Don’t Buy Powerball Tickets. Instead, Here’s How to Use That Cash to Make More Money

You know the odds are slimmer than being struck by lightning. Twice.

But you just can’t resist buying a ticket or two. Or five. Because after all, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Listen: I get it.

Even though I knew it was a waste of money, I spent $20 — $22.25, to be exact, after the cash-only gas station ATM fees — on Powerball tickets. Once the jackpot crossed the $1 billion threshold, I knew I would kick myself if I didn’t at least try.

A Guaranteed Way to Win the Lottery: Don’t Play

With mind-bogglingly slim odds, whatever money you throw at the lottery — be it $2 or $2,000 — is almost definitely a waste.

Instead, what if you invested that cash in a guaranteed way to make money?

Hey, it probably won’t pay out $1.4 billion — but I’d rather have a real $100 than an imaginary $1 billion any day.

Here are some better ways to make money with the cash you’re tempted to blow on Powerball tickets.

$2 — One Entry

Take that $2 and spend it on some chocolate mints to lay on the pillows in your spare room. Then, open your house to guests using platforms like AirBnB or Homestay.

Don’t have a spare bed? If you’ve got a way with words, buy yourself a cup of coffee and sit down to do some freelance writing for blogs that pay for guest posts.

If you’re not much of a writer, you could sip while you get rewarded for searching the internet, watching videos on Swagbucks, filling out online surveys, or cleaning up Google’s mess.

$10 — Five Entries

With $10, you could buy three cases of water to sell for $1 per bottle at a busy event.

Heck, on Jan. 13, there might be a hot, thirsty line of last-minute lottery ticket purchasers at the convenience store — though the shop owner might not be thrilled with your business if he’s selling bottled water, too.

$20 — 10 Entries

Got $20 in your pocket?

Hit your local thrift shop or flea market and find some awesome things to dust off, clean up and resell for a higher price.

$50 — 25 Entries

$50 is a pretty penny to spend on an idle daydream.

Instead, invest the money in learning a skill to jump-start your new career on a platform like Udemy.

Or make like this woman and start a whole business!

Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems.