Lucky Man, 94, Wins $300,000 Lottery on His Birthday

Happy birthday, indeed.

Ervin Smolinski, of South Branch, Mich., won $300,000 playing a lottery ticket for his 94th birthday from his daughter-in-law.

Smolinski, who served in World War Two and celebrated his big day on March 17, says giving lottery tickets is nothing new in the family:

Every month, I buy some instant tickets and send them as gifts to family members who have birthdays that month. It’s turned in to a bit of a tradition, and now everyone sends me scratch offs and chocolate for my birthday.”

So, what does a man 94 years young plan to do with his new windfall? Smolinski has no desire to blow through all this green like an NBA draft pick who just got a signing bonus: he says he's going to make some investments, buy a new shed and a car -- a used car.

“I’m pretty frugal, I always shop sales and take care of my money and that won’t change. The only thing that will change is I won’t have as much stress in my life worrying about money,” Smolinski said.