WE WON £4M ON THE LOTTERY – HERE’S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID WITH THE MONEY

When Jon Waring woke up on 31 May last year, the first thing he did was check his phone. The second thing he did was wake up his wife, Lucy, and tell her they had won the National Lottery.

The couple, who have been playing since it launched in 1994, won £3.9m in 2025 and their lives were changed instantly.

“It felt bizarre and surreal. It was only when the money hit my bank account that I really believed it was happening,” says Jon, 58, from Paignton.

The idea of winning a life-changing sum is something that many people dream about – but experts warn the best thing to do is take a breath before deciding what to do with it.

Richard Cook, senior financial planner at wealth management firm Rathbones, says: “Receiving a windfall can be life‑changing but, in my experience, the most important first step is to pause. It’s natural to feel excited, but giving yourself time to adjust helps prevent rushed decisions that you may later regret.”

Jon and Lucy bought a new car – an Audi Q7 – a Harley Davidson Trike and a hot tub.

They moved from their two-bedroom bungalow to a seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom detached house with a pool, tennis court, bar, sauna and 3.7 acres of land. They gave away about £430,000 to family and friends.

“We were just like other people living pay cheque to pay cheque and now to be debt-free, no mortgage, own our cars outright – to be in that position is an incredible change,” says Jon. “But we have everything we want now.”

Jon left his job as a police radio operator and Lucy, 49, left her role as a nurse at the local hospital. Now their priority now is making sure the remaining £1.5m is invested well so it can provide an income for the rest of their lives.

They used a financial adviser and solicitor recommended by the National Lottery and have put money into cash savings, ISAs and other investments.

“My tip to anyone with a windfall is to take advice,” says Jon. “We are now earning roughly what we did before but with smaller outgoings.”

What next? The couple are taking the time to enjoy retired life and hope to go on a round-the-world cruise when their daughter Lily, 16, finishes school. “It’s weird to think of myself as a millionaire,” says Jon. “I’m the richest person I know, but the best thing has been being able to share it with other people.”

Rosie Hooper, chartered financial planner at Quilter Cheviot, says: “It’s easy to assume that a big windfall automatically guarantees lifelong financial security, but without a plan, money can disappear far more quickly than you might expect.”

She recommends splitting money into different pots for short, medium and long-term plans, as well as making use of tax-efficient accounts such as pensions and Isas. Gifting money or investing for children can help to mitigate a future inheritance tax bill.

Our Lottery win put us on the Rich List

It was 2002 and Sarah and Aldan Ibbetson, then 24, were expecting their first child, when they checked the Lottery numbers on Teletext.

Initially they thought they had five of the six numbers – a win of about £2,500 and enough to buy the new kitchen they’d been saving for. Then they realised they had won £3.1m.

“The first thought is disbelief. You can’t believe the numbers in your hand are matching up with the ones on the TV,” says Sarah, now 47, who lives in Leeds. At the time, the win was enough to earn them a place on the Sunday Times Rich List.

Sarah bought a Porsche Carrera and Aldan a Mercedes.

They moved to a five-bedroom detached house with large gardens, which cost about £630,000, and gave money to family, friends and various charities. Sarah left her job as a dental nurse but Aldon continued as a car salesman while they worked out their next steps.

Rathbones’ Cook says: “A windfall can open up possibilities such as changing careers, retiring earlier, buying a home, supporting family, giving to charity, or even starting a business. Everyone’s priorities are different, so having clarity around your personal goals is essential.”

So, 24 years later, are they pleased with how they used their windfall?

The couple, who have three children aged 24, 20, 14, started a number plate business, which they later sold, and now do property conversions and renovations.

“We have always worked – we enjoy having the structure in the day. Maybe it would have been different if we were older when we had won” says Sarah.

“I don’t think there’s anything we would have done differently in hindsight. We’ve enjoyed it but we stayed-level headed and knew it was money that had to last.”

2026-03-11T18:34:02Z