Woman Wins $500,000 Lottery Prize After Deciding to Cancel Vacation Plans: 'No One Could Believe'

“I’m so glad we ended up not going,” she said

One lucky woman is proving that canceled plans can lead to big wins.

Traci Verbowski, 50, of Kawkawlin, Mich., recently won $500,000 playing the Michigan Lottery’s Detroit Lions game after purchasing her ticket at a local 7-Eleven, which she decided to do only after foregoing a vacation.

“I really wanted to go on a vacation a few weekends ago, but we ended up staying home and went out to dinner that Saturday night instead,” Verbowski told Michigan Lottery officials.

Afterward, "I remembered I had a few Detroit Lions winning tickets," she said, "so I stopped to cash them and purchased some more. I put the [new] tickets in my purse until I got home later that night."

Verbowski recounted her reaction when she realized she won the prize.

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“When I scratched one of the tickets and saw I won $500,000, I yelled: ‘I think I just won a lot of money!’ " she said.

"I showed my family the ticket and no one could believe what they were seeing. I haven’t slept a full night since because I have been so anxious and excited to come claim my prize,” she continued. 

Related: Michigan Man Wins $200K in Powerball Lottery Using Kids’ Birthdays as Numbers

Her takeaway?

“I’m so glad we ended up not going on vacation that weekend, because if we did, I wouldn’t be here claiming $500,000!” she said.

As for what she plans to do with her big winnings, Verbowski said that buying a boat is at the top of her list — and she plans to be responsible with the rest by saving it.

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