{"id":83898,"date":"2023-10-24T00:36:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T00:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/?p=83898"},"modified":"2023-10-24T00:36:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T00:36:37","slug":"i-had-just-13-in-my-bank-account-before-i-scooped-2-4m-lottery-but-didnt-spend-it-for-weeks-heres-why-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/lifestyle\/i-had-just-13-in-my-bank-account-before-i-scooped-2-4m-lottery-but-didnt-spend-it-for-weeks-heres-why-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I had just \u00a313 in my bank account before I scooped \u00a32.4m lottery but didn't spend it for WEEKS, here's why | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
A MAN who had just \u00a313 in his bank account before he scooped \u00a32.4million has revealed why he barely spent a penny for weeks. <\/p>\n
Neil Jones, 59,\u00a0and partner Julie Kirkham found out they'd won the life-changing sum just before\u00a0Christmas\u00a02010.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
And the win came at a time when the couple needed it most – Neil had just \u00a313 to his name. <\/p>\n
But the 59-year-old said they had already pulled together enough cash for Christmas presents so decided they'd wait until the new year to start their luxury life. <\/p>\n
Neil, of Stoke-on-Trent,\u00a0said the win came as the couple used to always pop into their local shop and get a \u00a33 lucky dip. <\/p>\n
He recalled: "We would win the odd tenner, I suppose.<\/p>\n
"I used to joke with [the shop owner] that he was selling duds because we hardly won – but when we got the big one, I said to him, 'You're not selling duds anymore'.<\/p>\n "Before we won, we'd got enough\u00a0money\u00a0sorted out for Christmas but then December 8, our big numbers came up.<\/p>\n "We didn't spend a penny until the new year. I stuck to my plan of everyone getting \u00a3100 for Christmas – I wanted to get our old life out of the way.<\/p>\n "January 1, we started a new life." <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Neil said it was then that they started telling his friends and family about the win. <\/p>\n But even then, it took him a long time to come to grips with the fact he was now a multimillionaire. <\/p>\n He said: "It took about 18 months to sink in. It was absolutely amazing, fantastic.<\/p>\n "It's a cushion – when a bill comes through the door, you know you can pay it.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Neil's first big buys was a pool table after the win was a pool table – and he's now off to represent England in the sport\u2019s European championships.<\/p>\n The former tiler is\u00a0taking part in the tournament in\u00a0Malta next month will be his \u201cproudest moment\u201d.<\/p>\n Since scooping the win, Neil has been able to pour "thousands" of hours into perfecting his skills. <\/p>\n He said: \u201cWinning the lottery allowed me to put those hours in.<\/p>\n "If I didn\u2019t win, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to buy the table, I wouldn\u2019t have had the time \u2014 I\u2019d still be on my hands and knees tiling.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait to fly out to Malta, put on that England shirt and lead the team out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/picture>JACKPOT GIFT <\/span><\/p>\n
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