53million pound Euro win

[meriad]

A few years back I was watching a documentary on lottery winners; most had won a good couple of millions, but one particular couple stood out - to me at least. They had "only" won 1 million pounds and as they said it was a life enhancing amount, not life changing. They paid off their mortgage, bought themselves a new (not overly flash) car each, sorted out their kids with a bit of money for a deposit, paid off whatever debt they had and then invested the rest for retirement. Both continued working because they enjoyed it but now they could afford to have a really nice holiday twice a year and not worry about money.

Perfect I think

I do agree that a one off win of £53 million or whatever is totally obscene and that it should be split further down the lines - there should be a max prize and then the rest filtered down

[Workingman]

The family of a friend of my son won something like £3m. They moved into a big four-bed detached house overlooking open countryside. He packed in his job as a courier driver and took to gardening. She became a lady of leisure and stopped her hobby of making stuffed toys. Most nights they would get a taxi back to their old local pub and get a takeaway on the way home.

When their son went off to Uni they bought an ex-council house on their old estate. He became a "man-with-a-van" and she went back to making stuffed toys for charity. They signed the 4-bed over to the son to rent out.

The reason they moved back was to 'fit in', something they missed in the big house.

[Kaz]

Yes, winning that amount of money would take a lot of people out of their comfort zone. If you are happy with your life as it is, as many are, then the change would not be easy....

[Weka]

I think I'd do things a bit differently, but with the same objective. I'd invest the lot, and live off the interest. Each year I'd take my living wage out, reinvest a little to keep up with inflation, then give away the remainder, and that giveawaying could then happen year after year after year.

I'd support hospitals, scientific research, and charities that helped people up, like literacy programs, budgeting services, education etc. things that could make a big difference in people's lives, if they were prepared to meet the help halfway.

And then, I'd sit back and look, and see what else I could do to help.

I wouldn't get a flash car, and I love my house and neighbours so I don't want to move. I might have to draw off a bit more interest in that second year to pay my mortgages, but that's our only debt.

Sigh, it would be nice, but I think you would have to hide the money, else every tom, di(k and Harry would come with and outstretched hand.

My gosh just imagine that tax bill!!