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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you must be stupid to go public after winning the lottery?

84 replies

CartwrightMiss · 30/05/2013 19:10

Listening to the radio on the way and one story was a Euro Millions winner considering whether to go public and that they would be the 900th(ish) richest person in Britain.

I've played the what I would be if I won the lottery games countless times, aside from buying a yacht and travelling the world in my private jet - I'd love to give money to my (real) friends and family, people I know in life who are struggling and charities of my choice.

I really wouldn't need the publicity and the millions of sob stories begging me for money.

Aibu to think you'd be stupid to go public?

OP posts:
signet · 30/05/2013 19:12

YANBU. I would never go public with that information. I'd definitely treat those closest to me, but other than that, it'd be all MINE! Grin

catsmother · 30/05/2013 19:18

I wouldn't even tell people close to me I'd won. They could assume of course, because there would be some lifestyle changes like giving up work, new house, new car etc., and I'd treat some of them but I'd insist I'd had a "change of fortune" and say no more than that because I wouldn't want people guessing which particular draw I'd won, how much money I had in the bank and so on, because the risk of some people then thinking they were "entitled" to £xxx amount based on what you'd won - and all the potential bad feeling and resentment that might entail - would be too high for me personally. I'd never go all "flash" with a house so big I couldn't possibly utilise all of it, or a very expensive car, so I think I could pretty much pull it off and leave people imagining that I'd "only" won a "comparatively" small prize as opposed to mega millions - or indeed that either DP or myself (depending on whose family we were speaking to) had inherited a decent sum.

PoppyWearer · 30/05/2013 19:19

You'd be stupid to go public, definitely. Just keep a lid on the spending to avoid anyone getting suspicious. Although these things have a way of getting out, I suppose.

Purely hypothetical question, but is it possible to invent a syndicate after winning, and pretend the syndicate pre-existed the win? I'm wondering if this is a way to get around the tax on any gifts to family members, pretend you were in a syndicate together. Or does there need to be a paper trail?

I don't know why I'm asking, I never remember to buy a ticket anyway! Grin

MrsBungle · 30/05/2013 19:24

I wouldn't go public either

marjproops · 30/05/2013 19:29

YANBU I wouldn't either. what an invitation to burglars/muggers/hangers on.

Id be happy to get off this blasted near-poverty but I also know I wouldn't go mad with it and id invest wisely and help people.

no way would I even tell my closest friend or mumsnet!!! Grin

DragonMamma · 30/05/2013 19:30

I'm sure I remember reading that if you choose no publicity and then get outed some other way then there's very little support they can offer you as Camelot cannot confirm your existence.

For big winners I'd imagine it's hard to hide you've won 50million, people would soon cotton on and maybe they think it's best to have control over when and how the story is released?

I'd probably try to keep it within the family but I'm sure it would eventually come out.

C999875 · 30/05/2013 19:32

I think I probably would go public, I want to tell everyone but I'd ask for advice first and talk to other lottery winners about how it was for them going public. I hope I have the decision to make 2morrow.

I fail how you could keep it secret anyway what with face book and other social networking sites. Also keeping it secret could involve lying to family and friends. xxx

AmadeusRocks · 30/05/2013 19:33

YADDDNBU

About five years ago I won a substantial amount of money on a lottery (not enough to make the news - just over £200k). I told nobody except my parents and used it to buy a fairly nice flat outright, which everyone assumed was mortgaged therefore nobody was any the wiser! My family are in a pretty good financial situation, so aside from treating them to a posh meal out, I didn't really help them out in any way, I did however "loan" money to various friends who were struggling and have managed to avoid their attempts at paying it back. I also donated a fair amount to charity.

After I married DH, we both sold up and had a substantial deposit for our "almost forever" home, which we now have a low mortgage on.

I'm glad people don't know to be honest, it avoids awkwardness and possible jealousy.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 30/05/2013 19:35

I think a million or so would be fairly easy to keep under the radar but a big Euromillions win would be very hard to hide, so I can see the logic of getting the inevitable over with. I live near one if the big winners from a couple of years ago and after the initial crazy few months their lives have become more 'normal' again. They still go to the pub with their friends, live in the village etc. and are pretty much left alone now.

