It's funny how the belief that you will win one day is enough to keep people playing or investing money on lotteries. I too have played lotteries, not consistently I might add. I have won small money on all of them. I would say that I have not poured hundreds into playing so I mostly play back the lotteries money. I usually either win back more than I have played or will win a free ticket so I never really lose. If you ask me, it's probably better to buy your favorite rap music iTunes 'cause at least you have something tangible that you can enjoy.

I guess some will say that I am lucky but just like everyone I want to win a big prize of several thousand and never do. I had stopped playing for years out of frustration and only recently started playing again. I play very frugally - one ticket, one chance because I have a personal saying: if you don't have a ticket you don't have a chance so that's all I'll buy even when the lottery has a huge prize of several million.

I play as smart as I can because it's all about luck and chance so there's no need to buy a lot of tickets or play often for that matter. This is my take on it - it's nuts to spend as much as $500 or more a week x 52-weeks = 26,000 x 7-years = 182,000. So if you were to save that money each week, you'll already have your own lottery win or at least a small nest egg.