Big Cash Winners

Chemmy

I'm still holding out for a big cash prize (well let's face it, any amount)

I was wondering what have those who have had the dream WEM done with their big wins?
Has it made a dramatic difference to people?
Did your win help motivate a change in employment, help move house, get married, have a family, meet someone new / break up with someone ?

bernie242

I was lucky enough to win £5900 with the real deal. I was 8 months pregnant at the time so spent £900 on new baby things which was great to get all the last min things and a few things we wanted but couldn't really justify for the baby money wise... The rest is in our house deposit fund and has really helped make getting our dream house seem more achievable.

This money will make a huge difference to us and it was fab to win

Chemmy

Well done Bernie242 on your Real Deal Win.
The excitement at 8 months pregnant must have been unreal.

I love the fact that your win will enable your house move to come that much quicker.

jeddentad

There's a great This American Life episode (podcast) where they are interviewing a guy who worked in the Lump Sum payment industry.

In the states it was common to receive lottery winnings as a yearly fixed payment, rather than a lump sum. So there was this industry who would offer to buy people's payments for a lump sum.

He had some quite interesting insights into what can go wrong in the lives of "big" winners.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/329/nice-work-if-you-can-get-it?act=2

Have to say, I think I could handle up to maybe 200k (pay off house, student loans, car). After that, I would feel overwhelmed!

serenity2012

I won almost £5000 with Real Deal and used it to get a new car. Not a large enough amount to impact a lifestyle though.

d0nner

I won £3200 with Real deal in May and it went straight in to our wedding fund - we're managing to bring the wedding forward by a year to June 2014 so very grateful!! :j:j
Means we can then focus on saving for a house deposit.

millymollymandy2K7

I had was hoping to cut my hours at work but wanted to pay off my credit card and car and also wanted to get some new bedroom furniture and tv unit. My £6000 real deal win enabled me to do this within six month of first thinking about it. I've been on reduced hours for over 1 year now and don't think I would have managed it yet without the win

mar30

That's exactly what I would do, pay off debt quicker and then work part time. What a wonderful dream

keith26

Lol, if I answered that honestly I would get grief. Lets just say its relative to your circumstances.

hamsterfan1

I've never had a cash win - my biggest win for vouchers was £250 of which I still have £46

cagsd

hamsterfan1 wrote: »

I've never had a cash win - my biggest win for vouchers was £250 of which I still have £46

Same here!
I've never won a single penny in cash yet but I've had a few voucher wins, one of which was £100 for Monsoon so I was able to buy a dress for my son's Communion that cost £99, I still have the pound change on the card
I won £250 H&M vouchers about 5 months ago, and have found them nearly impossible to spend! I've still got £60-odd left on the card after at least a dozen trips to the shop, managed to pick up stuff like shorts & T-shirts for the boys' summer wardrobe, but haven't found much in the shop that I like myself - am hoping to stock up on a few winter woollies soon though!