Mega Millions and Divorce

I was not one of the three winners of this weekend's record Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. But, I was one of many millions hoping my Quick Picks were the right numbers. Like many of the other "losers" I imagined how I would use the more than half a billion dollars I would win. Park of those dreams included making life for my wife and myself easier, better, and allowing us to strengthen our relationship.

Here's the irony, though. Losing the big jackpot may very well be better for a marriage than winning. Studies show that extreme financial highs and lows can be devastating to couples. Many a marriage has ended in divorce due to a lottery win. Crazy, right? I know. You'd think that if a couple were strapped for dough that that could cause enough stress to lead to divorce. But, having more than enough? Really?

Yes, really. Stress is a huge factor in divorce, and winning millions can be stressful. On top of buying a new home, taking a European cruise and being a partial owner of the Red Socks, being a gazillionaire means dealing with people asking for hand-outs, feeling guilty for not helping everyone, deciding which investments to dive into, and more.

So, am I telling you not to play the lottery? No, I'm not. Do what you want. I'll continue to play in spite of what the stats tell me about marriages and lottery winners. I think knowledge can be enough to circumvent the curse of the lottery. But, also just knowing that stress, in any form, can be detrimental to a marriage, is enough to avoid it when there's a problem at work, the kids are acting like a bunch of caged monkeys or the car breaks down. Know that this can cause strain to your partnership, so be aware and breathe. Work together to deal with the stress. use your partner as a , well…partner. And avoid taking the stress out on them.