I was on Universal Credit and won the lottery, trolls say I'll be ‘back on the dole' by next year but I have a plan
A LOTTO winner has hit back at trolls who claim she'll be "back on the dole" within a year - and insists she has a savvy plan.
Olivia
Love, of
Glasgow
, scooped £10,000-a-month for a year alongside hubby Kevin and has already bought a new
car
,
spoiled her
children, and bagged some new clothes in a shopping spree.
3
Olivia and Kevin Love scooped £10,000-a-month for a year in the National Lottery
Credit: ALAN PEEBLES PHOTOGRAPHY
3
The couple enjoyed a fun shopping spree after scooping the cash
Credit: ALAN PEEBLES PHOTOGRAPHY
The 36-year-old was also able to quit her job at a local supermarket and hopes to build her dream career in wedding content creation.
She had wanted to pursue the new direction since her own wedding last year but was unable to give up her regular income from her part-time job.
But thanks to her massive tax-free win she plans to make her dream a reality.
Since going public with her win, Olivia has also been speaking out about the life-changing cash in more detail on
And it was a simple email from the National Lottery team at 12.33am on May 16 that changed everything.
Before this, the mum-of-four was earning just £800-a-month working in a supermarket's customer service kiosk.
She was on Universal Credits to subsidise her eye-watering £1,800-a-month childcare costs and "dreaded" her council tax bill coming through.
She said: "My husband and I claimed Universal Credit because we needed help with the cost of childcare.
Most read in Fabulous
"We got the childcare element of the Universal Credit which helped us with up to 80% of the childcare costs so that made it financially viable for me to actually work, being in receipt of that.
"Now, obviously, because I've won £10,000 a month for a year, I'm no longer entitled to that which, you know, quite right.
EXCL Woman who dumped boyfriend after winning £1m scratchcard jackpot splashes cash with NEW man - while leaving ex with nothing
"So it would then mean that I am just going to work for £800 a month and still paying my full childcare bill while bringing in £10,000 a month for a year.
"So as far as that's concerned I'm taking a year out as a career break because I can afford to do that now."
She added: "We've lived pretty well over the last few years within our means, we've done the best we can.
"So we're just gonna live as comfortably as we can without being flashy, save as much money as we can. I'm gonna try and set up my own business while I don't have to work for the next year and if that doesn't work? I'll get another job.
"I've got like 15 years worth of customer service under my belt. You know, it won't be that hard for me to get another job when the time comes, if I need to do that.
"If my business is not successful then that's what I'll do. But until then I'm just gonna enjoy this.
"I'm gonna enjoy spending time with my family. I'm gonna enjoy spending time with my husband. I'm gonna enjoy not having to worry about the bills that land on the doormat.
"I'm not gonna have that dread when it's almost the first of the month and the council tax bill is due to be paid.
"I don't have to panic about that kind of stuff anymore and that to me
is
set for life. To be going from someone that was pulling in £11,000 a year to someone that's now pulling in £120,000, and even if that's just for a year, by God it's gonna be a good year."
Social media support
People on social media have been quick to congratulate Olivia on her huge win, and responded positively to her TikTok videos.
One person gushed: "Congratulations! I hope you have the best year, spoil yourselves and make some memories and you can still set yourself up for the best rest of your life."
A second pointed out: "It's also life-changing for your kids because they will absolutely remember the year mummy stayed home with them!"
"Omg I love to hear about real people winning money...go you Mrs.. enjoy", chimed in a third.
A fourth wrote: "Still a fab win and if you are careful/sensible, it could last you well."
A fifth insisted: "100% done the right thing, gives u the opportunity to try something new without worrying it's going to fail and youll have nothing."
Meanwhile, a sixth revealed: "I won a similar chunk last year and bought a house outright with it, it wasn't on set for life but it has absolutely changed our lives."
3
Olivia has defended her decision to take a career break
Credit: ALAN PEEBLES PHOTOGRAPHY
But Olivia has still been faced with some "horrific" comments from trolls, who claim she'll squander her money and need to claim benefits again.
"It's almost as if the human race just can't be happy for their fellow man when something nice happens", she fumed.
"They've got to fill it with all these negative comments, and they know nothing about my personal situation. They know nothing about my circumstances.
"They just make all these horrible assumptions that I'm just gonna quit my job and spend the next year spending all of this money and then in a couple of months I'll have no money left, and then I'll be unemployed and back on the dole as some person delightfully said.
"That's not the case. We've allowed ourselves a few luxuries because we never give ourselves luxuries.
"We have four children. You know we have a 15-year-old, a five-year-old, a three-year-old and a one-year-old, sp we don't [usually] allow ourselves any of those luxuries.
"So you're damn right we've allowed ourselves some luxuries [since winning]."
Lotto winner's shopping spree
AFTER scooping her £10,000-a-month lottery prize, Olivia Love enjoyed a fun shopping spree with hubby Kevin.
Here's what she spent...
