So, you've won the Euromillions. But, covid. What do you do?

[UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername]

You can't go out and celebrate. You can't immediately run off on holidays to have a relaxing think about it all, which was always my plan. You can't throw a big party, you can't even invite close family members over to tell them in person. What do you do?

(for the purposes of the exercise, you're high risk and therefore can't just throw caution to the wind, break all the rules and not care about the fines)

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername

How does a charitable foundation work?

I'm setting aside €10m as a seed investment and the return will be disbursed annually though a grant call to not for profit groups. Knowing how hard it is to get core funding to keep the lights on, I'm going to focus my available funding on making grants to small groups to do that.

That sounds like something to add to the list.

I'd buy a big house in the country and have horses. I already have a horse, I'd take her and her buddy (my best friends horse) and they'd live the life of luxury that they deserve. I'd probably set up a horse/animal sanctuary and then I'd have more horses while working on my (completely bloody unrealistic) dreams of being a 3 day eventer and winning badminton (reality is I'd probably fall off and break my neck) . Meanwhile we'd have our beautiful house, I'd not need to ever worry about my autistic eldest DD's future again and my DH and younger DD would be happy as pigs in shite. I'd donate massive amounts to my local hospice, other local charities and to the charity foundation at the hospital where I work. I'd sort out some of my family and friends who have struggled so much with nothing while deserving so much more. And I'd quit my job straight away!

Quit work. Chill the fuck out and wait til COVID passes.

Buy an island. Go and live on it.

Dammit, it wasn't won.

Next time...

@Blankiefan

Quit work. Chill the fuck out and wait til COVID passes.

This!! I'd do the same

Buy a big detached house with a big garden. Private school for the kids. Due my third at the beginning of May so have the baby at a private hospital and hire a nanny to help me in the first few weeks. Have another 2 kids in the next 3 years if possible.

Then I take it all back

I would move to some tropical island retreat until the covid blows over.

Get in touch with breeders to start my crazy cat lady collection ready for the move to my huge house by the sea.

Get an Indian take away, I'm craving tandoori paneer with all the trimmings with Gulab Jamon for afters.

Speak to a financial advisor ASAP
Pay off mortgage
Trusts for the kids
Charitable trust
Buy real estate
Chuck a load at some diverse stock market spreads
Set family up for life

I would work until the world returned to normal and then decide on the direct upgrades to my life, which frankly is pretty sweet as it is so I'm not sure if I'd quit my career.

Fly to Australia, put up with 2 weeks locked in a hotel, but a house on the beach (with a pool) and get back to living a life.
DH is an Aussie so we’d be able to see his family & friends. We’d take my parents with us if they wanted to come

I'd pay privately for my Dad's treatment - there's nothing to cure him, but I'd make sure all his care could be at home with live in nurse etc. I'd make sure my mum, dad and brother were also squillionaires and never had to worry again. Would sort out parents in law and lovely SIL too.

Would buy a plot of land locally and build my dream house (and go on grand designs so I could meet Kevin McCloud!)

Would buy our local shopping precinct in the village, and open up the two shops I'd love to run and re-vitalise the area.

Would be able to leave work and focus on my CIC.

New car

Would arrange a cruise up the Rhein just me, DH, DC and my parents/brother, with Dr, Nurse, Nanny, chef etc so my Dad could have his one last holiday that he is so desperate for.

I'd set up a long term rental business, buying local properties, and leasing them out long term with affordable rent. Allow the leasers to make it their own home long term without the threat of it being pulled from under their feet with 30 days notice.

Would build DH a music studio -so I don't have to deal with the noise-

So much I could do!

I'd buy a really nice, but not too large, house with a pool and a couple of cottages in the grounds - one for staff and the other for guests. The staff would be a live-in cleaner and a garden and pool person. I'd like both cottages to have their own pools, too :)

I'd spend the rest of my life buying furniture and decorating the house, having friends to stay and cooking dinners for them (I really enjoy cooking). Oh, we'd need a chauffeur and some vehicles too, for days out without worries about having a few drinks if we feel like it.

I'd make anonymous donations to causes I care about, and random people who are down on their luck. I don't particularly want to travel anywhere or wear designer clothes or any of that stuff - the above would be enough for me.

yes new cars and homes for the family members. I would get a nice camper van and be ready for when things opened up a bit, look at property in different cities as OH likes to travel but be at home in those places and blend in, daughter would like Paris OH Amsterdam think I would have UK and or Nordics somewhere - I like the cold and we would then have to have some warm ones lol but they could wait till after covid. Short term need to look at investments and renovating our current place before we think about moving somewhere else. Shopping online, get gardener in to sort garden etc

Private schools, starter homes & Trust funds for the family children
Mine & Siblings mortgages & debts paid off
Holiday home in the UK
Camper Van for UK road trips
New house for me
Higher education/training costs for siblings paid
Donations to small voluntary sector organisations & charities who miss out on grants
Fund a university place for a careleaver
Open a fully supported hostel for careleavers so they have help with transition to adult life

I'd Deliveroo fuck of bottles of champagne to family wake up with a massive hangover and then think about it!

Off

I’d get right on my list of properties I’ve saved on Rightmove 😂 depending how much I’d won I would then look for a flat to buy in New York aswell 😂

Probably get pissed and listen to music.
There is nothing really stopping me doing that now.
Draft my quit email to work several times.
Remember we are both keyworkers and if we aren't in work the kids shouldn't get their places in school. Decide to send the nice version of the quit letter and work our notice periods.
Covid can even ruin a dramatic flounce from work!

I forgot to say, sit and have a long chat with DH about whether we give all our siblings a round million each it whether we do it according to need. There's halfs and halves involved, some have had massive inheritance already (not us) and some have complex housing needs.

I’ve been sending my DH properties all day. I’d change my financial limit and buy somewhere with a minimum of 20 acres, plus several horses and employ a groom for the work side of stuff. I’d rescue loads of battery hens. I’d give each family member a million each.

I’d then go to a fat farm or get a gastric bypass.

You could hide until the publicity about such a big win dies down, start working your notice (if you are giving it), meet with a financial advisor and look at buying a house!

I'd buy a house so my best friend can leave her abusive husband.