Would AIBU to use these scratchcards or should I save them...

[ToScratchOrNotToScratch]

I am very organised but also very poor and I have a dilemma...

We have had a completely shit six months employment/finances wise (like lots of us I know) topped off by last week - a succession of horrifically timed events like self isolation, a broken washing machine and a bank fuck up. Etc. It goes on and on.

Because I am poor yet organised I have been (thank god) getting a little amount of stuff organised each week for Christmas. We've already gone through the money I've put away. I am eyeing up my stocking drawer (which is just teeny things really, like a shower gel each for the DC, extra long charger cables, that sort of stuff). BUT I have two scratchcards in there, one for DH's and one for DS's (over 18) stockings.

WIBU to do the scratchcards in case they are winning ones? Even £10 would help at the moment, to be honest!

PS I have already gone through the time honoured MN recommendations of checking loyalty cards, eBaying everything not nailed down, I am looking for work, DH has a job 4.45 - 7am and another 8am - 4.30pm. I can't take in ironing. There is nothing down the back of the sofa. We have cut all our bills down as low as possible. We have literally done everything we can already, so I don't need suggestions just scratchcard advice

PPS this is NOT a fucking begging thread - it's meant to be a bit lighthearted in that laugh or you'll cry way, so please don't anyone be a dick I don't have twins and there is money on my electric meter

If the multiplier was 0 you'd get nothing as 1*0=0 so that would be shit

That would be too shit. Fingers crossed for a big multiplier.

Don't know if it helps you OP, but I buy the odd scratchcard, but if I win under around a tenner, I use it to get more scratchcards. I only actually take the money if I get over that.

I once won 4 in a row, ended up back with nothing, but only ever spent my initial £1 and at best at thrown away about £7 in winnings.

Sadly, only £1 my love

If the multiplier is x1 you win £1 one time. If its x2 you wi £1 two times

Right this is the last throw of the dice, so to speak....

👀🤞🍀

I thought the multipliers just said x1 x2 etc?

Whether you have £1 or £2, even in your dire straights, I'd probably just get more scratchcards as per my previous post - but that's entirely up to you and you may wish to spend the money on something more useful.

This is actually the most gambling fun I have had since we played strip poker with a bottle of tequila in 1997.

Come on multiplier!!

@SummerHouse

Oh come on trick can't you see our positive energy is already getting results!?

I was right though. Her first card didn't win and the second one got £1.

My judgement was based on my own experiences with playing scratchcards, usually 3 or 4 times a year. Haven't played any this year though.

Humph. My multiplier is £1

Still it's a pound more than I had this morning! I know I need to take one for the team and buy another card with it and keep this thread going

Still the multiplier to go trick ...

Ooppps photo!

Wait so did you win £1 or £2? Because if it was £2 you broke even AND your scratching led to the mirror change which led to the overtime so...

*you can use the saved petrol money toward your glasses!

oh please get to the shops asap for another one op.
This is hilarious. My partner is in work getting WhatsApp updates from mehe has promised to buy a scratch card on his way home today. We're all behind you op

@SummerHouse

Still the multiplier to go trick ...

Called it!

£1 X £1 = £1

Trick was right. Such fun though!

Can you call £100,000 for the next card trick

I've received a number of scratch cards as gifts in the past, and I hate receiving them. I would also never give them, because the fact is, it would be so bloody awkward if you won money (other than a few quid) on a scratch card that you didn't buy.

My auntie bought me one single scratch card for my 18th, and my mum called her tight to her face (joking - they get on well) and she said wait until she's scratched it, I could have gifted her £1,000,000 ha ha.

I scratched it in front of them and ended up winning £6.

But seriously, what would happen if you won a large amount of money? If your son had won £100k with his? You've said you're short on money, so would you have expected him to give you some? Would he have felt obliged? I just think it's complicated, that's all!

And also, as much as this thread has been fun (congrats on your £1 haha), please don't go and buy another card now. You've said you're struggling for money, and scratch cards are more often than not a waste of money. Save the £1 you won and buy some bread and milk, or something that you need.

Gambling is never the answer to struggling for cash, and while it might seem like a dream to win big, you have to remember that the vast majority of scratch cards are worth nothing, or £1. Otherwise how would they make their money?

So step awaaaay from the scratch cards haha x

Oh stop it linda there's always one

We actually have a family rule, anything over £100 is shared equally between the DC and they accept the terms and conditions before they scratch. Maybe I should get it in writing They are "family" scratchcards but they all get to scratch one IYSWIM.

Moot point as we have never won over £1

Do I really have to buy milk or bread with it? We do have enough food and drink and to be honest, the pleasure it has given me (this thread not the £1 ) has made it worth it. We still need some pleasure in life or what's the point?

Do I really have to buy milk or bread with it?

Bloody hell no! At least buy chocolate!

This has seriously cheered up my gloomy day!

A woman who worked in the local post office was caught stealing money to buy scratch cards (she would ring up people’s purchases of cards, toys, etc as lottery scratch cards ) over 2 years she bought an estimated £15,000. Her total winnings? £894. I never buy them nowadays.

@ToScratchOrNotToScratch

Oh stop it linda there's always one

We actually have a family rule, anything over £100 is shared equally between the DC and they accept the terms and conditions before they scratch. Maybe I should get it in writing They are "family" scratchcards but they all get to scratch one IYSWIM.

Moot point as we have never won over £1

Do I really have to buy milk or bread with it? We do have enough food and drink and to be honest, the pleasure it has given me (this thread not the £1 ) has made it worth it. We still need some pleasure in life or what's the point?

Of course we need pleasure in life, but in your OP you said 'even £10 would help at the moment' which indicates to me that you're clearly having a really shit time with money, so buying these won't help that one bit. There are loads of ways to have fun and get pleasure in life without spending a single pound, and this way can just become addictive. I understand scratching the ones you already had, but not buying more.

I wasn't being funny about it or anything (or at least didn't mean to be) but saying 'there's always one' .. I can imagine the eye roll .. but honestly, if you're already in a shit situation with money you'll only feel worse if you go out and buy more losing scratch cards.

Bread and milk was just an example off the top of my head.

It's honestly just because the way you made things sound in your OP you were at the point of needing to scrabble down the side of the sofas for a few quid .. if that's not the case and you exaggerated the situation then fine, but if you are genuinely struggling as much as you made it sound, this isn't the way to have fun, or the way to make your finances better.

I hope you go and buy a delicious cream cake with your winnings.

Everyone knows scratch cards are a con. But they are fun!