Perhaps if I Held You I Could Win Again
Everybody needs coin to survive. It'due south a fact we may not like, only it'due south nonetheless a fact. Some other inescapable truth is that nigh of united states could utilise more money for the things we need likewise as the things nosotros only want. That probably makes the hope of winning the lottery audio like a dream come true, simply the reality is much more complicated than that.
Consider this cautionary tale of a adult female in desperate need who won an unbelievable amount of coin. The choices and mistakes she fabricated after winning ultimately resulted in losing it all. Her story reminds usa all to never forget that money doesn't buy happiness.
Meet Marie Holmes
When she was 26, Marie Holmes was living a difficult life in North Carolina. She was a hard-working, unmarried mother of four with two low-paying jobs. On top of this, one of her children had just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Because of her child'due south special needs, Marie was forced to quit both of her jobs to intendance for him full fourth dimension. Obviously, the $188 1000000 lottery windfall seemed like a Godsend when Marie won, but unfortunately, she made a series of poor decisions that resulted in her losing it all.
Marie's Original Plans
Marie made some promising comments almost what she planned to exercise with the lottery money — $127 million after she chose to get it in a lump sum. "First I'1000 going to pay my tithes, because I wouldn't take none of it if it weren't for God."
"Later on that, I'one thousand going to ready upwardly accounts for my kids…I'chiliad going to buy a house for me and my kids, then make sure my family is all good." Marie too told WGN-Goggle box, "I don't accept to worry about the give-and-take 'struggle' no more and neither do [my children]."
The Waiting Game
Although most lottery winnings are non life changing, lottery jackpots are huge, and there are rules for claiming those winnings. If a person wins less than $599, the institution that sold them the ticket pays them their winnings. Yet, at that place is a lengthy process involved in claiming big lottery winnings.
The ticket has to be verified past a scanning automobile. Next, there is a waiting period for the money to be awarded, and the winner must fill out some identification paperwork. Last, the winner must decide if they want all the money in a lump sum or take it dispersed in installments for thirty years (on average).
Choices, Choices
One of the more hard choices when a person wins millions of dollars in a lottery is whether to become the coin in a lump sum or in installments. The dilemma occurs because there is a large penalisation for getting all the money faster in a lump sum.
Marie had the selection of collecting the entire $188 meg over 30 years or forfeiting $61 million and collecting the remaining $127 million much sooner. Financial experts commonly recommend taking the lump sum and investing the money. That allows you the opportunity to brand money on your winnings instead of the state. Marie chose the lump sum.
Uncle Sam'southward Cut
Many people don't know how much taxes people accept to pay out of lottery winnings in the U.S., so we'll break information technology down for yous. Although the entire tax amount wasn't reported in Marie Holmes' case, she definitely paid millions to the government.
In the U.Southward., lottery winnings are considered income past the IRS, on both the state and federal levels. Therefore, Due north Carolina would have taken 5.8% of Marie's $127 million, and the Federal Government would have taken anywhere from 25% to 39.six%, depending on tax bracket and other factors. Most people pay the highest charge per unit.
Setting an Instance
When Marie won the lottery, she had plans that all sounded very honorable. She said she would donate commencement to her church building and then move out of her mobile dwelling house and buy a new house for her children. She as well planned to set up college funds for them.
Marie told NBC, "All the struggle that I ever went through, it was all for [my children]. I want them to empathise that money doesn't alter you, but it tin can assistance you." The public savage in beloved with Marie after hearing nigh her history of poverty and hard knocks before she became wealthy.
Could She Handle It?
The reputation that Marie had in her hometown and elsewhere was that of a difficult-working, single female parent who, according to her family and friends, "understood the value of a dollar." At ane point, she had two jobs — Walmart and McDonald'south — to support her four children. Therefore, nobody expected her to brand poor decisions about where the money would go.
Of form, no one took into account that Marie was inexperienced and uninformed about how to handle big amounts of money. When she started deciding how to spend the lottery money, the public viewed her as immature and irresponsible.
Fiscal Advisor, Delight?
When people who aren't wealthy win a lot of money, it's highly recommended that they seek professional help about how to manage the money, including what NOT to practise with it. The boilerplate American has admittedly no experience handling large amounts of coin.
Financial advisors warn that even titanic amounts of money can disappear rapidly if it isn't invested wisely. In the case of Marie Holmes, it seemed like her centre was in the right place and she was doing what she idea was right, but some skilful advice definitely would have helped her out.
The Bad Judgment Begins
The beginning thing dubbed a poor judgment call by the public was the $xv,000 Rolex that Marie bought her boyfriend, Lamar "Hot Sauce" McDow. The picket was more jewelry than a timepiece and was reportedly "dripping with diamonds."
That aforementioned boyfriend ultimately cost Marie much more than. The Port City Daily reported Lamar was a gang fellow member and a drug dealer afterwards he was arrested and charged with "conspiracy to traffic in opium or heroin" in April 2016. He connected to go arrested throughout their relationship, and Marie spent millions on his bond and defense force.
