Lottery win (not a bad amount).

[winningballs]

Name changed for this.

I have been thinking about asking this and I have spoken to f&f about it and the opinions vary.

Last Wednesday I got an urge to do the lottery, I haven't done it in ages because I just can't afford it, but I got a lucky dip and lucky it was, I got 5 matching balls plus the bonus. I won't say how much I won but it's a fair amount, enough for me to not worry about bills for the foreseeable and enough to give people 10k each.

Here's my question.

I have a list of whom I would share my winnings with stored on my phone, it's been on there for years and my ex is on there. We have been split for a year or so but I always said I would give him something if I won. I don't hate him and I really liked his children, so should I just transfer some into his account? This is not a plan to get him back as I am happily with someone else now and he has no problem with my list as he is well taken care of too.

Should I - or should I not bother?

There are a couple of people I'd like to give money to if I won an amount that lent itself to being generous. And my plan (if you can call it that) is to give them money via a solicitor, so a solicitor contacts them and sends a cheque, but they don't know it comes from me.

At least not in the short term.

If it really as me I'd sort mortgage/house buying out out - that frees up a fair wack a month to do other stuff with straight away.

Same with other debts pay them off or anything that was in horizon with house maintained.

Then I'd shove a bit at kids accounts - as their teens looking at university then some at my pension as that's not great - then top savings then look at investments that might pay something long term.

After that nice break - then it would depend if there was anything left after that to play with.

This only works for people who are a lot younger than you. Money makes the most difference when someone is relatively young and it can fund a house deposit, a first car, a college course etc.

If someone is the same as age as the OP, and the OP lives to her 70s/80s, that person won't inherit the money until its far too late to make any real difference to their life.

It’s a nice thought but I actually think it would be odd behaviour and if my ex did it I’d feel very uncomfortable and a bit weirded out?

3 I think at the moment it's a sign of the times. Little-known fact posting on MN increases your chance of winning a big lottery win 108 fold.

Or the National Lottery guerilla marketing campaign... now I like that! Give that intern a mega bonus.. or a full time job.

Gonna start posting more now. Thanks for the heads-up

@winningballs congratulations! That’s an awesome win and I hope it brings you every joy. It’s very generous of you to think of sharing your winnings, do whatever feels good ☺️

Keep schtum all da cockerogaes will come outta da woodwork! P.s. it is meant to be read phonetically for maximum effectiveness! Well done you! X if I had ever been that lucky in my life, I would choose the ones closest very wisely!

Congratulations, good for you!

It’s such a shame but true people change when it comes to money, just lock most of it away for your future (and take into account what will happen if you and your new partner split up) and your children.

It’s almost Christmas, I think I’d just buy some crazy gifts for people with the rest, would be really fun to go shopping without worrying! And tell them you had a much smaller win.

You sound lovely OP. I really would keep this to yourself as much as possible. People can get really funny about money.

I would also suggest that deep down perhaps the ops motives may not be born out of generosity and goodwill and there is an element of being a smug lady bountiful.

By gifting £10k he would immediately think that she’s come into money in order to be doshing out this summer to him who is no longer in her life. Perhaps the op would want him to feel beholden or jealous as it is a poke in the ribs of ‘Ive got more money than you!’

*A million is not really a lot these days. Nice to have but it won't see you through life unless you're careful. Giving it away is daft.

It's a hell of a lot of money to me*

It's a hell of a lot of money to everyone really but the poster means it's not the kind of sum you can be feckless and generous with. It's not near the Euromillions jackpots.

I really wouldn't and I'd be very discreet about who you tell - people can behave very strangely and not always very nicely.

Agree.
just No

I wouldn't tell a soul and I'd invest it all for the future. I certainly wouldn't be giving any of it away

Erm Noooo

I thought it was established that it was 500,000 and not a million?

I have dreamt of what I'd do in this situation like many of us have. I wouldn't tell a soul, not even DH. The universe would tell me how to spend it.

absolutely yes. Says a lot about your character that you're even thinking of this. Good on you.

Your very fixated on it not be £1m.

The link provided said 2 winners, £2m prize pool, £1m each

Gosh, that's hard. I think I would, I mean there's not much joy if you don't share it, but then I think of all the people that have won and are now in dire straits because they weren't careful with it.

£1million, though a lot, doesn't really set you up for life unless you are very careful. I'd talk it through with someone, make sure you have a pension sorted etc. and then work out what you can sensibly afford to give away. If you had a life-changing/disabling accident and could no longer work, believe me you'd feel it if you had something in place to ensure that you still had a half-decent income to rely on.

Keep it for private medical care for you and your children and care home costs for yourself/partner.
Then house/mortgage and remaining goes to getting your children on the property ladder.
That should be all gone then.
I think the putting emphasis on an outdated list on your phone is misguided gratitude. Very inappropriate to be giving an ex partner money.

You will built resentment around you and people won’t be satisfied with what you’ve given them.

don’t give the cash, just see if you can spread it less obviously over coming months or years .