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Parents: Don't Waste Money on Powerball Tickets. Do These Things Instead!

Dear fellow parents -- this is crazy. There are so many better ways to spend $50 of your hard-earned money than on powerball tickets. Many involve buying yourself some much-needed family time. Here are the first 23 that come to mind.
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Professor of Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Author of The Working Dad's Survival Guide: How to Succeed at Work and at Home

Professor of Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Author of The Working Dad's Survival Guide: How to Succeed at Work and at Home
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Yes, I know it's fun to dream about winning the outrageously big Powerball lottery ($1.3 Billion as of this writing), but, let's face facts, you're not going to win. I've heard reports that perfectly sane people who never play the lottery are buying upwards of $50 on powerball tickets, and Fox News even had a talking head giving the advice to "buy as many powerball tickets as you can afford." SMH.

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You're not going to win the Powerball Lottery. Here are better ways to spend your money (flickr: creative commons)

Dear fellow parents -- this is crazy. There are so many better ways to spend $50 of your hard-earned money than on powerball tickets. Many involve buying yourself some much-needed family time. Here are the first 23 that come to mind:

  1. Take the family to see Star Wars (yes, again! It is totally better the second time)

  • Take a night off from the work and stress of cooking and go out to dinner

  • Plan a date night with your spouse

  • Use it for five hours of babysitting

  • Purchase 2 1/2 hardcopies, 5 Kindle versions or 7 audio versions of my book The Working Dad's Survival Guide (relatedly, Chapter 2 is all about Financial Priorities)

  • Buy a new shovel and a giant container of rock salt (after all, Winter is coming)

  • A few hours of bowling with your kids

  • All the clay and paint you'll need for a Saturday morning family art-fest!

  • Renting 15 movies on Amazon Prime

  • Buying 2 cases of beer for your next Beer Fire!

  • Going to the local drug store and printing out 150 or so of the pictures just sitting there on your phone

  • Buy a bunch of Christmas wrapping paper and decorations now that they are all 75% off

  • Buy flowers for your spouse for the next three weeks

  • Subscribe to a year of a magazine that can help you in your career

  • Have your kids invite a few friends over and host a pizza party for them

  • Donate to your favorite charity

  • Buy one new or three pre-owned video games for your kids

  • Starbucks every morning on your way to work

  • Relax with a 1/2 hour massage

  • Buy a new family board game and test it out

  • Get an oil change (I bet you are overdue for one)

  • Download 50 of your favorite songs to share with your kids

  • Matching BB-8 t-shirts for the whole family
    • Yes, purchasing Powerball tickets can be a fun way to dream. But a lot on this list is more fun (admittedly some are more practical than fun). More importantly, these are all a better investment of our money, and can free up time for family.
    Isn't a positive family life the greatest jackpot of all?

    Do you have anything to add to the list? Let's discuss in the comment section below.

    Like the article? Think it would make for a good facebook, reddit or twitter conversation? Then please share it. You can also follow my blog for working fathers, or follow me on facebook or twitter. And, of course, remember to buy my book. Thanks!

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