Winning Lottery Number: Should I Leave Work?
So you have won a prize in the British National Lottery or the European lottery. One of the first decisions all winners make is whether to carry on in their job or not.
Charles Gillion was one of the bus drivers from Corby who each won £3.1 million as members of a lottery syndicate. He had intended to retire later this year but can now do so comfortably as a result of his win.
Sarah Cockings from Tyne and Wear won £3 million in the UK lottery draw in 2005 when she was at university. She has decided to go back to her studies a couple of years later but found that her winnings had enabled her to choose the career she wanted to follow. Sarah wants to become a midwife purely because that is what she wants to do – money no longer is a consideration.
Nicky Cusack of Swindon won £2.49 million in the British National Lottery in 2009 after being diagnosed with cancer. After she completed the therapy to combat her illness however, Nicky couldn’t wait to get back to work.
“I wanted to be normal,” she said, “It is just about being who you want to be. Some people say ‘why is she back? There is no need for her to work.’ No, there isn’t, but it is the company and your friends, that is what makes a working environment. I am quite happy going to work and coming home.”
Of course the first consideration on winning a lottery prize is whether you can afford to give up your job. Chris and Colin Weir of Largs won £161 million in the Eurolottery draw and, like so many who win huge amounts, have found having a job is no longer a necessity. Indeed, if you win that amount of money, managing can be a full-time job in itself!
You may win a smaller prize however and it would then be wise to take professional advice as to whether you can retire or not. Some winners take a holiday instead.
