The Saga Continues
Before being sent to jail on drug charges in 2014, Lamar McDow lived with Marie Holmes and her children in her trailer. When he was released from jail after serving his sentence, he lived in the $350,000 home that she had purchased after winning the lottery.
Co-ordinate to the Daily Mail, of the original amount of $188 million, Marie was left with about $88 million after deciding to have her winnings in a lump sum and paying taxes. This is yet a very large corporeality of money, merely a loss of $100 one thousand thousand is obviously very meaning.
Leeches Coming Out of the Woodwork
Predictably, lots of people immediately started asking Marie and her boyfriend for money afterward they heard she won the lottery. The people included friends, family unit members and numerous others, all requesting diverse amounts of money for all kinds of reasons. Unfortunately, this experience is common for lottery winners.
Marie and Lamar were constantly harassed for money handouts, and it became very stressful for them. Marie was quoted as maxim, "When money comes, there are more problems," according to reports.
Racial Intolerance in Their New Domicile
Another problem that plagued Marie and her family in their new life in their new domicile was harassment from neighbors due to racial prejudice. The neighborhood that Marie moved into with her family unit was an intolerant, primarily white customs, and much to the family's chagrin, the residents were not interested in changing.
According to Lamar, "1 neighbor fix up a camera to record everything we were doing. If I was driving down the road and going at the speed limit, they would wave at me for going too fast. They did not want u.s. in that location. They were prejudiced." Lamar reported these agonizing events to the Daily Mail.
The Church Donation
Marie stayed true to her word, which was reported in a press release equally "The first affair she promised was to tithe — give a 10th of her winnings to charity." Marie donated a full of $700,000 to her hometown church, Pleasant Loma Missionary Baptist Church building, located in Shallotte, NC.
The church reportedly used the coin for much-needed renovations. Marie told the printing the church was an important role of her life and her religion and that she had been attending that particular church since she was a child.
Pastor Disaster
Unfortunately, a unlike pastor made contact with Marie and her family with an evil ulterior motive. Pastor Kevin Matthews claimed that "God led him to them," and although they certainly regretted it afterward, Marie and her family believed him and immune him into their lives and their home.
Soon after coming together Marie, Pastor Matthews asked her for $1.5 million and then he could build a retreat. Co-ordinate to him, Marie verbally agreed to fund the project, although there is no evidence to support that. He then went ahead and began construction on the retreat using his own money. Marie did non contribute.
Wicked Intentions
Citing a verbal agreement in which Marie allegedly promised to donate $1.5 million for his retreat, Pastor Kevin Matthews announced publicly that he was suing Marie Holmes for $10 meg. The amount of coin named in the suit was baffling, considering the corporeality he was allegedly promised was much less.
The public believed Pastor Matthews was beingness ungrateful and greedy. His behavior seemed unbecoming of a Christian leader to nigh people of faith. The justification for his lawsuit was that he had a verbal understanding with Marie for a money donation and bounty for "emotional distress."
Public Outrage
As soon as the media caught wind of the lawsuit, they uncovered that Matthews did non appear to be affiliated with any church. This led to a severe, angry public backfire. People shamed Matthews for being a fraud and trying to scam a nice lady out of her rightful winnings.
One YouTuber, "Donald the Repentless," was so mad nigh this that he put out videos entitled, "F*** You Pastor Kevin Matthews." Public stance was clear that this so-chosen "pastor" was nil but a money-grubbing scam artist preying on a nice lady to get his easily on a lot of undeserved money.
To Top Information technology Off: Infidelity
In more bad news for Marie and her children, the media reported that her ex-convict boyfriend was being unfaithful. Unfortunately, it was besides reported that she herself paid Lamar'southward mistresses hush money to go abroad instead of getting rid of him.
In more reputation damaging news, a video surfaced on Facebook of a woman who claimed that in addition to Lamar adulterous on Marie, he was also stealing money from her to pay prostitutes for "sexual favors." Unfortunately, the video went viral, as juicy gossip oft does.
Powering Through
Instead of withering under the scrutiny of the media and the public, Marie decided to accept desperate measures to amend her circumstances. She gathered her strength and took matters into her ain easily by turning to a well-known life coach to get some advice about how to amend her life.
Marie contacted Iyanla Vanzant, who has her ain testify advising people about their relationships on the Oprah Network. Vanzant is a renowned author and motivational speaker with a huge following due to her reputation for changing people'southward lives for the better.
The Truth Revealed
In another surprising twist, when Marie went on the Iyanla: Fix My Life talk testify, her mother, Fontella, came out and revealed that the numbers she chose for the winning lottery ticket were really hers and that they had a very special meaning.
"I kept dreaming virtually your blood brother that nosotros lost. His birthday, he was the third child, he'd have been 25 that year. Those were the numbers." When Marie asked her female parent why she didn't claim the money for herself, Fontella replied, "I only wanted you lot to improve yourself for the babies."
The Scoop on Lamar McDow
Lamar "Hot Sauce" McDow was fortunate plenty to stay in Marie'southward skillful graces long enough to fight jail 3 times, to the tune of millions in bail and legal fees. The first time Marie bailed him out, it cost her $3 million in bond coin.
