Flicker/Steven Depolo
- A couple who won $1.2 million in the lottery plan to keep their jobs as police officers.
- Graeme and Katherine White said they want to show their kids "good work ethic."
- They plan to buy a new house, a puppy, and a trip to Disneyland.
A British couple who won the lottery said they have no plans to quit their jobs because they want to teach the importance of having a strong work ethic to their children.
Graeme and Katherine White won £1 million, or around $1.2 million, in the National Lottery's EuroMillions on May 7, according to multiple reports.
The couple work as police officers in Cambridgeshire, England, and share a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.
In a statement shared with the BBC and The Independent, they said they would reduce their working hours but wouldn't quit because they want to set a good example for their kids.
"We're only young and both enjoy what we do, so see no need to stop. But we have cut down our hours, which means we'll have more of a work-life balance," Graeme said in the statement, cited by The Independent.
"I also think it's important for the children to see us working to instill a good work ethic," he added.
Coffee, Disneyland, and a new puppy
Graeme told The Independent that he and Katherine initially thought it was "a mistake" when they discovered they had won.
While waiting for a call to confirm the news, the couple made their first purchase: Coffee from Caffè Nero, a popular British coffee chain.
Graeme told The Independent that Caffè Nero was a "little upgrade" as they usually purchased coffee from Greggs, a British bakery chain known for its affordable menu.
After the news was confirmed, the couple started planning how they would spend their winnings. According to Graeme, one of the first things on their list was a new home.
"We always wanted to live somewhere rural with plenty of outdoor space for the children – and so we could keep some chickens and goats – but thought that would be something we'd have to wait for years down the line when we were able to downsize," Graeme told The Independent.
"However, now thanks to our amazing lucky break we don't have to wait, our dream home can become a reality, and we can start house hunting right away," he said.
"It's crazy to think, but our 20 year plan has now become our 12 month plan!"
The couple also plan to purchase a trip to Disneyland and a Labrador puppy for the children.
"We've already started to think of names, and obviously have some National Lottery-inspired options on the list, including 'Lottie' and 'Millie,'" Graeme said.
The White family aren't the first lottery winners to keep their day jobs.
Richard Nuttall, a British accountant who won $78 million in the EuroMillions earlier this year, said in a press conference that he planned to keep working until the end of the tax year because he didn't want to let his clients down.
Timothy Schultz won $28 million in the Powerball lottery in 1999. He recently told Business Insider that his winnings meant he could retire early at 21, though he continues to pursue passion projects such as documentaries and podcasts.
"After winning the lottery, I thought hard about what makes me happy. Sitting on a beach drinking margaritas is fun, but the novelty wears off," Schultz said.
"I needed a reason to wake up in the morning and a goal to achieve. That is why I went back to college to earn a degree, work on several productions, and pursue my desire to entertain and inspire people positively; I love it, and it drives me."
The National Lottery did not immediately respond to requests for comment.