£108,000,000

[Vorpal]

If it is more than one country like England, Wales, Scotland it is countries' housing crisis.

If it is more than one country, isn't it also more than one crisis? Therefore, countries' housing crises?

[661-Pete]

I like the idea that not mentioning that somebody 'not mentioning' some of their money goes to good causes somehow makes it more noble.

I'm struggling to make sense of the double negative here, but as far as I'm concerned, it's no big deal.

I also struggle a bit with the conflict of priorities here: anti-gambling, but pro-giving to good causes. The anti-gambling sentiment wins, I'm afraid.

[townbikemark]

Then again, I wouldn't have bought a ticket in the first place!
Money cannot buy you happiness.

Just enough is what is needed, not too much, and not too little.

Never bought a ticket personally, although I was a member of a work syndicate in the late 90s think it was, for a few weeks; the reasoning being I didn't want to be the only one still working there if they won...

You have to respect money: having just found work after 8 months out of work, I'm only too well aware of this. Money may not buy you happiness, but it can give you freedom and control to enjoy the free things instead of having to do something else...The mistake is associating money with extravagance, status and snobbery instead of the choices it can give you. You don't HAVE to buy the big pile in the country, the flashy broom-broom whatever, but if something happens to take your fancy, you can have it, an enjoyable experience in and of itself - one of my bikes was all the more enjoyable to buy and ride as it was a spontaneous purchase going for half price.

[661-Pete]

Well - lottery or no lottery, it seems we're now being encouraged to buy a lamborghini with our hard-earned pension pot.

Nice try. Would I be better off putting the dosh down, and making good use of, a nice De Rosa perhaps? Or a Colnago - or a Cervelo - or a Pinarello - or (suggestions!)?

[thirdcrank]

Well - lottery or no lottery, it seems we're now being encouraged to buy a lamborghini with our hard-earned pension pot. ....

It's interesting that pressure from people with defined contribution pension savings (ie somet ypical Tory voters) who don't want to be forced to buy annuities should have outweighed the lobbying from the financial services "industries." There are going to be some insurance salesmen having a lean Christmas. It's one of the results of all that money-printing (sorry quantitative easing.)

[pete75]

I stand corrected.
It was John Major in 1993 that got it going.

I think they had the idea that it was a way to cut government spending on subsidising various arty and sporty activities amongst others...

[Mick F]

We have a Health Lottery now I believe.
How about an Education Lottery, or a Cycle Route Lottery, or an Old Folks Home Lottery?
................. or a HS2 Lottery?

Maybe it's a good idea to pay for things via a raffle, rather than the tax-payer having to fork out?

[BigFoz]

I'd pay off family mortgages, buy the kids houses (both starting out in their careers, neither will earn loadsa money, but both doing worthwhile careers)
Buy a mahoosive camper van and a smallholding, retire from paid work, some rare motorbikes and classic cars, and bicycles.
Invest the rest in setting up a charity to enable infrastructure projects in 3rd world countries (so road surfacing for Scotland... )