Covid nurse to buy home in Caribbean after winning the lottery

May 7, 2021, 12:20 pm (17 comments)

UK National Lottery

Much deserved win for medical worker who served throughout the pandemic

By Kate Northrop

WOODBRIDGE, United Kingdom — A nurse who worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is planning a move to the Caribbean after winning £10,000 (US$14,000) a month for a year in the National Lottery's Set For Life draw game.

Teresa Robinson, 65, of Woodbridge in Suffolk has been a nurse for 35 years, but after a particularly grueling year working through the COVID-19 pandemic, she is set to retire on a Caribbean island with her partner Charlie Hobson, 62, after winning the lottery.

"I've nursed all over the world in all sorts of conditions, but never have I been tested as much as in the last 12 months," Robinson said. "At times it's been truly horrendous. Having said that, I'm proud to have served my community throughout the pandemic and feel that I have earned my retirement and the lazy days we will spend on Nevis once it's safe to travel."

Hobson, who is a self-employed builder, has family on the island of Nevis, which is where the pair are looking to buy a home. They visited frequently but were never able to stay for longer periods of time due to Robinson's nursing work.

"Now we are hatching a plan to buy a home there so we can spend months at a time on the island, enjoying everything it has to offer and catching up with family," Robinson continued.

The soon-to-be retiree purchased the winning ticket at the Hollesley Post Office in Woodbridge and matched all five numbers in the Set For Life drawing on Apr. 15, 2021. The ticket was a "Lucky Dip" ticket, better known in the US as a Quick Pick. The winning numbers were 2, 17, 24, 26, and 46 with Life Ball 7.

While enjoying a cup of tea with Hobson, Robinson checked her ticket the morning after the draw.

"We buy our own tickets, but we always share the winnings, so when I scanned my ticket and heard the winning sound, I expected to see enough for a little treat for our supper," the lucky winner recalled. "Not for a second was I expecting £10,000 a month for a year."

Robinson was reportedly "bouncing off the walls." Hobson, on the other hand, looked at the ticket calmly and had a much franker reaction.

"I knew we'd win it one day!" he said before giving his partner a kiss.

The next thing she did was give her two daughters a call, followed by another call to Camelot, the operator of the National Lottery, to confirm the win. While she was indeed confirmed the winner, the pair had to put celebrations on hold for the time being.

"I was on duty all weekend, so our celebrations on Friday were a little muted, with a cup of coffee replacing the champagne we should have been drinking to toast the win," Robinson explained.

Of course, this was likely much to the lighthearted dismay of Hobson, who is nicknamed "Champagne Charlie" due to his love of the drink.

"We feel so blessed to be together and already had so many exciting plans, even before this amazing win," Robinson said. "Last year we found a renovation project and, despite everything, decided to go for it and build our dream home together."

Having been together for four years, the winnings will allow them to speed up the process and give the two a much needed and well-deserved break.

"It's been pretty full on at times, but we wanted to be finished before we started drawing pensions, when we thought we'd need to be a bit more careful with the pennies," the winner concluded. "Turns out, thanks to that lucky win, we may not need to be quite as careful, and in addition to this project, we can start one on Nevis too!"

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Unluckyone's avatarUnluckyone

Had to do a double take at the amount she won, winning 14k a month for a year isn't what I would consider set for life which is the name of the game she won.

Quite different than the "Lucky 4 Life"  game available here in the US but at least her winnings ae tax freeSmile

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Unluckyone on May 7, 2021

Had to do a double take at the amount she won, winning 14k a month for a year isn't what I would consider set for life which is the name of the game she won.

Quite different than the "Lucky 4 Life"  game available here in the US but at least her winnings ae tax freeSmile

Check out the cost of living on that island first.Premium areas $1,600 a month, lesser areas $500.00 a month: They getting $10,000 a month for a year.These folk have visited there before & l gather have done their homework. According to them, they'll be fine, plus they not in their 30's.

sam9009's avatarsam9009

So the second prize is paying for a year only? 

Set for life only if you win the 1st prize. 

