An overjoyed Filipina resident is set to make her wedding dreams come true after winning Dh25,000 ($6,800) every month for the next 25 years in a UAE draw.
Freilyn Angob, 32, who lives in Ajman, said she and her fiance “jumped for joy” after she scooped the grand prize in the latest Fast5 Emirates Draw, held earlier this month.
The couple had put their marriage plans on hold as money was tight.
They can now prepare to tie the knot following the life-changing success.
“I will never forget that moment. I thought to myself again, maybe I won a small cash prize,” said Ms Angob.
“But when I received the congratulatory email mentioning that I won the grand prize, me and my fiance jumped for joy.
"We were planning to get married, but my financial condition did not help. This win will end all my worries and give me financial security for a long time."
Ms Angob moved to the UAE about 10 years ago to find work in order to support her loved ones back home.
Her family had made their living running a small store managed by her father.
But when her father was diagnosed with cancer when she was at school, she set her sights on moving overseas to help her family's fortunes.
She started out as a dental nurse before pursuing further education and embarking on a new career as a laser technician.
She tried her luck with Emirates Draw in the hope of winning big.
After winning Dh5 in the Easy6 raffle, she won the mega windfall a day later.
Paul Chader, head of marketing at Emirates Draw, said the draw offers players a chance to “transform their lives, turning countless dreams into reality”.
Ms Angob is the second winner of the Fast5 draw, which acts as a second salary for winners.
Mohd Adil Khan, a Sharjah resident who works with a construction company in Dubai, claimed the maiden jackpot in July.
The prize is different from other draws that pay one large amount to winners.
Mr Khan said receiving monthly instalments instead of a Dh7.5 million payout worked better for him.
“This is like a second salary,” he said.
“I can buy a nice apartment or villa of my own in the UAE.
“It also works like a pension so I can plan for my retirement and continue to live in the UAE.
“I appreciate this so much more because the money will come every month instead of a lump sum in one shot.”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
%3Cp%3EThe%20Punishment%20of%20Luxury%3Cbr%3EOMD%3Cbr%3E100%25%20Records%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
