How do you stop your life being ruined by a lottery win??

[Foliageeverywhere122]

Inspired by the euromillions thread!

Ever the optimist, I started thinking about how exciting it would be if I won...and then started thinking about all those news articles you see in the daily fail about people who claim their lives were ruined by it.

So how do you actually enjoy a lottery win? Has anyone won (or inherited) a large sum of money and has advice? :D

I would lie about how much I won if it was a monster Euromillions sum. I'd buy a nicer house in my town, gift my close friends a decent amount so they could pay off their mortgages/have plenty of fun money, buy my sister a house, get a new car, and then buy every single empty shop in my lovely town (there are lots because greedy landlords want so so much) and set up a charitable town trust that rented the shops out for sensible amounts so that people could afford to run them and so our town centre would thrive again and give grants to local charities and initiatives to make the town even nicer. I'd buy houses and set up a shared ownership scheme that didn't inflate prices to a ridiculous level so that normal people could afford to live somewhere nice, and buy up all the car parks and make them free. I'd sponsor festivals and arts projects and the like which used to happen but no longer do due to cost, employ local people to organise them, make sure there were well run youth and community facilities, and try to generally make my lovely area nicer for everyone. I have thought about this so so much! The trust would be funded anonymously but I would give up my job and run it myself (with others) with a generous salary for us all so that nobody thought it was me.

I delay checking my ticket jwhenever inremember to get one just to have an extra day or so to dream about it!

I always said if my sister won 100 million she would give me and my brother a couple of mill then spend the rest in 5 years come back to us and say "You know that money I lent you"......lol love her to bits but she is crap with money so I would be reluctant to tell anyone . With 100mill I would like to buy up rows of terraced houses that are all run down do them up and help families that are living in inner city b&bs get back on their feet.

I've had this conversation with family (T). We can't even agree on an imaginary sum so heaven alone knows what it would be like with the real thing.

I'd want to share it out with elder brother (B1), younger brother (B2) and twin (T), then friends and charities.

"Why would you give some to B1 - I bet he wouldn't give any to you if he won" - there is no way of knowing that and does it matter anyway?

"Why would you give some to B2 - we only ever see him when he wants something? He wouldn't give you anything." Again we don't know that.

If it was squillions I feel there'd be a parting of the ways. T would move to the coast and I'd prefer to stay inland. Would it make me unhappy? I don't think so - I'm reasonably content with my lot. I'd like a bit more space so perhaps a slightly bigger house but not a mansion. I'd definitely avoid publicity at all costs.

Seek independent advice

buy every single empty shop in my lovely town (there are lots because greedy landlords want so so much) and set up a charitable town trust that rented the shops out for sensible amounts so that people could afford to run them and so our town centre would thrive again

ILOVE that idea AGWEN

Money turns people crazy. I think it would ruin my life if I told people because I know what people are like - they would be jealous, anything I gave them wouldn’t be enough and they would judge everything I did with it. Would have to keep it a complete secret and just spend it slowly and gradually.

Tell no one, wouldn’t be a problem.

My parents have worked their way up from dirt poor to millionaires. Hasn’t been a problem for them.

Just to add possibly not a problem to them because they put blood, sweat & tears into the business. Winning or inheriting a large sum might be different

Stay anonymous, don't tell anybody. Don't start spending lots of money. Explain away the extra income as inheritance or business going well, then as time goes on you've made some great investments.

If I won at the moment, I would make sure to support local businesses that are stuggling. Cash injection to help them pay staff and other costs.

Obvs I would help family out - pay mortgages off etc.

Guess is depends on the level of the win, but I am thinking of a big Euro Millions win.

I think it depends how much.
£1 million - by the time we bought a decent house (which wouldn’t be unbelievable that we had bought with a mortgage and a bit of help from the bank of mum and dad) put some aside for savings/kids uni etc, put some aside for holidays etc (which people would just assume came from your earnings) there wouldn’t actually be a lot left!

