Recently I have seen a large variety of contests, sweepstakes, and now even multiple state lotteries offering "Free Gas for Life" as the grand or second place prizes. Now, at first, this seems amazing. Unlimited gas as long as I live? Buy me a ticket and sign me up. I mean, let's do some quick math. Let's say I'm 20 and I win this, and I plan to die off at 75. I currently spend about $5.00 a day on gas. So, assuming gas never got more expensive, $5.00 x 365 days a year x 55 years = $100,000+. Obviously, this value could be way higher if you don't drive a little car like me, or if gas gets exponentially more expensive. But anyway, on to my point: "Free Gas for Life" is stupid. If you ever look at the official rules to any of these contests, you will find that, should you win, you will get far less than you expected. Take for instance the Amazing Race 8, in which contestants were given "Free Gas for Life" if they were the first team to reach the pit stop. Their "Free Gas for Life" ended up being a $1200 gas card every year for 50 years (worth only $60,000) A lot of money, but not even close to the theoretical minimum I'm expecting to pay.

And furthermore, why do I want to win gas gift cards anyway? Instead of giving me $60,000 in gas cards, why don't you just give me $60,000 in cash so that I can invest it? Either way you're giving me $60,000 but with the cash it's 100% more useful. Wouldn't that make a little more sense?

Ugh. People frustrate me. Rant complete.