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Tell The National Lottery what you’d do with a fantasy £20,000 - £250 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

463 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 08/08/2013 10:20

You may have heard recently that The National Lottery's Lotto game is changing this autumn and is introducing a new Raffle where 50 players will win £20,000 in each draw. To celebrate this, The National Lottery have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters would do with (a fantasy) £20,000.

Here's what The National Lottery say: "As of 5th October, Lotto is changing, offering more ways to win more money. The prize for matching three numbers will be increased from £10 to £25, the jackpots will be bigger (£2.5million on Wednesday and £5million on Saturdays) and there's a new raffle where 50 players will win a guaranteed £20,000 each draw. Tickets for the new game go on sale on 3rd October and cost £2 per line. We would love to hear about how Mumsnetters would spend £20,000 if they were to win the raffle prize!"

So what would you do if you were to win £20,000? Would you go on a huge spending spree, or would you be more careful with your winnings and put it aside for a rainy day?

What have you always wanted to do, but have never managed to justify the cost of? Dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant? Buy a piece of designer jewellery? Maybe you'd splash it all on a round the world holiday? Or perhaps you'd save it to make life easier for you and your DCs if they decide to go to university? Or would you take the opportunity to clear (some) debts or pay off a chunk of the mortgage?

Whatever it is, The National Lottery would love to hear about it.

Everyone who shares their thoughts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

OP posts:
KingJoffrey · 11/08/2013 21:14

I'd use it to help myself get through university. I currently have to work two jobs so I can afford to study, it's a pain! I'd also take my parents on holiday because they deserve it after a really hard year.

poachedeggs · 11/08/2013 21:43

Once I'd cleared my small debts I'd use it to fund a move to a house with more room for my children and a utility room and a SHED for our bikes so my kitchen can be just a kitchen, not a storeroom, playroom, office, garage, drying room, kennel and general dumping ground!

HongkongDreamer · 11/08/2013 21:50

Deposit on flat
Interrail trip around europe
Fly to japan and explore
Road trip across america
Bungee jump
Go to disneyland
Think I might be stretching this 20,000 abitGrin

Biscuit81 · 11/08/2013 21:57

Were are going to start TTC soon for our first child. I'd use it to change the car to something 5 door and more economical to run, redecorate the house as we haven't done anything in the 8 years we have lived here and use the rest for baby stuff/supporting us when I'm on maternity.

JeffActually · 11/08/2013 22:04

Pay a bit more of the mortgage...then start looking for a bigger house!

MimsyBorogroves · 11/08/2013 22:06

I'd use it as a deposit for a larger house (with an extra bedroom) and a downpayment on a people carrier so that we can TTC our much wanted DC3.

HurricaneWyn · 11/08/2013 22:14

I'd have the attic converted & sort out the back garden.

I'd also learn to drive & buy a cheap car to get around in.

Then with anything left we'd go on holiday - we've never had a family holiday with just us since we've had the DCs

everybodysang · 11/08/2013 22:14

is it awful that I want to cry a bit at the thought of this? I'd just pay off debts. I'd love a life where I don't have to think of all the debt all of the time.

tanfastic · 11/08/2013 22:16

Pay off some debt, boring but vital !

Weekipper · 11/08/2013 22:57

I'd be shocked to the core I'd actually won something then immediately book a holiday to NZ! I love the landscape and would love to show DD it.
After that I'd be sensible and pay off debts.

Cherrygrape · 11/08/2013 23:24

Pay off debts, go on a family holiday ( probably spend 2000 on it) then put the rest off the mortgage... It's nice to dream :)

BoffinMum · 11/08/2013 23:29

Go to Baltimore to the top hospital there and fix my mobility.

Tangfasticlady · 11/08/2013 23:44

I would put it towards my uni fees, might save me from leaving with at least 50k of debt!

AllThatGlistens · 12/08/2013 00:34

I'd clear off our outstanding debts and have a fantastic sensory garden designed and created for our Autistic DC.

A family holiday would be next on the list and the rest would go into the DCs savings.

StrangeGlue · 12/08/2013 08:04

Aw so many conflicting thoughts. £20k would take a chunk off the mortgage. But I've always wanted to visit Japan so I might well hold back a chunk for that too. Then of course that would also pay for a new kitchen and/or bathroom which would be fab!

Or maybe a red Audi... I'd love a red Audi!

knickyknocks · 12/08/2013 08:09

We've been redecorating our house room by room as and when we could afford it. I'd love to finish the house off completely - hall, living room and bathroom still to go and will take us years to afford and complete. With 20k we could get a company in to finish it all off within a couple of weeks. Bliss.

tootssweet · 12/08/2013 08:17

So many ideas!
I think pay off debts would be our priority & a massive weight off our minds too.
Then pay the vet bills for our ddog who needs an op (which he will get but will erase our rainy day fundSad)
With the rest my practical head says do up the house so we can try to sell it but my extravagant head says

  • take dd to see Matilda & Lion King
  • buy ds a bike & some (more) toy cars
  • get us all a passport so that we can actually leave the country
  • go on a special full of memories holiday where DP might actually relax for the first time in years
tootssweet · 12/08/2013 08:18

Oh and if possible (being greedy now!) I would love a massage & some physio for my back & shoulder

melliebobs · 12/08/2013 08:22

The state this house is in £20k wouldn't go far!

Not very inspiring but I'd get the kitchen and bathroom done Grin

LadyFlumpalot · 12/08/2013 08:22

5k would go straight into a rainy day fund.
7k would pay off our debts.
5k would pay for our wedding (don't want fancy fancy). The rest would go on the DC and treats for us all.

swallowedAfly · 12/08/2013 08:38

i'd get proper testing and prognosis of the carcinoma found in my breast lobes which the nhs says they won't investigate till i'm 40 due to the rules. if risks were high i'd pay for a double mastectomy and reconstruction.

i'd pay to see a consultant about the recurrent pre cancer cells on my cervix and get to have a proper conversation about what the prognosis is when it keeps coming back and if it seemed wisest i'd pay to have a hysterectomy.

whatever was left i'd hide in a hole in the garden ready for the next crisis Grin

not very exciting but god would it put my mind at ease and possibly save my life.

swallowedAfly · 12/08/2013 08:39

honestly health problems and dealing with nhs funding rules are the first things that have actually made me wish i was more materialistic and had a wad of cash.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 12/08/2013 08:44

I've got so many things I'd like to do that I don't know what I'll do with it!

I'd like to give DD a private education, but I don't think £20k is enough. I'd need to hit the jackpot and win the big price!

I guess I'll settle for something smaller Grin. We can go for a 2-3 months road trip around NZ and Australia. We should have some change from this so the rest can be put aside to buy ourselves a new car.

dolallymum · 12/08/2013 09:03

I would:
•buy some new clothes as none of mine fit
•use some of it towards doing our house up
•mini break
•put the rest into savings

avelte · 12/08/2013 09:10

i would love a trip around the world with my family...my fantasy is China,the food the people ,the culture,the latest development in the country...would be amazing