Michigan WWII Vet Wins Lottery on his Birthday

What started as a tradition turned into a $300K jackpot for a South Branch man.

Ervin Smolinski buys instant lottery tickets for friends and family for their birthdays, and they've all started to return the favor - they send him scratch-off tickets and chocolate for his birthday. And the ticket that his daughter-in-law gave him was worth a sweet $300,000.

Ervin says he doesn't have any fancy plans for the money; he's going to buy a better used car and a new shed, and invest the rest. But the best part is that he "won't have as much stress in my life worrying about money," according to CNN.