A mum who scooped £2.3million on the Lottery still makes her three children do chores for pocket money to teach them hard work pays.
Charmaine Watson, 40, was living on benefits as a single mum to baby son Ryan, now 16, when she landed the jackpot.
She later married childhood pal Robbie, 49, and they had kids Georgia, 13, and Daniel, 11.
Charmaine said: “I just want them to grow up as normal kids.
“We make them all do chores in the house and they get pocket money for that, they can choose to spend it or save up.
“Even at a young age you need to show them that you have to work for money.
“Some weeks it’s £5, other weeks £10, it just depends how much they do.
“We try to keep the money the same as their friends because I don’t want them getting more or less.”
Carpenter Robbie works full time because he wants to be a “good example” to their youngsters, while Charmaine devotes her time to charity.
Her win in 2005 was thanks to a ticket bought by her grandad Albert Evans, so when the couple splashed out on a £450,000 home she made sure it was just a 30-second walk from her grandparents’ home in Eynsham, Oxfordshire.
Charmaine said: “After I won I wanted to give my grandparents, who meant the world to me, something to thank them for changing my life.
“They wouldn’t take a penny so instead I was able to pay for the renovation of their home, a new kitchen, bathroom and various other mod cons.
“Me and my mum lived with Gramps for six years so he was a father figure to me. Sadly he has now passed away.”
Charmaine also splashed out on a £42,000 Mercedes. But she has been so busy being a mum she still has not passed her driving test.
She said: “Even though I’m a millionaire I still don’t drive. I did start taking lessons but then I fell pregnant. Passing my test is on the long to-do list but towards the bottom.”
