Woman keeping it simple after hitting $1 million Massachusetts State Lottery prize on instant game

Most of the big Massachusetts State Lottery winners have big dreams and big ideas on what they will do with the cash and with good reason. A recent winner is keeping it simple.

According to the Massachusetts State Lottery, Helena Greenleaf of Thompson, CT is the winner of a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “$2,500,000 Merry & Bright” $10 instant ticket game.

She opted to receive her prize in the form of a one-time payment of $650,000 (before taxes). Greenleaf said she plans on treating herself to a nice lunch as well as investing the winnings.

She purchased her winning ticket at Cumberland Farms, 502 Washington St. in Auburn. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket.

The “$2,500,000 Merry & Bright” ticket is one of six holiday-themed tickets that launched on October 15. In addition to chances to win top prizes ranging from $500 to $2.5 million, players can enter non-winning holiday tickets into a drawing for chances to win cash prizes from $100 to $10,000. More information is available on masslottery.com.