By Allison Cooke and Beverley Hadgraft
Seven months ago, I was a typical 19-year-old working in a Melbourne [Australia] warehouse, packing books and earning $17 an hour to help pay my way through university. Then, suddenly, I was a millionaire.
Have I been partying ever since? No. I'm one of four kids from a single-parent family doing it tough and Mum has instilled in me the value of a dollar.
I won my prize last November after buying two tickets for a BoysTown lottery — a charity that helps disadvantaged children, young people and families. I didn't imagine for one second I'd actually win — it simply seemed to be an easy way to donate money to charity — so when I received the phone call, I could hardly believe it.
BoysTown told me I was the owner of a $1.3 million luxury beach apartment on the Gold Coast, $52,000 worth of furniture and electrical goods, $70,000 of gold bullion and a $6000 travel voucher.
When I rushed home to tell Mum, she didn't believe me; I had to call BoysTown and ask them to confirm I was telling the truth. Meanwhile, my siblings, Ashleigh, 18, Melanie, 12, and Tom, 9, were jumping up and down with excitement. My friends were shocked, too. None of us could believe it was possible to suddenly have so much at our age.
My friend James kept repeating, "You won a house? You won a house!" He went on about it for 20 minutes. I was happy he was so pleased. We were good friends and shortly afterwards we became a couple — it had nothing to do with me winning the lottery, though. He's a great guy and we're still together. We would've ended up together anyway.
Once the thrill of telling everyone about my win had died down, it all seemed quite scary, so I sort of ignored it. Mum suggested I cash in the gold and put the money in the bank to earn interest. She pointed out it was enough for a deposit on a house. I liked the idea; it still hadn't sunk in that I already owned an apartment.
I used some of the cash to settle a couple of debts. Mum had lent me money for a performing arts tour in high school and a modelling course. I'd been paying her back bit by bit, but it was great to be able to give her the full $7000 — plus a little more, because she's Mum and she works hard! I also bought her a barbecue for Christmas because she'd always wanted one. I used the travel vouchers for a family holiday at my apartment on the Gold Coast, and finally had a chance to see it for myself.
The apartment is beautiful. It has ocean views, three bedrooms, a huge spa bath and even a media room. It reminds me of a hotel. It took me a few months to really appreciate it belongs to me. Once I finally became used to the idea, I began to rent it out. I'll save the money until I have enough to put a deposit on a house I can live in.
Although many people might think I haven't had much fun with my winnings — I haven't bought so much as a new dress — they'd be completely wrong.
I've stopped working in the warehouse full-time. Now I only work one day a week to fit in with my university schedule. If I didn't have a job, I'd feel strange. I've been raised with the mentality that you should work for what you want. But it's great I can enjoy my science studies and my time at university without constantly worrying about not having enough money to eat whenever I drop a shift. So many students don't have that privilege.
But most important of all, the money and other prizes have given me security. It's given me an amazing start to my adult life and I'm not going to waste it.
Occasionally I do think, I'm only 19 and I'm a millionaire! But I quickly put that thought out of my mind — I don't want to become a self-absorbed person wrapped up in money. I'm just going to keep my head straight, work hard and do good things.
The winners' curse
The way Cooke has treated her win might sound unusual, but it's exactly what psychologist and former president of the Australian Psychological Society, professor Bob Montgomery, says all lottery winners should do.
"Most winners don't do anything substantial with the money. Some evidence suggests people actually end up worse off after a windfall. They're inexperienced in handling large sums of money and quickly go through it with nothing significant to show at the end. Then they feel worse than before, because they think they were handed a great chance and threw it away," he says.
"My advice is to take out enough of your winnings to have a holiday and pay off essential bills. Then put away the rest in a term deposit for at least six months and seek expert advice. This takes great skill in delayed gratification, though, which is probably why most people don't do it."
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Congrats Ms. Cooke on your winnings. It's nice to read about a young person that is doing the right thing with their winnings, you are a very bright young lady & I wish you all the best in all your endeavors
I too, wish this young lady an abundance of congratulations. Not for just the monetary aspect, but for her values and common sense , also kudos to her Mother for keeping her on course. She could be a model to a lot of people...!
