EAST ANGLIA’S ‘NEW NORMAL’ BUCKET LIST REVEALS A YEARNING FOR THE GOOD LIFE

Establishing a vegetable plot, redesigning the garden and learning how to cook are just some of the must haves on East Anglia’s new normal bucket list.

According to research carried out in East Anglia by The National Lottery ahead of the £15M ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto jackpot draw this Saturday (27 June), more than half of us (56%) 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, East Anglia’s wish list is now much closer to home and motivated by keeping our nearest and dearest safe (48%), reducing stress and worry (43%) and living a healthier lifestyle (30%).

Topping the region’s new bucket list is establishing a Kitchen garden to grow vegetables (21%), closely followed by a garden redesign project (17%). 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 East Anglian’s entrepreneurial spirit, starting a business (10%) makes the top ten, with enterprises in animal care top of the list, followed by online retail emporiums. From online entrepreneurs to new careers as dog sitters and horse whisperers, the region’s ‘bucket listers’ want to improve their work-life balance and life for our four-legged friends too.

Once East Anglian’s gardening dreams are fulfilled, 13% aspire to a drive-in cinema experience with one in ten potentially watching from their wish list campervan. For those who want to make their adventures more permanent, 11% dream of a move to the coast while 9% yearn to settle in the countryside.

With a £15M ‘Must Be Won’ Lotto jackpot up for grabs on Saturday, participants from across the East of England 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 (30%) 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 – 24% would commit to improving society, whether donating to charity or the NHS (8%), creating a wildlife sanctuary (7%) or simply giving up work to volunteer (9%).

Reflective of the current global situation, safety is high on the list for a handful of those with a big bank balance – 2% would invest in a luxury, self-sufficient underground bunker in East Anglia 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!”

This Saturday’s Lotto draw (27 June) is a special ‘Must Be Won’ event draw with a £15M jackpot up for grabs. The life-changing jackpot cannot roll beyond this draw so if no one matches all six main numbers then the prize will roll down potentially creating lots of millionaires (when players match five main numbers and the bonus ball) as well as boosting the prizes at all levels. Players can check their tickets online at www.national-lottery.co.uk or via the National Lottery App.