She bought a lottery ticket on her 18th birthday - and now she's set for life

Charlie Lagarde bought a scratchie on her birthday. Photo / Loto Quebec

Charlie Lagarde was celebrating her ascent into adulthood.

On her 18th birthday this month, the Canadian teenager bought a bottle of sparkling wine and a $4 scratch lottery ticket at a nearby store in Quebec - and, just like that, her future was off to a very nice start.

Loto-Québec officials said in a statement that after buying her first lottery ticket, Lagarde won the grand prize March 14 in the Gagnant à vie (Winner for life) game.

Her first major decision as an adult? The 18-year-old had to decide whether she wanted the C$1 million lump sum or C$1000 per week for the rest of her life.

Lagarde waited a couple of weeks to make up her mind, consulting a financial adviser and considering her options. Then she decided that, based on her age, she would accept the lifetime annuity, according to local news reports.

The teen said she intends to invest in her education as well as do some travelling - one of her passions.

"I want to study photography. One of my dreams would be to work for National Geographic," she said, according to the statement from lottery officials.

Lagarde bought the lottery ticket at a Couche-Tard convenience store, but she waited to scratch it until she got back to her home in Montérégie, not far from Montreal, according to the Canadian Press news agency.

Lottery officials said that she immediately told her family that she had won, and "everyone was euphoric at this stoke of luck."

Prizes in Canadian dollars for the Gagnant à vie game range from C$4 to the grand prize - the C$1 million one-time payout or the C$1000 weekly lifetime annuity. Although the odds of winning something are about one in 2.5, the chances of taking home the top prize are only about one in six million, according to the lottery.