Don't buy another lottery ticket before reading this. I thought retirement was supposed to be a blessing, but like most Americans, we didn’t put away enough for retirement, but we believed we’d be OK if we just pinched our pennies. Isn't that how everyone wants to spend the golden years of their lives? At home, living and eating as cheaply as possible until the end. This isn’t the way we pictured our lives would be. We wanted to take cruises, live in a comfortable house, eat at great restaurants, and travel the world with our families. And most importantly, we wanted to be there for them when they needed us rather than us being a burden to them. It didn’t work out that way. We dreamed of winning the lottery, like everyone does. It was an impossible dream. We knew that, but we’d play a few tickets here and there only to throw them into the trash after the drawing or walk into 7-11 to cash in our $4 or free ticket. For “vacation” we took camping trips with our friends because they were fun and cost very little money. Unfortunately, on a trip about a year ago, my wife lost her wedding ring. We’ve been married 37 years and before I proposed, I had to save up for nearly a year to buy it. I remember the smile on her face and the tears in her eyes when I got down on one knee to give it to her. It was one of the best purchases of my life. The loss of that ring was devastating. We scoured our campsite looking for it but with no luck. I promised her that I’d get her another one. She smiled at me and said, “No, that’s alright. We can’t afford something like that right now, and you know it.” I did know it. She was right. We could barely afford our mortgage. Going to Cracker Barrel was our idea of splurging for a meal out of the house. How could I spend the thousands it was going to take to buy a new ring? I made a promise to her that day that I would figure it out. It might take a little time, but we are going to get another symbol of our love, and it will be of the same quality as the one I gave her over 37 years ago. I started giving up small comforts to put money aside, but it was going to take way too long. I even played a few lotto tickets, crossed my fingers, and lost. I’d picked up a part-time job at the grocery store. As I was headed back to the register, I saw an old friend of mine, Todd. He had just bought some lottery tickets when he noticed me and came over with a massive smile and a big hug. I was a little ashamed that he saw me working in the store. I was supposed to be enjoying my retirement, after all. Not bagging groceries. “What time do you get off Dave?” “10 minutes,” I replied. “I’m taking you to dinner. Meet me in the parking lot after your shift.” I was about to think up an excuse because I couldn’t afford to go to dinner with him, and I didn’t want him to have to pay. I think he could read my thoughts on my face because next, he said, “And don’t even think about saying no. This is my treat, and I insist. You’ll want to hear what I’ve got to tell you.” Now, I was curious. He took me to an incredible Italian restaurant. After we were seated, he ordered an expensive bottle of wine and some appetizers. I looked down at the prices on the menu and then up at Todd. Then I asked him straight how he could afford this. Financially, Todd and his wife Mary, had been in about the same shape as us. As far as I knew, they were just scraping by on their retirement income, so how is it we're here spending this kind of money on food and wine? “Take a look at this,” he said. He showed me the video he’d watched six months before that changed his life. I was blown away. Apparently, there are several repeat lottery winners. I’m not talking about the people who win those impossible odds ten-million-dollar plus jackpots. I mean the ones that win the smaller jackpots, under half a million or so, over and over. These people have a system that lets them win several times a year, sometimes several times a month. I didn’t believe it at first, but I tried it because I had nothing to lose, and it seemed to be working for Todd. Maybe it could work for me too I am so glad I did. And after my first win, I fulfilled my promise. And yes, it was every bit as spectacular as the first ring I got her. Now, our retirement looks the way we pictured it as kids. We go out to eat with Todd and his wife regularly, and we’ve taken amazing cruises together. We surprised our kids and their families with tickets to Europe. We traveled through the beautiful streets of Paris, gazed at the wonders of Rome, and soaked in the beauty of the Greek islands. And when we got back, I got to kick up my feet in my new house. These are definitely the golden years. I can't tell you how thankful I am that this simple method changed my life. That's why I'm sharing it here. Maybe it can help someone else, too. To check out the exact video that helped me, tap the Learn More button below.

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