I'm guessing they will choose lump sum.

dannyct

She was completely daft choosing to go public. UK lottery winners have the option to remain anonymous. The majority do choose anonymity, those who don't, regret the decision down the track.

kao1632

Quote: Originally posted by Unluckyone on May 7, 2021

Had to do a double take at the amount she won, winning 14k a month for a year isn't what I would consider set for life which is the name of the game she won.

Quite different than the "Lucky 4 Life"  game available here in the US but at least her winnings ae tax freeSmile

https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/results/set-for-life/draw-history/prize-breakdown/224

1st prize is 10,000 pounds a month for 30 years (3,600,000 pounds)

2nd prize is (only) 10,000 pounds a month for a year (120,000 pounds)

kao1632

Quote: Originally posted by sam9009 on May 7, 2021

So the second prize is paying for a year only? 

Set for life only if you win the 1st prize. 

I'm guessing they will choose lump sum.

You don't really get a lump sum option.. except under special circumstances

https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/games/set-for-life/game-specific-rules

note that they are "guaranteed" a net (after tax) annuity payment of not less than 10,000 pounds per month (under current tax laws0.. so they could get more..

Mata Garbo

In my state the "Cash For Life" top prize is $1,000 a day ($7,000) a week for the rest of your life. A fantastic prize. The only problem is if you ask the merchants around the state, they say nobody ever wins it. :)

Bleudog101

Who knows what their nest egg looks like.

 

They may have been savvy savers and to only stay in the Caribbean for months says to me money not in short supply.

kao1632

Quote: Originally posted by Mata Garbo on May 8, 2021

In my state the "Cash For Life" top prize is $1,000 a day ($7,000) a week for the rest of your life. A fantastic prize. The only problem is if you ask the merchants around the state, they say nobody ever wins it. :)

my calculations say that federal tax on $365,000 is about $173,675.10 (net $191,324.90) (Assuming this is your only income.. any additional income would be at 35%

That is currently about GBP136,764.99  * ~GBP 11,364/month

if there is state tax on the "Cash for Life"...  lose about GBP2,600 per %point.  break even at about 6.4%

 

Over all.. I'd say that for the 30 years.. the payouts are pretty similar. 

fellini

Quote: Originally posted by dannyct on May 7, 2021

She was completely daft choosing to go public. UK lottery winners have the option to remain anonymous. The majority do choose anonymity, those who don't, regret the decision down the track.

Not everybody is paranoid.

Unluckyone's avatarUnluckyone

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on May 7, 2021

Check out the cost of living on that island first.Premium areas $1,600 a month, lesser areas $500.00 a month: They getting $10,000 a month for a year.These folk have visited there before & l gather have done their homework. According to them, they'll be fine, plus they not in their 30's.

I have been to several islands in the Caribbean and housing prices are not cheap unless you want to reside in the slums and there are plenty. These folks are talking about building so not sure why you think they are looking at renting by offering analysis on rental properties.

Unluckyone's avatarUnluckyone

Quote: Originally posted by kao1632 on May 8, 2021

https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/results/set-for-life/draw-history/prize-breakdown/224

1st prize is 10,000 pounds a month for 30 years (3,600,000 pounds)

2nd prize is (only) 10,000 pounds a month for a year (120,000 pounds)

Big difference between the 1st prize and the 2nd that she won. With their plans on building a home 10k(14k us) doesn't go far especially having to build to hurricane code.

Unluckyone's avatarUnluckyone

Quote: Originally posted by Mata Garbo on May 8, 2021

In my state the "Cash For Life" top prize is $1,000 a day ($7,000) a week for the rest of your life. A fantastic prize. The only problem is if you ask the merchants around the state, they say nobody ever wins it. :)

The merchant is right as the top prize is rarely won but there have been plenty of 2nd place winners.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Unluckyone on May 9, 2021

I have been to several islands in the Caribbean and housing prices are not cheap unless you want to reside in the slums and there are plenty. These folks are talking about building so not sure why you think they are looking at renting by offering analysis on rental properties.

If you could get the email address of either person & ask them how they plan on accomplishing this feat of building on Nevis etc etc, we could finally get an answer. Till then, it's just speculation on our parts, right?

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