NotYoMomma · 30/05/2013 19:37

I would go public and get my mug in the papers while wearing a badge saying 'suck it'

lying

Would tell peopleclosest to me I had won like 5 mil months later and then share some and save the rest/ live off the interest.

DiaryOfAWimpyMum · 30/05/2013 19:38

I would go public but have a plan in place to go public whilst I had packed up this house and would be on holiday somewhere.

It would be a great big 'fuck you' to may people tbh.

WarmFuzzyFun · 30/05/2013 19:38

When I win the lottery, I don't plan on going public...Smile

Although I plan on coming onto MN to garner opinion on what I should the money on.

So YANBU

forevergreek · 30/05/2013 19:39

I wouldn't either. It wouldn't be difficult not to as long as you aren't the type to go overboard.

£50million- I would by a nice house but nothing hugely extravagant. Nice car/ clothes but nice, not Ferrari nice if you know what I mean. I would give most of it to charity work or on myself paying for volunteering. But have enough left that I wouldn't have to worry about working if I didn't want to

Fakebook · 30/05/2013 19:41

Yanbu. I ALWAYS say this to DH when I read about lottery winners. I would never go public with my winnings. I'd carry on working and open some kind of sweet shop and say the business is doing "ever so well" whilst living it up in a country mansion.

WarmFuzzyFun · 30/05/2013 19:44

the word 'spend' should be in there somewhere...Blush

Oblomov · 30/05/2013 19:47

I would never go public. Everyone days its only in camelots interest that you do.
I would think how to tell friends and family. I would give them all a lump sum.I would say I had won a large sum, but never let on how much.
I couldn't cope with the 100's of begging letters that previous winners said they got.

FadBook · 30/05/2013 19:48

A close friends relative has won recently. Kept very quiet and friend only told me as I was being noseyasking questions about her forthcoming house move and had assumed her mum was putting a deposit down. In fact, it was her relative who was buying the house for her straight out and she needs to find a 200k property! How amazing is that? Grin

She's so happy but was feeling pressure to sacrifice things she wanted in the new house (location, or a big garden etc) because someone was buying it for her and she couldn't find her 'dream' one immediately. At the end of the day it will be her house and deeds etc for the next 20 years so she has to find the right one, however long it takes!!

I'd too keep very quiet and help family and friends out first.

whois · 30/05/2013 19:49

Oh god, I could easily win £1 million and not have to tell anyone. Buy a nice flat/acceptable house in london for £600k ish and just tell everyone it's mortgaged and parents helped with the deposit! Keep working in same job but just have better savings, pension contributions, better holidays and 'stuff'. Plus the luxury of knowing the future is more secure.

Anything like £5m + would be pretty hard to hide as I'm not sure I would continue in the same job, or even work at all.

bowlingforsoup · 30/05/2013 19:55

I wouldnt go public but i would tell my friends and family when they wonder why I'm in a mansion and driving around in an audi r8. The rest of the idiots in this town can just speculate and gawp whilst I stick two fingers up and drive off into the sunset.

I fully expect to win one day Wink

HopingItllBeOK · 30/05/2013 20:00

I have a fool proof plan for avoiding the begging letters from neighbours and local charities. I'll spend all my time flitting between my many mansions and cruising around in my yacht so the grabby buggers won't be able to find me Grin

My true friends would be happy for me and not ask for a thing, they know me well enough to know that i would be fair and share the wealth in my terms. Anyone who came calling with a begging bowl, well they clearly aren't the people I thought they were and I am completely happy to leave acquaintances who think more of my money than me behind me as I sail off into the sunset.

My very best friends would know I had won, because the tickets for the mass holiday to Aruba would land on their door mat.

Signet2012 · 30/05/2013 20:01

I wouldn't tell a soul.

Not a soul. Would tell dp.

LittleMissLucy · 30/05/2013 20:02

YANBU

needaholidaynow · 30/05/2013 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stepawayfromthescreen · 30/05/2013 20:07

I'd probably have to tell people because I would buy a huge country like with more rooms than we need and a Lamborghini and several luxury holidays a year! I wouldn't hold back. I love to spend!
Saying that, we have a small family and small number of friends, so it would be easy to do.

stepawayfromthescreen · 30/05/2013 20:08

huge country mansion, damn predictive text!

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