A Quebec woman almost tossed a lottery ticket worth $500K while cleaning her garage

Cleaning out the garage is a tiresome task that most people dread. But for one Quebec woman, it turned into a life-changing moment she'll never forget.

Sandra Turrin from the Laurentians stumbled upon an important piece of paper earlier this month while tidying up her house — a winning Lotto Max ticket worth an eye-watering $500,000.

The ticket had been sitting at the bottom of an old grocery bag since the summer. Before tossing it in the trash, Sandra decided to check the results of the draw — which took place on August 13 — and thank goodness she did.

"I feel twice as lucky," she said in a Loto-Québec press release shared with MTL Blog. "I won, and I found the ticket before it expired."

Turrin, who purchased the winning ticket at the Jean Coutu pharmacy on Saint-Jacques Boulevard in Boisbriand, says she intends to pay off her mortgage with her newly-claimed winnings.

According to their website, Loto-Québec gives winners one year from the draw date to claim a prize. They also suggest signing your name on the front of any winning tickets as well as filling out the back section. This proves that you're the rightful owner of the ticket and protects you against loss or theft.

So, if you've got any old tickets lying around, consider this your sign to check them before it's too late. Who knows? That jackpot might be closer than you think!

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