Mum who couldn't afford Christmas gifts for her kids wins £1million on a scratchcard

dowie · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:12

Woody__ said:
I can only hope that all of those on a chip shop workers wage are as wise with money as you are.

I'd hope so too but the reality is a lot of them will waste money just like the degenerate ***** in this article. Unless of course all the council flats with sky dishes etc.. are a result of the entire estate all getting jobs and having a surplus of cash.

Nitefly · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:19

Quite a lot of assumption from various people in this thread. The phrase 'can't afford Christmas' may just be to add to the 'luck' or 'magic' of the story rather than a literal analysis of the situation.

Good to hear that someone has had some fortune.

Pilky01 said:
If she can't afford christmas what is she doing buying scratch cards? Idiot.

Rest assured, she is laughing in your face.

dowie · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:21

Meanwhile a bunch of other people in similar situations now have further inspiration to do the same and much more than a million gets wasted on scratch cards by people who really shouldn't be throwing money away....

Nitefly · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:29

dowie said:
Meanwhile a bunch of other people in similar situations are now have further inspiriration to do the same and much more than a million gets wasted on scratch cards by people who really shouldn't be throwing money away....

Again, more assumption.

I assume violence in videogames is responsible for the crazed actions of certain teenagers?

I like to think you would give the public more credit than 'monkey see, monkey do'.

FTM · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:33

it will keep the kids in pot noodles and micro chips till they cannot walk!

dowie · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:50

Nitefly said:
Again, more assumption.

I assume violence in videogames is responsible for the crazed actions of certain teenagers?

I like to think you would give the public more credit than 'monkey see, monkey do'.

Is there any clear link between violence in video games and the crazed actions of teenagers? Not that I'm aware of....

There is however a clear link between scratchcards and people with low income - its not just an 'assumption'. Stories like this just encourage the problem, gambling can turn into a fairly serious issue for people who can't really afford it.

THMRK · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:50

dowie said:
Is there any clear link between violence in video games and the crazed actions of teenagers? Not that I'm aware of....

There is however a clear link between scratchcards and people with low income - its not just an 'assumption'. Stories like this just encourage the problem, gambling can turn into a fairly serious issue for people who can't really afford it.

There is? Can you prove that?

Sawell · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:51

Woody__ said:
There is? Can you prove that?

I thought it was pretty common knowledge! Just take a look down your local tesco express at who is buying all the cards

Spyhop · 31 Dec 2008 at 15:57

Morba · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:03

Gaverick said:

? whats the problem with that?

CliffyBiro · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:05

An awful lot of jealousy in this thread.

Cobertizo · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:05

Woody__ said:
There is? Can you prove that?

Here's some data to fuel the fire (from 2003 - the latest on the National Lottery commission website): http://www.natlotcomm.gov.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/social_research_2003_pdf(3).pdf

See page 5 - breakdown of all lottery spending by social class. Page 7 has just "Instants", which I imagine are scratchcard type games.

As with the other National Lottery games, playing of Instants was associated with social class. The proportion of people who had ever played Instants was lowest among the highest social class and highest among those in the lowest class. Similarly, those in the lowest two groups were most likely to play regularly.

In other news, I'm off to Uxbridge/Southall, I think: http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/PlacestoScratch.pdf

^TANK^ · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:10

skippi90 said:
An awful lot of jealousy in this thread.

Nitefly · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:15

dowie said:
There is however a clear link between scratchcards and people with low income - its not just an 'assumption'.

Fear not, I certainly agree.

Stories like this just encourage the problem, gambling can turn into a fairly serious issue for people who can't really afford it.

This is what I take an issue with. The part in bold is without doubt true, but it is hardly the fault of the woman in question. If you wish to cure gambling problems we should look to solve it in other ways than merely 'stopping people winning'.

Sawell · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:15

I disagree, I don't think people are jealous... others get rich all the time and it's something we all put up with. I think people, like myself, are just annoyed that this bint has clearly gone to the media to hype up a story which basically labels her as a gambling addict who got very lucky with money she didn't have to spend to anyone who can see past the way it's been printed.

dowie · 31 Dec 2008 at 16:52

Nitefly said:
This is what I take an issue with. The part in bold is without doubt true, but it is hardly the fault of the woman in question. If you wish to cure gambling problems we should look to solve it in other ways than merely 'stopping people winning'.

I agree with that and am not blaming her for the story itself though do take issue with her actions and those of people in similar situations who regularly play scratch cards when they can't really afford it. I have a major issue with the way it is reported.. i.e. spending your last few quid on scratchcards is something to be applauded, look what happened to this woman.... I can't stand the national lottery adverts 'It could be you' selling false hope to people who perhaps aren't the brightest, perhpas ought to know better but all the same often will then go out and waste money they can't afford on these things.

I don't have a problem with gambling in principle I just don't like the way it is sometimes portrayed. The lottery/scratch cards etc.. might raise money for sports/charities/good causes etc.. but probably also contribute to some fairly big social problems.

Killa_ken · 31 Dec 2008 at 17:16

She's going to be poor in a year I can tell. Already got rid of the fiesta, and she's deciding how to spend it. I give it a year before she's all out.

A million pounds really isn't that much and I doubt you could retire on it.

Fothsn · 31 Dec 2008 at 17:20

Killa_ken said:
She's going to be poor in a year I can tell. Already got rid of the fiesta, and she's deciding how to spend it. I give it a year before she's all out.

A million pounds really isn't that much and I doubt you could retire on it.

What? LOL Yeah like you couldn’t retire on 1m, what a stupid comment.

Energize · 31 Dec 2008 at 17:22

After all it's only £50k a year in interest....

Killa_ken · 31 Dec 2008 at 17:25

Fothsn said:
What? LOL Yeah like you couldn’t retire on 1m, what a stupid comment.

It's not a stupid comment. It depends on lifestyle and when people like that see 1 million pounds in their bank account their lifestyle adjusts accordingly and they all of a sudden believe they've got a never ending amount of money.

Now lets say your 25 and you live to 85. You will need to live on 16,700 pounds per year until you die. Thats crap.

While that doesn't take into account interest rates I think that is offset by paying off any debt/mortgage/car loans she already has.