Winning lots of money is only worth it if you're prepared with ways on how to make the most of your good fortune. Along with the cash, another huge benefit derived from winning is 'time.' That's right, time. In other words, winning allows you the time to pursue your other more important interests instead of having to devote so much of your life to earning money. When you win a substantial amount of money, you can afford to spend your time pursuing those pastimes you love and value most.

Okay, now's the time to let loose and pamper yourself like you've never done before. We're       talking blatant and unadulterated decadence here.

One downside to winning heaps of money means surrendering a great deal of your privacy, and precisely when privacy becomes increasingly important to you. Should you decide to move, it's advisable to refrain from filing your change of address notice with the postal service. The reason for this is: the postal service rents out change of address notices to many database firms who in turn sell your information to direct marketing companies, investigators, and anybody else willing to pay for your details. Inform only the people required to know and conduct your life on a cash basis as much as you can.

Having become an instant celebrity, protecting your privacy is job one. It's never too early to get an unlisted telephone number, post office box, security system, and some professional consultants including a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to watch over the actions of your portfolio manager, tax accountant, investment consultant, estate planning attorney, plus an estate planning life insurance agent.

Beyond these professionals, there are few others who have to know about your new-found good fortune. Instead, consider becoming a dull & basically uninteresting individual. Exercising discretion about your wealth and future plans will help you attain your goals and ultimately be in the best interest of you and those you care about.

There is a joke among lottery officials that an ex-spouse's lawyer is often the first to contact a new winner with congratulations & a lawsuit for renegotiating the original divorce settlement. Be prepared for this possibility by having your ex-spouse waive (in your initial settlement) any right to future gambling winnings. Then deposit the cash in a 90-day certificate of deposit & take a trip to organize the rest of your life. You need both the time to become used to your new riches (though this shouldn't be too painful a process), and the space to evade all your brand new best friends.

Immediately after winning your fortune, take a leave of absence form your place of employment, or simply quit. Remember though, quitting your job does not mean quitting your work. Labor has a special value which helps each one of us define our sense of self-worth.

Going around bragging to everyone you know (and once knew) that you are now rich will only boomerang, and with a vengeance. Let's face it, some people are pathologically jealous & therefore you risk being kidnapped and held for ransom (by someone you once knew).

Take as much time as you require to absorb the shock & consult only with those people (you still know) you can trust.

Okay, let's admit it; the odds are not in your favor of winning that mega jackpot. But suppose you DO win? Just how prepared are you?

The best way to get ready to welcome your new-found wealth is to begin by determining precisely why winning is so important to you. After all, money is merely a tool of wealth and not wealth itself.