You may think you have a chance at winning the lottery. And, you do. A really, really, really, really, really, really small chance. Just how small, you ask? According to ConsumerEducation, the odds of hitting the MegaMillions jackpot are 175,711,536 to 1. The chances of winning a state lottery are around 18 million to 1.

If you still think these odds are worth riding out, consider what has a better chance of happening to you:

• Being killed by lightning (2,650,000 to 1 odds)
• Dying from flesh-eating bacteria (1 million to 1 odds)
• Receiving a fatal bee sting or snake bite (100,000 to 1 odds)
• Being killed in a car accident (18,585 to 1 odds)

The odds aren’t the only thing stacked against you with regards to the lottery. It was discovered recently that some clerks were stealing winning tickets from customers. They would scan the ticket, see a big payout, then tell the customer the numbers were losers. Sometimes a clever ticket switch-a-roo was pulled.

If you play the lottery for fun, with money you can afford to lose, and don’t expect to win, then please continue. However, if your lottery money would go to better use elsewhere in your family budget, please remember the odds and put your wallet away.