Establishing a vegetable plot, redesigning the garden and learning how to cook are just some of the must haves on the South East’s new normal bucket list.
According to research carried out across the South East by The National Lottery ahead of the £15M ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto jackpot draw this Saturday (27 June), more than half of us (60%) have changed our wish list since the Covid-19 outbreak and now dream of the good life, and a millionaire lifestyle much closer to home.
Forgetting travel to exotic locations, adrenalin inducing skydives or marathon running challenges, the South East’s wish list is now motivated by keeping our nearest and dearest safe (48%), reducing stress and worry (45%) and living a healthier lifestyle (38%).
Topping the region’s new bucket list is establishing a Kitchen garden to grow vegetables (16%), closely followed by a garden redesign project (15%). Improving our outside space is clearly high on the wish list with the installation of a hot tub (10%) also taking a top ten spot.
Demonstrating South Easterner’s entrepreneurial spirit, starting a business (13%) makes the top five, with online retail emporiums top of the list followed by enterprises in wellbeing or artisan products. From online entrepreneurs to new careers as yoga instructors and handicraft experts, the region’s ‘bucket listers’ want to improve their work-life balance and take a more holistic approach to life too.
While nurturing the garden tops the wish list, those in the South East are still an adventurous lot in search of new experiences; one in ten would move to the countryside and 14% aspire to a drive-in cinema experience. For those whose adventures are more cerebral, 10% want to write a book while 9% yearn to speak a different language.
With a £15M ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto jackpot up for grabs on Saturday, participants from across the South East were also asked how they might spend a big National Lottery win.
The good life trend continues with the international jet setter lifestyle and all its trappings firmly replaced by a seaside holiday home (25%) and a desire to be with those dearest to us (17% dream of having a country estate where their whole family could live).
‘Giving back’ is also key for those with deep Lotto pockets, 27% would commit to improving society, whether donating to charity or the NHS (14%), creating a wildlife sanctuary (7%) or simply giving up work to volunteer (6%).
Reflective of the current global situation, safety is high on the list for a handful of those with a big bank balance, 4% would invest in a luxury, self-sufficient underground bunker to keep their family safe.
Commenting on the findings, Camelot’s Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at The National Lottery said, “The region’s ‘new normal’ bucket list has certainly changed tack following lockdown however while our movements may have been curtailed, our dreams have not and they are now firmly focused around the simple joys of life.
“Over the years we have seen our winners relish the freedom a big win gives them, allowing them to follow their dreams. What we are seeing now is that those dreams are closer to home and based around the people and experiences we value the most. The greatest happiness often comes from having more free time to spend time with family and friends, trying a new hobby or investing in a campervan and hitting the open road.
“This research shows that if one person wins £15M on Saturday night, they are most likely to splash out on a country estate with its very own walled kitchen garden rather than a fleet of sports cars!”