£50 million would be different. Which is why I think the lottery would be better to make 50 people win £1 mill.

I think as someone said if you are already settled, happily married, got good friends etc then you can probably enhance your life and be happy,
I also think where you come from has a lot to do with it. If you come from a council estate and all your friends family are on benefits then they will see you as a cash cow, fall out with you if you don’t give them enough etc whereas if you come from ‘middle class’ people are expected to make thier own way, build up a career and property etc.

I know several people who've won, anything from £10,000 on a scratch to 1.3 million.

It has been common knowledge every time. The smaller wins of between £10-50,000 were openly talked about, the win of 1.3m was kept a secret initially but a relative let the cat out of the bag and then began hinting about receiving a payout... all very cringey.

I wouldn't tell anyone if I won. It's not worth the aggro.

Having inherited £34 Billion from an American USAF pilot I went out with about forty years ago, I can tell you it's a nightmare. After leaving the USAF he went into partnership with Bill Gates and set up Microsoft.

Trying to decide how much to give away, what to set up in the way of charities, etc. How to prevent anyone outside friends/family knowing. Even they didn't know the actual amount.

It was a hell of a dream and I woke up exhausted. Only the USAF pilot was real.

Never won the lotto but have had a hefty inheritance. It didn’t ruin anything for us. It was a bit weird getting it because it meant that our much lived grandad was really gone😢 All I did was exactly what he would have wanted me to do. I got on the property ladder and only needed a small mortgage.

Why does everyone who gets an inheritance say this? The death of a grand parent is of course sad, but I’m sure the lovely loot helps stem the sense of loss.

But how do you keep it absolutely secret unless you dont spend anything on yourselves or your families? I wouldnt want diamonds and Ferraris but I wouldnt mind a few holidays that were not camping and a better car. And I think my sis would be suspicious if I suddenly offered them a lump sum - which of course I would as BiL has just been made redundant.

I'm another one that would not tell people if I won a sizeable amount. My better half is the only person in the world I fully trust but whatever the amount it would be half each for us anyway. I would enjoy it by spending it wisely, making sensible donations to smaller charities that would put the donation to good use. There is a local animal charity we've supported whenever we can and I'd love to be able to do things like pay their annual rent, cover some vet bills, provide materials and labour (or ready made homes) for accommodation, treatment rooms, fully equipped office space etc - I'd also make sure they had regular vouchers/credit at places they buy supplies from. I know they could do with a new truck and I'd guess things like a new horse trailer would be welcome (and enough funds to tax, MOT, insure, buy fuel etc).

We both have a few causes we would try to help: our local hospice where I had respite care and will probably die in when my time comes. Local food banks as people should not be going hungry in 21st Century Britain (or elsewhere, but no win would feed the world as such). Access to technology for people that need it, to wheelchairs or other equipment and/or home improvements that could make life a little easier for people living with disabilities. Access to counselling and/or equipment for veterans with physical or PTSD-type injuries. Other animal and conservation projects in Britain and elsewhere in the world. We would both love to be in a position where we could live comfortably with no money worries, be able to give a few close family & friends a treat or bit of a lift and do some good in the world, to share our good fortune. We've both said we would not want to deal with all the 'begging letters' some big winners say they get but would try to spend our time researching individuals that we could genuinely, maybe anonymously, help (e.g. young people to compete in paralympics or paralympians, wheelchair tennis players that struggle to be able to travel and train to compete to the best of their ability). I would also be reluctant to donate to the bigger, well-known charities even though they may do great work for causes I feel strongly about - this is in principle as I would not wish to pay the ridiculous CEO/staff salaries - I don't mind people being well-paid to do a good job but some of these are crazy amounts.

Here's hoping one day we will get that chance. All of the above would only be possible with a multi-million sort of win - these days 1 million just about gets a house, car, a few treats and a few years living expenses - it would be a stretch to last a lifetime even without mad spending sprees or flashy houses etc.

