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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

For thinking this about lottery tickets as gifts?

43 replies

FrinkadelicA12 · 25/03/2015 10:48

Someone is leaving at work and we were discussing what to get them as a little token (we just did one small project with this person). A colleague suggested a few lottery tickets to pop in the goodbye card. I just blurted out without really thinking "oh I can't give lottery tickets as gifts I would be so mad if one of them was a big winner and I had given it away". My colleague was really shocked and thinks it is an incredibly mean attitude. I had never really thought about it much before beyond just never buying lottery tickets as gifts. She is really cross now as I have (unwittingly) converted two others to this mean view and now I have volunteered to buy a book token at lunch time instead. So am I really unreasonable to think like this? Is it really mean spirited?

OP posts:

LovelyBranches · 25/03/2015 12:02

I won £50 in a gifted scratch card on my 21st birthday. Now wondering if my cousin has secretly hated me ever since!

pod78 · 25/03/2015 12:08

Yes YAB a bit U but it would cross my mind too; because we are so short of cash I've lost some perspective I think! I'm not a mean person generally!

Also I'm not keen on giving/receving lottery tickets or scratchcards as if you don't win anything then you just given and received a useless bit of paper and taken someone from hope to disappointment! I'd rather give something a bit more long lasting as a keepsake/ token, and maybe a ticket as well for hope!

londonrach · 25/03/2015 12:13

My boss one year gave us all a lottery ticket and some jumping easter egg chick for easter. Didnt win but we all loved her gift!!!! Think its a lovely idea as long as you realise if the persin wins its their prize money! Mind you we all had fun with our jumping easter egg chicks too racing them against each other in our team meeting. See photo of mine 5 years later!

For thinking this about lottery tickets as gifts?

BoredAdminGirl · 25/03/2015 12:27

I often put scratchcards in friends' birthday cards! I see what you mean though, I would hope that person would give me a back hander if they won millions hehe

pod78 · 25/03/2015 12:28

Londonrach - this is what I would do or like to recieve too. I love that chick!

LadyGlen · 25/03/2015 12:30

I agree with you, OP. I like the solution of getting the same numbers for yourself.

Different scenario - my husband used to play the same numbers every week. However, if he ever forgot to buy the tickets he would still insist on checking the results.

He always reckoned that if his numbers had come up as a mega-win on one of those occasions he hadn't bought a ticket that he would have got over it. I maintained that he wouldn't.

Fortunately, he was never put to the test.

Binkybix · 25/03/2015 12:38

That's why if I were to play regularly I would get lucky dip!

FuckkityUp · 25/03/2015 12:43

What a great AIBU. I think I might have blurted out the same thing.

I think it's a fun gift though.

My DH did the work syndicate on one occasion only and it happened to be the week they all won a couple of thousand pound each. He didn't join in again as he had already won I have no idea what his logic was.

Discounted · 25/03/2015 12:48

I think there is massive potential for a big fall out if one wins.

My Dad often gives out lottery tickets at Christmas. I sometimes find myself hoping no-one (including me) wins.

"I often put scratchcards in friends' birthday cards! I see what you mean though, I would hope that person would give me a back hander if they won millions hehe"

That's exactly it Bored. You'd hope but what if they didn't, it would sour the relationship, but more so what if they did win millions, how much would be "enough"?

5Foot5 · 25/03/2015 13:19

I have never heard of anyone giving lottery tickets as a gift and find it a bit strange. Not for the reason the OP gives but because the overwhelming chance is that they will win nothing so you have watsed the money. You could have got them something useful like, well yes a book token or a bottle of wine or a big bar of chocolate or something

Andylion · 25/03/2015 14:10

YANBU. I would think exactly the same thing.

Original poster

FrinkadelicA12 · 25/03/2015 14:20

The whole office is overthinking this now! About 100 people have been (most un-scientifically) surveyed and it is running at about 60% against giving tickets as gifts for fear of massive resentment!

OP posts:

MagicMojito · 25/03/2015 14:27

Yanbu I can just imagine how horrid life would be if the ticket turned out to be a winner!

Every large gas bill that comes, every time your a bit skint, every time you think of that dream holiday you want but can't afford...

Yanbu!!

QOD · 25/03/2015 16:42

We've bought them as "table presents" before and the extended family "rule" is anything over £1000 is split 50/50
Sadly never got more than £5

needaholidaynow · 25/03/2015 17:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KurriKurri · 25/03/2015 17:59

On the other hand- if none of the lottery tickets win anything it is a totally duff leaving gift of no value whatsoever. I'd much rather have a book token and buy my own lottery tickets.

TiltedPenguin · 25/03/2015 19:50

My cousin gave everyone lottery tickets one Christmas, but filled in the address form on the back with 'cousin name and recipient name' and her address, so we would have to share with her I quite admired her honesty in admitting she'd be gutted if any of us won and she missed out!

FuckkityUp · 25/03/2015 22:10

This thread is reminding me of The Syndicate , a BBC drama that was shown a few years ago. I really enjoyed it but it would make me nervous of giving or sharing lottery tickets

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