Gay
Most winners don't do anything substantial with the money
Is their economy that good? $17 an hour packing books?? ( 1 USD is equivalent to 1 Australian Dollar). It must be a union job. Good for them.
I'm glad she seems sensible with the money but she should remember that the devil is in the details. That sudden fortunes change people bad.
So she doesnt have 1.5M$A cash... but has 70k$A and a 1.3M$A luxury condo w/ sundry & furnishings.
smart move on her part to rent it out... how are condos/owned apartments taxed 'down under'? I would think she would NEED to rent it out just to make sure that she can cover the associated expenses that go along with owning the property.
Good for her for not 'cashing out' and going wild. Her parental unit(s) did a fine job in instilling reasonable values (apparently).
Very good continued luck to Allison and her family!
Cost of living is much higher in Australia due to a number of factors.
Never heard of a union position where you could work one day a week.
Lucky her.
I cross my fingers and hope I win the YMCA dream house this year!
Big mistake if she cashed in all of the gold. Otherwise she was pretty wise. As for the cost of living there, blame it on the Socialism and the Unions! Same story in Europe!
I knew of union jobs where you didn't have to work any days a week at all but still got paid for 40 straight and 20 overtime.
On second thought, I don't know nuttin'.
Weird a55 picture at a BMW dealership.
Yea, thats one thing that went the wrong way, If I work 38 I get 38, thats It,
Do you mean the girl on the bike looks like a 55 pic. ?
Are you trying to say you're happy?
Or something else.
Right. That pic is too perfect. Looks like one of those weird poloroid photo shoots.
I did'nt PIC. up on that til i read your post. LOL
photoshop ? don't know, never tried it .
Haymaker, the previous poster was just trying to say "weird A$$" in an acceptable way. A "5" replaces "S"....get it?
$17 / h is pretty much unskilled wages around here,but...
cars cost %60more , houses 3x more and food about %50.
OUCH!
That probably translates to around $9/hr. here in the states. What good is making $50/hr. if inflation is at 300%?
THEY CLAIM INFLATION IS AROUND %3.5 aroundhere,and bank interest on savings is easily %5.5. theres a good section in " a conneticut yankee in king arthurs court" where he tries hard to explain that higher wages mean nothing if you pay even higher pricesfor stuff. read that one in 20s. always stuck with me, the inflation taxation.
also remeber 1 aud being = to 1 usd is a new thing we where under ; way under, par for a while.its not inflation killing us, its cost of living. oh and some of the most expensive housing on the planet
SG:
Did U ever think bout "comming" 2 AMERICA?????????????>??????????
D south boder is wide "OPEN">>but choose UR travel agent carefully!!
Bring bunch of UR Aussie's>>buy a $1,000,000 house 4 $250K!
Five BR's with pool & pool house should work 4 2 Aussie family!
LOL 2U & ALL
After annual property taxes and general maintenance costs (figure minimum 1% of the house's value), why should anyone be impressed that she still works? Did I mention utilities?
SG:>>>>Psyko want's U Aussie's 2 comming 2
WELCOME 2 "AMERICA">>>
D>>>>>USA>>SUPREME COURT>>ruled today
FREE @ LAST WORLD NOW>> FREE!!
GREAT "DAY" 4 International (Lottery P member)
Welcome ALL 2 International(people/world)
"WHAT a wonderful WORLD"
Yea, actually Aussies didn't get hit as hard from 2008 forward like the US did because they are a commodity exporting country of the highest order. Many valuble materials that you get out of the ground come from there, and being the main exporter of these things to the Chinese have them sitting pretty these days.
As far as money changing people for the bad, I think the main topic of the article is how this young lady is well aware of that, and her successful efforts to not let that happen to her.
Ok that went right past me, as i'll replace the ss w/ zz.
does that filter <snip> that word also ?
Darn that <snip>, <snip>, <snip> thing anyways!
inappropriate language has been removed from this post with a <snipping> LP filtering device, thank you for your understanding.