I would love to win the lottery, I would ckearvall debt, pay off the mortgage and help out a small handful of family members.
When my husband recieved a small amount of inheritance from his late father, he used the money towards a deposit and fees to get us on the property ladder.

I think I'd just move and let people think I'd always been wealthy.
I'd keep it quiet and donate loads to smaller charities.
I am confident it wouldnt make me miserable if anyone wants to share their lottery millions!

@Cadent

Never won the lotto but have had a hefty inheritance. It didn’t ruin anything for us. It was a bit weird getting it because it meant that our much lived grandad was really gone😢 All I did was exactly what he would have wanted me to do. I got on the property ladder and only needed a small mortgage.

Why does everyone who gets an inheritance say this? The death of a grand parent is of course sad, but I’m sure the lovely loot helps stem the sense of loss.

Yes. That's exactly how grief works.

Honestly - I’d have an amazing time!

Would pay off the mortgage and wouldn’t have to work any longer! A win would mean not only winning money but winning time - could spend time with family, take up hobbies, do a phd, do volunteering work, travel....

With a big win - family would also be set up well with no financial hardships - would get nice houses for my immediate family and make sure they are comfortable.

My Dd could get a private education and would have a financial adviser set finances up to ensure she is set up for life.

I think a multimillionaire lifestyle would fit me quite nicely 😂😂

You send the people you want to benefit the amount you want. You also send yourself a chunk as well. All on the sly.

Then you can all mull over who this mysterious benefactor is and you can spend without drawing attention to yourself.

I once had a dream that I'd won the lottery and I had a massive fridge full of loads of different gorgeous cakes, and they were all mine.
It was a wonderful dream and I was really sad when I woke up and realised my fridge wasn't really full of cakes 😔

I have no family so no issues there and the 2 amazing women in my life who have supported me would get a nice share each too (think enough to buy their own house mortgage free and a 6 figure sum left over).

This is a lovely bit of escapism during these trying times.

My plan for my big win (lol) is to make my ticket into a syndicate of my OH, and my two siblings. That way everyone gets the same amount and I am not donating or gifting anything. Might keep them quiet re publicity too!

With what I have from my syndicate share I would see what the local hospice need the most. Donations have plummeted during Covid as with all charities.

I'd stay where we are, we love it and probably would just do some improvements here and there. No need to move.

I can't wait to spend Covid boredom time working out what endeavour I would help out. Would have to be local and have to be legitimate, but with a good ethos and all that.

Best of luck y'all!

Bring it on. The best thing about a big win is thinking about what you would do for others. I often imagine various size wins. £20000? would buy my dd a new car. She has to have a car for work, one wage earner family, always driving things which look held together by string. That would leave enough for dh and I to have a great holiday and still give dm a treat of about £1000.

£1000000. Fantastic!!! Pay daughter's mortgage off so that she would never again have to worry that if she lost her job her family would loose their home. Add £100000 and buy a more roomy forever home for her and family.

Buy 2 small houses ...total cost £300000 [we live in north so cheaper housing] I would rent these out and dh and I would gain income from them ...for now. When our 2 grandchildren grew up and were ready to leave home. These houses would be gifted to them. In these uncertain days this would mean that if they were in poorly paid jobs they would have adequate housing and could be more comfortable on a low wage. If they were lucky enough to get good jobs, these houses would be starter homes and would help them to better properties.

Now...about £400000 left. Would sell our house, add £100000 and buy house near daughter. Spend another £100000 adding to mother's bungalow to buy nicer one near us.
£200000 left. Wonderful. £20000 each to two wonderful couple old friends who have been there through thick and thin. £10000 to have a great holiday with them. £50000 help to various family members and charities.

Wow ...still a £100000 left. More than we've ever had behind us in our lives ...plus the rent off the two small houses until gifted to grandchildren.
Haven't thought it out much have I

Everybody I care about taken care of. Honestly don't need a penny more So if anybody has a spare million that is causing them a whole lot of angst ...just let me know ...will pass on my bank details immediately. Only too willing to take it off your hands