When Nicola Dickinson decided to enter a contest to win a mansion, her husband Martyn's advice was, “Don’t bother.” The spectacular home in England’s Lake District comes mortgage-free and fully furnished, with its own private lake. The contest was held as a means of raising money for charity, with entries costing £25 ($33). Fortunately, Nicola decided to ignore her husband’s advice and buy a ticket anyway. As it turns out, that’s the best decision she could have made. She won the mansion, worth nearly $5 million, saying, “This is precisely why I never listen to my husband.” After the win, Nicola said her husband of 38 years had repeatedly told her she would “never win in a million years.” The day she won, the couple had been talking about potentially downsizing to keep on top of their spending. Nicola was also given £250,000 ($336,737) in cash to help her settle in. She can choose to either live in the house, rent it out for additional income, or sell it. “Martyn was joking that he’s a little disappointed he didn’t win the Porsche 911, but I’ve reminded him that if he plays his cards right, I can afford to buy him one now, so he shouldn’t be too upset!” The couple says they’re not sure what they’re going to do long-term, but they’re definitely going to enjoy the security and peace of mind the win has brought them.
