Once you have won a big prize from the lottery, you might think that all the hard work is done. In contrast, you'd be quite wrong! There are plenty of documented cases of people who have hit it big only to lose their fortunes through bad deals, unhealthy living, selfish acts, as well as other unfortunate events. So if you want to be a lottery success story, and avoid the famous "lottery curse" that seems to always make it to the front page of newspapers, below are some tips to help.

Get a lawyer or financial planner

Before going public with your lottery winnings, it's a great idea to talk to a lawyer and a financial planer. Certain lawyers focus on lottery winners and how to best begin a wise life that will make the most of their winnings. Simply, the ultra-rich (millionaires and billionaires) got that way by being wise with their money. They've had their wealth for some time. You, however, as a brand new lottery winner, are thrust in to the role of ultra-wealthy, trusted lotto dealers without needing the years of expertise that others may have had. This is why a lawyer can give great advice and be a great help while you begin your new life.

A financial planner is also an essential person to talk to. Also they can help you make the decisions early on within your life to guarantee that you not have to work again. If you make wise investments with your lottery winnings, instead of spending it foolishly, you will truly be a lottery success story.

Focus on your dreams

Winning the lottery is something that most of us dream of doing. So now that you have won, what would you like to do with your winnings? Maybe you have always wanted to travel. This really is now your opportunity to become a world traveler. Or perhaps you've always regretted that you were not able to go to college. You now have the option to get that degree! Making a list of all your hopes and dreams will let you to seek out the most effective path to achieve them.

Also, think beyond just things to buy. Sure a whole new car or dream home will be nice, but think more about lifestyle changes rather than new toys. The majority of people do not love their jobs, but find it nice to possess a hobby to take up time. Your hobby can now become your full time profession, if you wish it. Being happy means spending your time doing the things you love.

Learn to say "No"

Whenever you make a big win at the lottery, you will hear from friends you haven't spoken to in years. You will hear from cousins that you never knew existed. You may even hear from complete strangers! How did everybody find you all of a sudden?

Most state lotteries make their winners public. It's within their terms of service that winners must be prepared to go public. This is accomplished for a number of reasons. For one thing, it's a great promotional device and it generates interest within the lottery. Additionally, it proves that the lottery is a fair draw and that there is absolutely no cheating going on. The flip side of this really is that having their names made public puts a target on many lottery winners' lives. As a brand new lottery winner, you shall have to learn to say "no" to the many requests that can be coming to you. If you have a hard time doing this, then you will be conveniently taken advantage of, and pretty soon you'll find your fortunes dwindling.

One alternative for those who might not be looking forward to a life of public scrutiny is to try their hand at online lotteries. The relative anonymity provided by winning online means that a big winner can still remain relatively anonymous. If you've always dreamed of having everything, but you'd like to still live the life of a regular Joe, then you may want to try your hand at online lotteries.

Give some back to charity

Despite the fact that you will have to say "no" to a whole lot of greedy people trying to make use of you, you might see that you are serious about giving back to charity. Many millionaires and billionaires have done great things with their donations, whether or not it be to hospitals, colleges, or any other non-profit organizations. You can even donate your time! Despite the fact that it sounds crazy, many millionaires and lottery winners do it. (In the event that you don't have a regular job anymore, or only work part time resulting from winning the lottery, you might have a whole lot more free time for you to share and may find that you enjoy volunteering tour time).

Should you opt to give to charity, do your research first. You certainly will need to find out what your interests are and the way you want to see your money spent, so make a list about which charities interest you. You can even research your favorite charities to view where they spend their cash, how much of each gift they receive is utilized for charity, and other facts. This information should help you decide on a number of worthy charities.