Fund is used solely for educational purposes, such as school construction, renovation, and teacher retirement funding.
The Lottery transferred $9.8 million to the Literary Fund in Fiscal Year 2014. Since 1988, the Lottery has transferred more than $244.4 million in unclaimed prizes to the Literary Fund.
SET-OFF DEBT COLLECTION ACT
The Lottery also participates in the Set-Off Debt Collection Act, in which prize payments are withheld to pay certain obligations that the prize winner owes. Examples of these obligations are state and federal taxes, child support and tuition from state universities or colleges. The Virginia Lottery collected $1.7 million in FY 2014, for a total of more than $24.3 million since 1988.
Thanks FWM! I had no idea. I guess I just assumed the ticket price paid for the prize money. That is good to know. I never play the lottery but now would feel a little better knowing my money is going to a good use.
No lottery here, but I will be driving through AZ and CA Thursday so will probably pick some up. Hopefully in CA because if I win there I don't have to pay state tax on the winnings.
No lottery here, but I will be driving through AZ and CA Thursday so will probably pick some up. Hopefully in CA because if I win there I don't have to pay state tax on the winnings.
The drawing is tonight, I believe...
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
Thanks FWM! I had no idea. I guess I just assumed the ticket price paid for the prize money. That is good to know. I never play the lottery but now would feel a little better knowing my money is going to a good use.
So if one of us Geeks win, it's a Christmas cruise?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Thanks FWM! I had no idea. I guess I just assumed the ticket price paid for the prize money. That is good to know. I never play the lottery but now would feel a little better knowing my money is going to a good use.
Happy to help, Lexxy!
Now you can chance a few dollars, guilt free!
I've never bought a ticket before. I've done scratchers but not lottery. I'm not even quite sure how to do it. I'm sure it's not that hard since millions of people do it every day. I just get all nervous about holding up the line. You should see how awkward I get at Dunkin donuts when I have to choose 12 donuts.
Lexxy, they have machines now at the groceries stores. I'll have to admit, I was a bit intimidated the first time I bought a powerball from one of them...a nice man saw me confused and came over and helped me. Much like the first time I bought a Metro ticket. LOL
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Start a foundation to give farmers breaks and more affordable loans to get them out from under the horrible food industry cycle and bribe them with no interest and no payments for 3 years if they go non-GMO. I'd also give a large donation to the Verified Non-GMO project so they could test products from those companies that claim to be non-gmo but don't label as such, like Trader Joe's products.
Go find crumbling old mansions and make them beautiful again.
Open a book and coffee shop and let my friend be my partner and run it - she has always wanted one.
Completely fund an orphanage in a 3rd world country.
I'm sure I'd think of more.
$500M would be quickly spend buying and fixing up and maintaining those homes.
I would open a trust, each kid would have a trust but couldn't touch it until they had the career in high gear. I would buy a house in the mountains and one on the ocean. I would have a trust for each of my parents and nieces and nephews. Then I would go about with the favorite charities.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
Pay off every bill of my parents, brother, kids and mawmaw.
Purchase the land my grandparents left my Aunts and build a home for my parents, myself and kids. I have the floor plan.
Buy each of us a car.
Divide the rest into savings, investments and trusts.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
With $500,000,000 won, that's probably, at a guess, $250,000,000 "lump sum", with 33% going to federal taxes that's something in the neighborhood of $165,000,000 to keep. I'd put half to work for God, The other half I would use to help family and retire.
Thanks FWM! I had no idea. I guess I just assumed the ticket price paid for the prize money. That is good to know. I never play the lottery but now would feel a little better knowing my money is going to a good use.
Happy to help, Lexxy!
Now you can chance a few dollars, guilt free!
I've never bought a ticket before. I've done scratchers but not lottery. I'm not even quite sure how to do it. I'm sure it's not that hard since millions of people do it every day. I just get all nervous about holding up the line. You should see how awkward I get at Dunkin donuts when I have to choose 12 donuts.
LOL
There is a bakery in town that sells amazing mini muffins. When I buy a dozen, I usually force myself to buy 4 each of 3 different kinds.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I think you need more than one to win.