A discussion about business ethics, character traits, integrity, and values

Mom knows dad spent money on the lottery, but not how much. He bought lottery tickets so he could give his six sons money. Dad was a good and hard worker for many years. In fact, he was working the night he had his first stroke, five years ago. He was only 68. Dad made a decent living and was a good provider, but he never understood how money works, and was not a saver, just an earner. So he played the lottery.

Dad spent $5 a day, five days a week on lottery tickets, for 10 years. So, $25 per week, 52 weeks, 10 years, he spent $13,000 on the lottery. What little he won during that time, he traded for more tickets.

Suppose dad had saved $25 a week for 10 years. At 12 percent interest, the stock market average, compounded over ten years, his $13,000 would have turned into just under $30,000. He stopped buying tickets about 10 years ago. That $30,000, at 12 percent interest for 10 years, would now be worth just a little more than $97,000. Don’t tell mom.