Is it ever worth playing the lottery?
We all know the odds are low, but somebody has to win - is it ever worth spending your money on a lottery ticket?
What are the odds?
It is likely that at some point you have flirted with the idea of winning the lottery. After all, just think of all the financial problems you could solve if you won, all for the small price of a lottery ticket - and are the odds really so dismal?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes - so dismal in fact that your chances of bagging the 6-number jackpot on the National Lottery are 1 in 45 million.
It is also depressingly just as likely that you will win the lottery with consecutive numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 as it is that you will win with a colourful combination of your favourite 'lucky' numbers.
Statistics
You are more likely to be struck by lightning than to win the lottery, as well as the following:
die from a fireworks accident
die from a dog bite
die in a traffic accident on the way to buying your lottery ticket
Is it ever worth playing?
Purely mathematically speaking, if you play the lottery regularly over your lifetime the money you are 'investing' just is not worth it as the chances of getting a return are so slim.
Of course, you may argue that spending a few quid on the lottery each week is worth it for the fleeting excitement of thinking that you could in fact win big, and imagining what you might do with your winnings.
But in strict financial terms you are not doing yourself any favours by playing the lottery, and you would be much better off putting your lottery money into a savings account where a return in terms of interest is guaranteed. For example, if you spent £5 each week on lottery tickets over 30 years of your life, this would amount to £7,800 effectively poured down the drain.
Fact
Paying to play the lottery is not an investment in any real terms as you are incredibly unlikely to receive anything back for what you have spent besides the obvious entertainment value.
Why save the money instead?
If your £5 lottery spend was paid into a savings account over a 30-year period, even at a meagre interest rate of 3% you would still be left with £11,600 at the end - rather than nothing. As such if you do want to make a real return on your money, it is certainly better to put it into a savings account than it is to stake it on a lottery ticket.
The money you put aside in savings and earn interest on can then be used to pay off debts, to keep as an emergency fund, or any other use you might find it fit for - which is certainly much more beneficial than spending £20 a month and having nothing to show for it.
Should you stop playing?
If you are playing the lottery every week in the hope that one day you will get the numbers right, but find that the money you spend on tickets could be better spent on essentials such as food and bills, it may be worth considering giving the game up and using that money where it is needed.
If you want to see a return on that money, put it in a regular savings account with a decent interest rate and watch the pounds pile up.
There is no harm in playing the lottery once in a while just for fun and for the momentary thrill of imagining your new millionaire lifestyle - just make sure you are not seeing it as an 'investment' or as a viable way to get-rich-quick, as you will only be disappointed.
How else can you make cash?
Rather than dreaming of a big lottery win, you could explore alternative ways to make money.
If you have a driveway outside your home you could rent it out for extra cash each month. To find out how to do this, read our guide on making money by renting out your drive.
If you have access to the internet, you could find a way to make money by using auction websites. Read our guide on how to make money from auction sites for more information.
Help stretch your budget a little further by making the most of your savings.