Home upgrades set after $10,000 win

Dawson Donaldson has had an 'ideal start' to the year. Photo / Doug Sherring

Dawson Donaldson plans to pimp up his property after winning $10,000 thanks to ASB Bank and the Herald on Sunday.

The 55-year-old, from West Harbour, Auckland, will use the windfall to renovate his bathroom and replace flooring and tiles elsewhere at his house, which he shares with two flatmates.

"The win couldn't be more timely as I couldn't put off getting the bathroom fixed for much longer," he said. "The first thing I did when I found out I had won was call a few tradesmen for quotes.

"I need a new shower and vanity unit, and a bathroom wall also needs replacing as there is a leak."

Donaldson, a bachelor who runs a small importing business, had been saving for home improvements for a few years.

Before his win he was still well short of his target.

He could have used the cash to splurge on a holiday, he said, but was determined to put it to more practical use.

"I was looking at taking some money from my mortgage account to get the work done which I didn't want to do if I could have helped it. Now I won't have to do that.

"It's not just me who will benefit. My flatmates are happy some work is finally being done around the house.

"It will make life a bit more comfortable for us all."

Donaldson said it was more than 30 years since he had last won anything in a competition.

"When I got the call to say I'd won 10 grand I thought it was a wind-up by one of my mates," he said. "It has been a great surprise and an ideal start to 2015."

The $10,000 prize was part of a two-week promotion in the Herald on Sunday that included tips to help readers get their finances sorted in 2015.