When I was at my credit union in 2010 or 2011, the representative told me about this savings CD that was having this contest. I said, 'OK, I could save some retirement money in there,' because the interest rate was more than a regular savings account anyway.

Then I went on about my life, and money went directly out of my paycheck into this fund. I retired in January 2012 and only occasionally deposited money into the account because I didn't have a paycheck.

Then, in January 2013, my mom passed away unexpectedly. And in February or March I got a call from my credit union saying I had won. I said, 'won what?' I didn't even remember that there was a contest going on. And when they reminded me about the CD and told me how much I had won, I looked straight up and said, 'Thank you, mom.' I was gobsmacked.

I put the $10,000 right back into savings. My mother had a thing she called her slush fund -- a little money she kept on the side in case of emergency. So this is now my slush fund.