Homeware in Dunelm: £299.10
Lunch at Yo Sushi: £59.29
Smellies in Yankee Candle: £35.96
'Bits and pieces' from Boots: £31.37
Clothes at New Look: £142.30
Clothes at Next: £30.20
Gift for mother-in-law at Swarovski: Undisclosed amount
Kids toys at The Entertainer: Undisclosed amount
Celebration booze from supermarket: £29
TOTAL: £826.72
She added: "We bought a few things that we needed for the house, we bought some clothes for ourselves because I can't remember the last time we actually bought ourselves clothes, and the most expensive purchase - and yet the most important one - was I bought my husband a new car.
"His car was dying. There was steam coming from the engine, the fan wasn't working, it was overheating. It was a 2012 plate Vauxhall Meriva. it had 140,000 miles on it.
"He needed a new car. So we got him a new car. But we didn't go to the car garage and buy the most expensive car there.
"We picked a nice sensible car that will keep going and it's just a car, nothing flashy and expensive and fancy."
Olivia and Kevin won the second-tier prize on The National Lottery's Set For Life on May 15 after matching five main numbers.
The winning numbers in the draw were: 03, 27, 42, 45, 46, plus Life Ball 06.
Read more on the Irish Sun
'Set For Life' offers a top prize of £10K a month for 30 years when the five main numbers and the Life Ball are matched.
Players can also win £10K a month for a whole year by matching the five main numbers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
My friend went to extreme measures to stop me going home from a night out and ended up in A&E – the X-ray says it all
A MUM has told how her best pal swallowed her house key in a cheeky prank - then ended up in A&E. Siobhan Stanton, from Edinburgh, gobbled down friend Adele Donkin's metal door-opener to stop her leaving the pub and heading home. 4 Siobhan Stanton, left, and Adele Donkin, right, had a hilarious end to their night Credit: adeledonkin/TikTok 4 Siobhan ended up in hospital after swallowing Adele's house key Credit: adeledonkin/TikTok But the 35-year-old's drunken stunt awkwardly backfired as she found herself in hospital the next day. Medics carried out an X-ray which revealed the distinctive metal shape lodged in her large intestine. Adele, also 35, said she thought best pal Siobhan was only pulling her leg near the end of their night out in the capital She told Fabulous: "We had been out at the local pub and it was nearly the end of the night and I was standing at the pub door with my key in my hand. "I said to her 'I'm going home now' and she was asking me to stay out longer. "I kept saying no then she just grabbed my key and swallowed it. "I genuinely thought she was winding me up and had pretended to swallow it and had it hidden behind her back. "So then I couldn't go home as my mum was night shift at work so I had to phone her at work and tell her what happened, she thought I was winding her up too. I had to stay at my friend's that night." Most read in Fabulous The mum-of-two continued: "We went to A&E, they did an X-ray and said it would pass naturally. "It did about five days later and she asked if I wanted my key back but I said no thanks I will get a new key cut. "Me and her always have the funniest nights out, we have been in some funny situations. girl gets hilarious drunken tattoo while on holiday "When I asked her why she swallowed the key she said 'I would have missed you if you went home, I just wanted you to stay out'". The 2017 incident went viral on Thursday with 200,000 TikTok views after Adele - who said it "still makes her laugh out loud" - posted about it for the first time on her page ( One person joked: "My kinda friend." Referencing horror flick Saw, another wrote: "She really said 'let's play a game'." 4 Siobhan hadn't wanted best pal Adele to go home from a night out Credit: Supplied 4 They key showed up clearly in an X-ray Credit: adeledonkin/TikTok A third said: 'Sorry. Cant come home, she's swallowed the key' most believable story." Did that hurt going in AND THEN going back out cause girl that is some commitment", screamed a fourth. Read more on the Irish Sun A fifth cried: "I am HOWLING." Meanwhile, a sixth insisted: "This will never not be funny."