The photo does look like a stock photo that one would license. If she did modeling, maybe it is part of her portfolio.
Good surmise. With that thoughtful glance gazing skyward, it could also be a commercial for any number of things. A protein drink, Geritol,
a feminine product, life insurance, or even a dating service.
Artist:
My girlfriend got pulled over 4 going 2 SLOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!
She explained I'm wait'g 4>> PSYKO 2 catch^up with>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
She got a TICKET 4 going2<< SLOW:
PSYKO passed>>>>>>>>>>>SLOW>>>cops & girlfriend >>>>>>>>on side of road & they WAVED!!!!!
The photo said PSYKO>>>>>>SLOW was going>>>!)%(105mph)>>>BULL<<<vetts>>>R>not that fast
WE both got TICKET'$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
LAWYER got HER slow TICKET<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<(105mph)<<<NO<<<<vetss>>>$$$$$$$$$$$
they descrimated in pull'g us over >>>>>>>>>>>!
she is AUSTRALLIAN: I'm a AMERICAN VETT>LOVER!!
ok. I cccccccccccccc. You can get a ticket for going too slow. Maybe they had probable cause to pull you both over. The spelling and grammar alone creates a reasonable suspicion as well.....lol
ARTIST77:
When UR>>>>>ILUV>>>>>>>>>>>with a BEAUTIFUL>>>>>>>>>>WOMAN^^^^^^^^^GIVE me a CHANCE?
PSYKO is>>>>>ILUV>>>>>>>>>>>with a BEAUTIFUL>>>>>>>>>>WOMAN^^PSYKO^^IS>> me a CRAZY^^
True. lol Or a mood stabilizing drug.
How come you write like this? It gives me a headache.
Thanks for the financial conversions information, savagegoose!
After analysis, it appears that her mistakes are selling the gold, and working only one day per week rather than three workdays. I hope that she begins to study finance as a hobby.
It's great that she won very interesting and very good raffle grand prizes!
Thanks, for the invite psykomo.
I have discussed the temptation of USA to some mates here. the used car prices, house prices, and of course the employment opportunities. or well lack there of. You can bet if I won $1M here then USA would be my destination.,
a comfortable car, a comfy house and the remaining 800K, INVESTED TO PAY MY BILLS. but i would live in a small town sub 1 mill people, preferably rural with some generous gun laws. not some crazy place like LA or NY or FL.
nice rural like WA
Congrats to the lucky girl
I think this raffle winner should buy that great dress. She would look great enjoying an amusement park while wearing a raspberry colored, knee length sheath dress and visor!
Golfer1960,
How come we have'nt heard from you since you made this post ?
the same night the 21mils. Jersey PIC6 was won in holmdel, which I'm guessing is about 20 miles from you on rt 35 ?
Hey Haymaker,
You haven't heard from me because what I said to Psyko was mean and I should not have said that to him. I felt that I said too much, you know. Sorry Psyko.
Oh, I didn't know that the NJ Pick 6 was hit in Holmdel. Yes it's about 20 miles up Rt 35 north. It's an expensive area so I'll bet it was hit by a millionaire (although everyone in Holmdel is not living in a million dollar home).
I didn't play that game, did you? Lately I've only played the MM and PB.
Golfer1960 don't feel to bad,
I think psykomo is just tryin to keep things interesting.
I play every Jersey PIC6 draw, although I'm begining to ask myself why ?
thought you would at least be playing it when the JP gets up there much like Boney526 does.
Was thinkin i may do same and use savings for Thrifty's shotgun method,
? then is, when to squeeze trigger.
Hey Haymaker, you've got me curious but what is "Thrifty's shotgun method"?
I have a small budget to play with (MM and PB) but if the shotgun method works I'll try it (that is if it's not a secret).
I'm desperate for a win so I'll beg for the shotgun method:
Is this the shotgun method?
Golfer1960,
Great cartoons LOL
not very good at explaining other's concept's or systems.
Try LP search on upper right of home page, just entry THRIFTY.
not a secret by any definition.