Linda Hall: I just picked up a Lotto guilt trip

Linda Hall

Opinion

Last Thursday I was hurrying to my car after work because it was jolly cold and I didn't have a coat.

I was head down and stepping out fast when something caught my eye. I stepped over it, took a couple more steps and then thought "that was a Lotto ticket".

I took a couple more steps then spun around went back and picked it up.

It was a $6 Powerball ticket drawn the night before.

That's when the dilemma started in my head. What if it's a big winner?

What would I do, what could I do?

The dialogue went on in my head all the way home.

The most likely scenario was that someone had checked it and then tossed it out -
bleeding litter bugs. But what if?

I knew tickets had retailer numbers on them so it would be easy enough to find out where it was bought. That's about all I did know.

Could the ticket be traced - what if it was worth thousands or even millions?

I was really hoping it was a dud and then I wouldn't have a problem.

So the next day I ran it through the self-service checker and what do you know - it was a winner.

Don't get excited, though - it's about enough money to have a light lunch in a cafe.

If I had found the equivalent in cash I most likely would have put it in my wallet and thought nothing much of it but because it's a Lotto ticket, I don't know why but I feel - well, guilty.

What if I used that money to buy another Lotto ticket and hit the jackpot? Does that mean I just got rich with ill-gotten gains?

What if when I went to cash it in the operator suddenly shouted "that ticket has been reported lost"?

Not likely but just imagine it, how embarrassing.

I did ring a Lotto outlet and they told me that Lotto would most likely be able to trace the time it was bought by the number on the ticket but of course unless there were cameras in the shop they wouldn't know who bought it.

What would you do?

While we are on the subject of Lotto, I have to say the recent changes are really not in favour of the customer.

The prices have gone up, you get less for your money, but what's even worse is that now you get a free ticket when you get four numbers in a row.

All this does is generate thousands more tickets every week, therefore making your chance to win even less likely.

Not sure why they made the changes, and speaking of changes can you believe that Healthy Families NZ is asking charities raising money from sausage sizzles to make their offerings healthier?

Really? They want brown bread instead of white, tomato sauce with less sugar, no margarine and coleslaw offered with every sale.

Now I'm all for healthy options, especially when it comes to our children, but really how often would a child, or an adult for that matter, eat one of these sausages?

They are really only seen on the weekends and unless mum or dad buy their children or themselves five at a time I can't see the harm in even having one every week.

It's way better than a trip to McDonald's.

Next thing you know, Girl Guides won't be able to sell their biscuits unless they offer apples on the side.