We came so close to losing £300k People’s Postcode Lottery jackpot… but thankfully I took my wife-to-be’s advice
A MAN has thanked his wife-to-be for convincing him to buy tickets for the Postcode Lottery.
Rachel and Callum both landed £320,000 in the picturesque harbour town of Woodbridge, near Ipswich, Suffolk.
But the size of their wins left the pair stunned - and they came so close to losing the jackpot.
Rachel explained: "Everyone thought we'd win about £30,000. I didn't want to get too excited. It's incredible, isn't it?
"You don't ever think you'll win big. This is a life-changing amount of money. We've only ever won tenners.
"We've been playing for six or seven years. We wanted to do something for charity, so thought we would just try it."
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Callum laughed: "You told me to do it, so I just did it. Well done for talking me into it. This is amazing.
"I was not expecting that. I've got to go back to work later, once I've picked myself up off the floor."
Rachel said she'd splurge out on the "budget free" frock before tying the knot next year with partner Callum.
The mum-of-one revealed the double win has capped an incredible August - after the proposal, her birthday and getting the wedding booked.
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Rachel, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, said, "I got proposed to on the 3rd of August, had a birthday on the 23rd and booked our wedding as well for next June - and then winning this.
"They say good things come in threes, but that's four good things this month. This has been a cool August.
"What am I going to spend the money on? I'm not going to put a limit on my wedding dress.
"I was going to work to a budget, but it can be budget free and I'll have the dress of my dreams."
Rachel said the couple, who have been together for eight years, have booked an intimate wedding in Paphos, Cyprus, after Callum got their four-year-old son Harvey to propose.
The estate agent said, "We had been at a family barbecue, and I walked mum home with the dog. When I came back, I was sitting in the back garden and Callum brought me a glass of wine.
"Then Harvey came out and said, 'Mummy, will you marry my daddy?' He got down on one knee and handed me a box with the ring."
Rachel added, "There will be 30 to 35 people at the wedding. We'll still be keeping it quite low-key.
"We'll maybe have a big party when we get home instead."
The couple told how they've been looking for a bigger house - and the win could accelerate their plans.
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Rachel said, "We'd like to get a house with a bigger garden and an extra bedroom. We have a little boy, a dog and a cat.
"We love being in Woodbridge, we just need a bit more space."
How to play the People's Postcode Lottery
FOR just £12 a month, players can sign up through the official website to have a chance of winning millions of pounds.
Once signed up, players are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of each month.
Tickets play for the Daily Prize, worth £1000 and revealed every single day.
Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 for Saturday and Sunday's Street Prize draws.
People's Postcode Lottery also offers a £3million Postcode Millions draw each month - where your ticket plays for a share of the cash prize fund.
Winners are notified by email, text, post, or phone call, depending on the prize they win.
Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.