Lucky girl wins 5.6 million in prize money, chooses weekly installment payments, sparking heated discussions and being criticized for lacking financial knowledge

Winning a huge lottery prize is sure to make one ecstatic, as if life has turned around overnight. However, sudden wealth can also bring new challenges—should one take all the winnings at once or choose to receive them in a steady installment? A lucky Canadian teenager born in the 2000s won CAD 1 million (approximately HKD 5.66 million) but chose not to rush to claim it all at once; instead, she opted to receive CAD 1,000 (approximately HKD 5,600) weekly, a decision that sparked heated discussions. Some praised her rationality, believing it could prevent extravagance; others lamented the missed opportunity, claiming that taking the lump sum would yield better investment returns, mocking her for "not understanding finance." According to foreign media reports, 20-year-old Brenda Aubin-Vega from Montreal purchased a scratch-off lottery ticket for CAD 4 at the beginning of January this year and won the grand prize of CAD 1 million in the "Gagnant à vie" lottery. It is reported that the odds of winning the grand prize on the scratch-off ticket Brenda purchased were only 1 in 1.5 million. According to the rules of Loto-Québec, the winner has two options for claiming the prize: one is to take the CAD 1 million tax-free in a lump sum; the other is to receive CAD 1,000 weekly until the end of their life. Calculations show that if she chooses to receive CAD 1,000 weekly, it would take about 19 years to recover the total prize. If the weekly winnings are invested at an annual growth rate of 5%, it would take about 13 years to reach the future value of CAD 1 million, and about 21 years to reach CAD 2 million. Ultimately, Brenda chose to receive the prize in installments, stating that compared to a one-time large sum, receiving the prize in installments ensures a continuous and stable cash flow, making it easier to manage and avoid excessive spending. She also mentioned that she would maintain her current lifestyle and continue working to gradually achieve her dream of homeownership. After the incident was reported by the media, it sparked heated discussions online. Many agreed with Brenda's choice, praising her as very wise, calling it "a good decision made by a good girl," believing the decision helps control spending and avoid overconsumption, securing her future while the funds collected weekly could continue to be invested. However, they advised her to pay attention to her health to ensure longevity. Some stated that if they were the winner, they would do the same and continue to work hard, believing that a stable cash flow is better than a lump sum. However, there were also many voices criticizing Brenda for her ignorance, arguing that if she invested the CAD 1 million, the money earned weekly would be more than CAD 1,000. Some pointed out that she overlooked inflation, suggesting that in ten years, the prize would "only be worth coins," and that she should directly buy a house with the full amount. Additionally, some noted that if Brenda were to pass away due to an accident or illness within a year, her family would be left with nothing, while claiming the full amount and then investing could ensure her family receives related benefits