Before a year had passed, Lamar was arrested once again, and Marie bailed him out again for $6 meg. The 3rd time Marie bailed out Lamar, it was $12 1000000. You would think she would have been repulsed by his criminal behavior, but she but kept spending the money, resulting in widespread criticism.
Misery Loves Visitor
Marie was warned past many people that if she connected her human relationship with Lamar, she could cease up with criminal charges herself. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. One dark, Lamar violated his parole curfew. When the police force came, they discovered marijuana in the house.
Tragically, Marie was arrested for possession in front end of her children. Marijuana remains illegal in North Carolina, only at that place is a significant racial bias most who is criminalized for it, according to the ACLU. The aforementioned number of white people as black people use marijuana, but blacks are three.73 times more than likely to exist arrested.
The Boyfriend Defence
Lamar eventually got angry at the people criticizing Marie for spending her money bailing him out of jail, and he lashed out. To the Daily Post, he asserted, "We are a couple, and I am the father of her youngest child. This is what people practise for each other."
Lamar went on to say, "She has the money, and she can practise what she wants with it. If I had that coin, and then I would do the same for her. People are just jealous considering of how much she won, and people want to see me locked in jail."
The Wolf Pit
During the taping of the Iyanla prove, the bad headlines just kept rolling in. Marie's family unit and fifty-fifty former friends started accusing her of actually stealing the lottery ticket from her mother, despite Fontella freely albeit on telly that she had given the ticket to Marie.
To add to the stress and drama, Lamar went to jail at this time on a seven-year sentence for charges related to possessing and selling heroin. True to grade, Marie persisted in pushing forrad and moving on with her life, demonstrating her strength and resilience.
A Goal Met
Despite poor taste in partners, Marie did brand some good decisions nigh what to practise with some of her money. She ended upward giving $9.7 million to various charities. Part of that money went to the brand-new Marie Holmes Foundation, which was established to provide for children in need.
Marie'due south foundation provides necessities for underprivileged children. It as well holds community events, which are how some children become their school supplies and their Christmas presents. The foundation helps struggling immature mothers similar Marie was earlier she won the lottery.
Do Christians Gamble?
Marie was raised a devout Catholic, and she leans heavily on her Christian faith. Some people criticized her for playing the lottery at all, because it tends to be frowned upon by the church. People have mixed opinions when it comes to Christians gambling.
One pastor said this to the Christian Mail: "You lot can't be confronting the lottery, only your youth department is doing a RAFFLE! Same matter, pastor. Aforementioned THING!" The stigma remains almost gambling being an irresponsible money-waster. Others argue that there is nothing specific said well-nigh gambling in the Bible, so it's okay when it'south not abused.
The Root of All Evil
Other religious people, such as one pastor cited in the Christian Post, pointed out that the Bible says that money is where evil originated. He scolded Marie for buying the lottery ticket and went on to say, "First, we must guard confronting our love of money."
It should be noted that when the Bible does mention "casting lots," it'south non ordinarily talking about material gain, but about God. In an case of this, Proverbs sixteen:33 states, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."
Some Friendly Advice
Nosotros recommend that others read the unfortunate story of Marie Holmes in case they find themselves in her shoes. Information technology'due south non at all easy to go from rags to riches, and similar versions of her story have happened to others.
It's important to understand tax laws for the long term, the rules of the lottery and investment options if y'all always discover yourself in the position of receiving a large windfall of money. Exist sure to hire a adept professional person financial expert to aid y'all decide how to manage your money to avert reckless decisions.
A Cautionary Tale
If you always happen to find yourself in the unlikely position of winning the lottery some things to watch out for include government laws, lottery rules, state and federal taxes and your previous unpaid debts. These things can help yous calculate your expendable income.
Information technology may be unwise in the initial excitement to promise lots of charitable giving, like Marie did, without first doing the math to see what your accept-home corporeality really is. Multiple millions of dollars may seem like an enormous amount, but equally Marie discovered, information technology'due south easy to burn through it chop-chop if you are uninformed.
Further Drama
Some think that Marie had a run of terrible luck later she won the lottery, while others think she brought her woes upon herself with poor determination-making. A few think the truth lies somewhere in the middle of those 2 blackness-and-white judgments.
Aside from spending millions on her fellow — who somewhen ended up in federal prison anyway — Marie also made another questionable decisions later winning the lotto, such as buying her beau a business organization of his own and buying her mother a business firm. She also had harassment charges filed confronting her for allegedly calling a woman repeatedly to threaten her.
The Bottom Line
The catastrophe of this story is mostly grim, although Marie Holmes did practise some positive things with a lasting impact before the last of her coin was gone. She didn't seem to realize that she would exist under a microscope with the media and the public.
Here are a couple more tips, merely in case you ever hit information technology big: Don't trust anyone asking for money, even if they seem to take a very respectable social status (like the pastor who sued Marie Holmes). Retrieve the proficient that coin tin can do, but don't forget the bad. No matter what, don't make bold promises immediately after winning.
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Source: https://www.reference.com/business-finance/what-not-to-do-if-you-win-lottery?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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