Dear God, you made many, many poor people.

I realise, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor

But it’s no great honour, either.

So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man

You’ve probably recognised the song that first appeared in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. The famous line, ‘If I were a rich man’ has been sung by many artists over the years, including an English and Hebrew version by the tenor Sergio Franchi who sang for several presidents in the US. Ultimately, who wouldn’t want to be rich? The answer is probably nobody – everyone could find a way of investing an unexpected monetary gain. But one thing is for sure, though, if your neighbours had a say, they wouldn’t want you to become the wealthy man of the song. It’s nothing personal, though. Here’s how your win can be their loss:

The ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ curse

The media have long been promoted the idea that lottery winners are miserable. In reality, there is no evidence that people who win the jackpot are worse off. In fact, on the contrary, winners who have taken dispositions to make the most of their gains through charitable projects report higher levels of happiness. So why do journalists continue to tell the tales of lottery winners whose lives have been ruined? There might be a surprising answer to this question. Lottery winners, assuming they are savvy with their money, don’t suffer any damage from their gain. But their neighbours do! According to Bloomberg Business, close neighbours of lottery winners, tend to spend and invest more money – and eventually declare bankruptcy – in an effort to keep up appearances.

Most neighbours choose to start fresh

In fact, it’s not uncommon for some neighbours to decide to move out in an attempt to get back control of their financial situation. In the process, they often get in touch with debts and credit repayment experts such as Repair.Credit to devise a strategy to recover the ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ curse. Moving to a new location gives them the opportunity to reduce social pressure on maintaining appearances in the neighbourhood. While this might sound like a desperate solution, it’s easy to understand that peer pressure can play a significant role in your neighbours’ behaviour. After all, not everyone is satisfied with simple life choices such as Tom and Barbara Good. Most people are Margo Leadbetter at heart!

Wishing to win the lottery is no financial solution

Admittedly, it doesn’t need saying, but wishing to win the lottery is no guarantee of high gains. However, fingers are not enough to count how many neighbours wish they’d win too! In fact, financial habits don’t disappear when you’ve hit the jackpot! On the contrary, if neighbours want to maximise their chances of wealth, they need to establish effective budget habits from the start. As winning the lottery is only a temporary solution; it’s about financial know-how and informed decisions. Surprisingly enough, the same arguments are valid when it comes to surviving as the neighbour of a lottery winner!

In conclusion, your money doesn’t make your neighbours’ happiness. Worse, it can even create a dramatic situation in which your win is their loss.