If you won the lottery...

[PinkOnWednesday]

Would you go public or stay private? Just daydreaming about how I’d spend it if I won and I can’t decide which I would pick!

Totally private. I would definitely want to help out loads of people but I couldn't cope with people comparing what I'd given them and potentially moaning about it, so I'd try and find a way of giving money away in an anonymous way (I think about this quite often, even though I don't even do the lottery regularly!)

A former colleague worked for the Lottery for a bit and he said never ever ever go public about it.

Definitely private otherwise everyone and their dog would be asking for some! I wouldn’t go for a flashy lifestyle either so might be able to keep it on the down low.

Private - I haven't heard from my sister in years, and would like to keep it that way.

I’d like to keep it private. Telling probably a handful of people that I trusted. Some of our family members are money-grabbing and selfish so they’re out. There are some who wouldn’t be money-grabbing but who are gossips, so they’re out too.

I could probably get away with not telling people I’ve quit my job as nobody really knows what I do and people mostly tune out when I talk about my job, so they’re not following specifics. People have never asked me how particular projects are going or even what projects I’m involved with. However, everyone is always asking for free advice from DH due to his work, so he’s probably have to stay up to date with his area of work. I’d probably volunteer quite a bit but I’d have to hope the places I volunteered at didn’t tag me on social media frequently as that would give away that I’d left my job. I think we’d have to stay in this house for a while, which is fine as I’d finally have the money it needs to do it up, and then suddenly have a ‘huge mortgage’ a few years down the line and we ‘built up equity and improved the value in this house’.

I would like to help certain people, like my best friend and her kids but I don’t trust her husband not to talk. I also want her to have it, not him. So I’d need to investigate a way that she can get some money without him having access to it.

Private

Absolutely private no question, probably from dc as well!! I wouldn't want the telling other family members

Private, definitely. I wouldn't even tell my family because none of them can keep a secret. Like a previous poster, I would pretend I'd won a lesser amount, or pretend I'd 'found some Bitcoin I bought in 2012' or some story like that to explain my new wealth.

Why would anybody go public? The red top tabloids would be full of disgruntled old flames or estranged family members doing a character assassination on you. I don't want to be a story in Take a Break!

Private. Except where I live it has to be public!

@figgyboa

There are ways around it!

If you go public then the lottery company gives you all of the financial assistance you need to sort things out. Go private and you are on your own.

@LittlestBoho, haha, I love it! Great idea!

@Flipflopblowout

If you go public then the lottery company gives you all of the financial assistance you need to sort things out. Go private and you are on your own.

This is not true. The National Lottery give the same advice/help whether you go public or stay anonymous.

www.national-lottery.co.uk/life-changing/winner-advisor-carter

Private. I don't like attention at the best of times. Wouldn't even tell my mum because she loves to gossip.

I would stay private but tell my family. My dad always said that if he won the lottery he wouldn’t tell any of us...

Private definitely

@Flipflopblowout

If you go public then the lottery company gives you all of the financial assistance you need to sort things out. Go private and you are on your own.

I never understand this as a reason to go public. When I got paid my redundancy money HSBC were all over me and it was less than 10k. I’m sure if I turn up with a cheque for £20 million they’ll be rolling the red carpet out.

Fyi Coutts minimum deposit is a £1m

Private. DH and I have talked about this extensively. We love our house and wouldn't want to move (although we'd get the whole thing replastered, decorated, floors done, kitchen and bathrooms done, garden manicured, home gym in the garden etc so it'd look totally different except the outside!). We run a business and we'd help out and treat family/friends but put it all down to our sudden success with the business.

And we'd spend all the time we were supposed to be working really hard while the DC were at school going to the gym, having sex and going to the cinema in the middle of the day in secret.

Private to a degree...
However new homes for my family, sibling and parents...
New cars for each (just normal ones but newer)
I'd give parents and sibling an amount
Put some in savings for DC
Few holidays
Go part time at work
Buy a few horses and somewhere to keep them

Just to not worry financially would be enough for me to be honest

Private, although the diamond tiara I'd be wearing on the food shop might give it away

Private but people might start guessing when I turn up everywhere in my jetpack.

Private.
I'd probably move and then I'd "appear" to get this fab job as the PA to some elusive billionaire who allows me a cushty expense account to explain all the sudden "perks"