Woman who ignored husband’s advice becomes multi-millionaire

"This is precisely why I never listen to my husband."

Nicola Dickinson, 59, became an instant multi-millionaire after winning the spectacular home in the Lake District - that comes with its own private lake.

She bought her winning entry for just £25 as part of her Omaze subscription and had been entering draws for four years.

After the win she revealed her husband of 38 years Martyn, 58, repeatedly telling her she would “never win in a million years” – advice she’s now very glad she “ignored”.

The house comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, as well as over £150,000 worth of furnishings.

Nicola has also been given £250,000 in cash to help her settle in, and can choose to either live in the house, rent it out for supplementary income, or sell up whenever she wishes to become a cash multi-millionaire.

The day Omaze contacted Nicola, she was at home in Swindon, Wiltshire, with her granddaughter, doing ‘boring housework’ and talking to her husband about potentially downsizing. She didn’t believe the multi-million-pound call could be real.

An ecstatic Nicola said: “The day we found out I’d won, I was at home, looking after my granddaughter and doing a spot of boring housework – nothing exciting at all. It was just a very ordinary day, or so I thought!

“When I got the call from Omaze, I honestly didn’t think it was real. I put the phone down and said to my husband, ‘That was Omaze, apparently I’ve won something, but it can’t be real.’

“I thought well I’ll go and see what all the fuss is about anyway, I put my boots and coat on, then thought, ‘No, this is silly’ - took them straight back off again and went to put the kettle on.

“Then they called back and said they were outside, so on went the boots again! I was thinking best case scenario I may have won £1,000 – which would’ve been lovely! Winning a house never crossed my mind.

“But the next thing I know, Omaze is telling me I’ve won a £4.5 million house – and I just couldn’t get my head around it. We celebrated with lots of bubbles over the weekend. Dry Jan never stood a chance.

“I’ve been entering for four years. Martyn has been moaning at me to stop – but I liked that even if I didn’t win, I was supporting amazing charities. But winning has shown this is precisely why I never listen to him, and thank goodness I didn’t – we’re multi-millionaires now.

“We’d actually been talking that very morning about downsizing soon to try and keep on top of our outgoings – but now we’ve upsized – massively. It’s a funny old world."

If she decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate have estimated her property could achieve a long-term rental value of around £4,000 per month.

She added: “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!

“My husband was actually worrying that morning that we’d spent too much on the card at Christmas – if I’d have known I was going to win an Omaze house, I’d have spent twice as much!

“It’s January – the longest month of the year – and we’re usually the sort of people who get to the end of the month and say, ‘Phew, we made it.’ This changes that completely, it’s obviously the best January ever.”

On the impact the win will have on her family, she said: “We’ve worked hard our whole lives, not just for ourselves but for our family, and this win really does change everything for all of us.

“We’re looking forward to further supporting our children and grandchildren, to help give them the best possible start in life – the win feels like a generational legacy for our family.

“We don’t know exactly what we’re going to do long-term yet, but what we do know is that definitely we’re going to come up and enjoy it together, spend time here with family and friends whilst making memories we never imagined we’d be able to.

“Thanks to the £250,000 in cash, if we decide to keep the house, we could afford to run it for many years – it’s incredible to have that option.

“If we decide not to live at the house full-time, we’ve got fantastic choices – we can rent it out for extra income or sell it after a while and bank the cash – having that flexibility is just wonderful.

“This win has taken so much pressure off us financially. It gives us security, stability and peace of mind in a way we’d never even dreamed of.

“My husband has spent most of his career travelling around Europe for work, and now his retirement is going to look very different – for the first time, we can actually think about slowing down and enjoying life together. I turn 60 in May, so I think my birthday plans have gone up a notch now!”

The couple have three adult children and three grandchildren and have lived in the same house in Swindon for the past 30 years.

Nicola worked in HR for 28 years before retiring in 2019. She now helps care for her granddaughter as well as her relatives. Martyn is Sales Director for a self-storage construction company and has spent the past 20 years having to travel to Europe at least three days a week for work.

A woodland driveway leads to Nicola’s tranquil property, which opens into a striking double-height entrance hall with a floating staircase and slate-clad feature walls. The open-plan main living space is filled with natural light and features floor-to-ceiling windows, a reading nook, banquet-style dining area and panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside.

The designer kitchen includes handcrafted Swedish cabinetry, a bespoke breakfast nook, walk-in pantry and Miele appliances throughout, as well as a Quooker tap – a feature Nicola says Martyn has always wanted. French doors open onto a covered patio area, ideal for when the couple are entertaining and dining al fresco.

Upstairs, the luxurious main bedroom features a freestanding bath overlooking the lake and forest beyond, alongside an en suite bathroom and dressing area. Four further double en suite bedrooms provide space for family and friends.

One of the property’s standout features is its very own private lake, complete with a wooden jetty and a lakeside wellness area including a sauna, hot tub and outdoor shower. The house also includes a gym, utility and boot room, electric car charger, solar panels and garages. The house is located just outside the village of Crook, with Windermere and Kendal within easy reach.

As well as making Nicola a multi-millionaire, Omaze partnered with the RSPCA, the UK’s leading animal welfare charity.

The £1M donation from the Omaze Community will help support the RSPCA’s rehabilitation work, providing neglected and abused animals with the specialist care they need to heal and find a better future.

Jo Rowland, RSPCA Chief Executive, said: “This is a brilliant way to start the year with an incredible £1 million donation from the Omaze Community. It will help the RSPCA to continue its vital work in rehabilitating hundreds of animals rescued from unimaginable cruelty and neglect.

James Oakes, President of Omaze, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Nicola has won this incredible Lake District home, while also helping to raise crucial funds for the RSPCA.

“This is a truly special property in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, and the win gives Nicola and her family some fantastic options for the future. Whatever they decide to do, it will be completely life-changing for her and her family.

“Omaze offers people the chance to win extraordinary prizes – while also raising vital funds and awareness for charities doing extraordinary work. Thanks to the generosity of the Omaze Community, we’ve now raised over £100 million for good causes across the UK.”