I always say, “I never win anything!” But that’s not strictly true. We went to a local casino and played slots for about two hours - I won ten bucks. Last year, I entered a raffle for a free spa day for two and I won. I also won the bake sale contest at my daughter's school for commanding the highest price for my seven-layer chocolate dream cake. The prize was only bragging rights, but it was still a win.

Winning little things can be the best fun. Just look at all the stories of former jackpot winners who found out the hard way that money didn't open the gate to happiness. From overspending to bothersome relatives, they faced a myriad of problems that came with all that money. That's why small wins can be better. After all, no long lost relatives will be banging down my to get their piece of my $10 windfall or a day in the mud baths.

People just like to win. It feels good. It's fun. It makes us laugh. We feel lucky for a little while. And with the odds temporarily stacked in our favor, it doesn't matter how small the win, we're on top of the world. That's why we play.

Your “Win Responsibly” Gift Guru,
Linda