Fayetteville's Consumer Credit Counseling Service reminds lottery players that

the tried and true way to achieving financial

dreams is to set goals, work hard, spend less than

you make and save the difference.

According to CCCS, playing the lottery can reduce your likelihood of financial success.

"Lottery tickets can zap a budget over

time," said Janet warren, branch manager of

CCCS. "People think 'It's just a dollar, it

doesn't matter.' But $10 spent on the lottery

every week adds up to $520 a year and to more than $2,500 in just five years. That $2,500 could

be used to reduce debt, help fund a child's

college education or make up part of a down

payment on a home."

The odds of winning the Georgia Lotto are one in 9.3 million, which can be hard to

grasp, but think of it in the following terms. Stack

9.3 million pennies on top of one another. That number of pennies creates a stack more

than 8.6 miles high. Now, out of that 8.6

mile-high stack, select the one lucky coin. Sounds

impossible? It pretty much is.

But what are your odds of financial success if you save that money instead?

A $10 a week lottery player decides to invest that money each month. With a

10 percent rate of return, his or her money will grow to $8,603 in 10 years, $31,893 in 20

and $94,940 in 30. That's the power of saving, investing and compounding returns.

<!--##############