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The simple Vinted packing trick that stops buyers scamming you and means you won't be out of pocket
YOU'D be hard pushed to find someone these days who hasn't tried their luck on Vinted - with some even managing to turn reselling into their entire career. However, there are some downsides to selling on the app, such as scams when buyers say they haven't received the item you've sold them. 3 If you're a Vinted user, there's a clever packaging tip you can try that should help you avoid being scammed Credit: Alamy 3 Including the exact pictures you need to take as 'photographic proof' that you've sold and sent it as seen Credit: Alamy 3 You should also double bag your item before sending it Credit: Getty But there's a clever way to avoid that happening, and it's really easy too. Double wrapping your sales means you've abided by Vinted's packaging rule, and could swing a dispute in your favour if someone claims they've received an empty bag. "As a seller, it's crucial you double wrap your items before shipping," Marc Porcar, CEO of , explained. "Otherwise, Vinted is likely to side with the buyer, and you may end up without the item or payment. Read more Vinted stories "Vinted's packaging rules state double wrapping, and by following them you can help tip the balance in your favour if a buyer lies about not receiving an item." If you're worried that paying out for mailing bags isn't the most environmentally-friendly approach, you can reuse packaging from previous deliveries to avoid contributing to landfill sites. Another way you can reduce your risk of being scammed is to collect photographic evidence. "Take a series of clear photos while packaging and shipping your packages to use if a buyer falsely claims an item wasn't received," Marc continued. Most read in Fabulous "Some Vinted sellers record themselves wrapping the package, ensuring visual proof of what was included and confirming that you followed the double wrapping practice. "This can help strengthen your case for disputes." I've made £200 on Vinted in 24 hours - the 9 items that are flipping FAST & the retro product to always pick up The photos you need to take are: the item before packaging, the item inside the package, the sealed package with the shipping label attached, and the package at the drop-off point. If you can take a snap which shows the person's address on the shipping label too, it helps make the package identifiable - which will also strengthen a case. "If shipping via a post office that weighs the package, take a photo of the weight at home and again at the counter to help verify the item packaged," Marc added. "Mentioning to the buyer that the package has been shipped with photographic evidence recorded may help deter any scammers." New Vinted rules to be aware of IF you fancy clearing out your wardrobe and getting rid of your old stuff on Vinted, you'll need to consider the new rules that recently came into play. If people are selling personal items for less than they paid new (which is generally the case for second-hand sales), there is no impact on tax. However, since January 1, digital platforms, including eBay, Airbnb, Etsy, Amazon and Vinted, must share seller information with HMRC as part of a crackdown. You're unlikely to be affected if you only sell a handful of second-hand items online each year - generally, only business sellers trading for profit might need to pay tax. A tax-free allowance of £1,000 has been in place since 2017 for business sellers trading for profit - the only time that an individual personal item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is a profit from the sale. However, firms now have to pass on your data to HMRC if you sell 30 or more items a year or earn over £1,700. It is part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe. While your data won't be shared with HMRC if you earn between £1,000 and £1,700, you'll still need to pay tax as normal.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The £3.99 Lidl plant you need in your garden – it has gorgeous big flowers until November & grows back bigger every year
THE delightful Dahlia is one of the UK's most popular flowers - and you can get yours for as cheap as chips. The classic British favourite is in full bloom now – and with a little bit of help, they're the gardening gift that will keep on giving until November. Advertisement 2 The beautiful plant could last through the winter Credit: Lidl Happy customers commented online: "Tubers bought in Lidl... can't wait for flowers." A second added: "I found the Lidl ones my best last year." A third user posted a photo of her flowering Dahlias and wrote: "O ne of the Lidl. Only one survived. All others were ruined by snails and slugs. This one is three years old and always leaving it in the soil for winter." Advertisement read more Native to With their vast colours and strong flower power , they're also a magnet to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing essential pollen for several months of the year. How to look after dahlias During the summer, the perennial plants like regular feeding and watering, and if given the right care, will grow again next spring-summer. Dahlias favour warm, sunny, sheltered spots with free-draining soil. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous However, going into winter, dahlias need specific treatment to survive, and it's called 'overwintering'. Trying out Lidl's new weeding tools When to lift and store dahlia tubers When the green foliage has been damaged by frost, you want to dig the tubers up. If the frost is late, dig the tubers by late November. If you live in a climate where temperatures rarely drop below freezing and the soil is well-draining, dahlias can be left in the ground. If you choose to leave them in the ground, add a thick layer of mulch around the base to protect the tubers. Advertisement If the dahlias are in pots, or you don't want to risk leaving them in the ground because of freezing temperatures, then using a shovel, dig the tubers out - but be careful not to damage them. TOP TIPS FOR GROWING DAHLIAS How to keep Dahlia's growing for longer Use chicken feed and growmore to get them going - rose food is a good substitute. Grow from tubers not seed - you get more flowers. Water and deadhead daily. The new buds are solid to the touch - don't cut these off. Plant up the plugs in early April. In late April put overwintered tubers into compost, store in a greenhouse/windowsill/polytunnel, water once a day. Don't harden off, and when they get to 30cms - 50cms high - second week in June, get them in the ground. Plant randomly rather than colour coordinated - if you plant randomly the display is better. To encourage bees - grow the collarette-type of dahlia. Remove any soil from the tubers and let them dry out for a few days in a cool, dark, frost-free place. Make sure to check for any rotten or damaged areas and cut them off. Dividing dahlia tubers Dahlia tubers grow bigger each year, and this presents a gardener with the opportunity to divide them and have more plants. To divide dahlia tubers, using a clean, sharp knife or saw, cut them apart. Note - this should be done in late autumn or early spring only. Advertisement 2 Lidl is offering a great price on the flowering plant Credit: Alamy Lidl shoppers can pick up gorgeous flowering plants that will brighten your outdoor space from late spring all the way through to autumn, meaning you'll get plenty of bang for your buck. The bargain superstore is also stocking large perennials for just £4.99, and Hibiscus plants for only £6.99, which will add colour and height to any patio or garden display. Lidl customers can for just £3. Advertisement And for those looking to spruce up their indoor space, Lidl also has a fresh selection of houseplants and stylish ceramic pots in-store now.
