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Original poster

To share or not to share Secret Santa Scratchcard Winnings

481 replies

WoolieLiberal · 23/12/2020 11:23

I was given a National Lottery Scratchcard as a Secret Santa gift. I thought this was a bit naff until I realised it was a winner.

I won a (low end) four figure sum. I got excited and told my colleagues.

Since then, the person who gave it to me sent me a message suggesting (in a lighthearted way) that I might want to give her half. I replied with a laugh emoji as I thought she was joking, but she has since messaged me to ask if I have decided whether I am going to do so or not!

I’ve also been asked by three other colleagues if I could “lend” them “small“ (three Figure) amounts “to help with Christmas”.

DH says I was daft to have told anyone, but it’s done now and is none of anyone else’s business. He says I should treat myself for a Change.

I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t won anything because if I respond to all requests I’ll have virtually nothing left, and if I don’t, then I’ll be thought badly of and stingy.

There’s a woman at work who works part time and is married to a very wealthy businessman (the job is more of a hobby/something to do) and they’re always jetting off on holidays to far flung destinations, having meals out, nice cars and jewellery etc. No one has ever (to my knowledge) asked her to share her wealth.

If I knew a colleague was genuinely struggling I would help but this feels like vultures are circling. DH, DD’s and I are not wealthy by any stretch but “managing”.

Thoughts welcome!!

OP posts:
littlemisslozza · 23/12/2020 14:33

@ancientgran

I think sharing equally with the team is a nice idea. It has been such a hard year and sharing out a bit of joy is a lovely thing to do.
Maybe sharing some would be the nice thing to do if they hadn't all been so cheeky and asked. Now it would teaching them that poor manners pay off.
LizB62A · 23/12/2020 14:35

Or buy them a scratch card each

This - genius idea !

It's your Secret Santa, it's not a lottery syndicate.
Share it with your family if you want to, but please don't let your workmate(s) guilt you into sharing it with them !!

£2k is a nice amount of money but to most people it's not lifechanging and by the time you've treated your family, there probably won't be a lot left.

InFiveMins · 23/12/2020 14:35

I would be cautious about it being a prank card OP. I've seen them before and your colleagues could be in on it. Get it checked 100% before stressing out about it.

If genuine I would keep the money. But I don't think it's a genuine scratch card.

butterpuffed · 23/12/2020 14:36

'Lots of requests to share' ?!!! Cheeky sods, some very entitled colleagues in your workplace. Are they being serious Shock

I'd have bought them a round of drinks but would have second thoughts after that.

safariboot · 23/12/2020 14:37

Yes, claim the winnings if you haven't already.

Don't give an inch to the grabby cunts. It's not that much money, a full time employee earns more in a month.

If you feel able, raise it to your manager that this is causing trouble in the team.

I agree with the suggestion to return the favour by buying your colleagues one or two of the same scratchcard! (Provided that itself won't cost a bomb, there are some expensive cards now). You can call it passing the luck on.

cakewench · 23/12/2020 14:37

Please don’t share the money, OP. They will not appreciate it if it’s anything less than exactly what they asked for. Trust me (and the other posters saying the exact same thing!)

If you can find a polite way of letting everyone know that the requests total to more than the actual sum, I would do that.

It’s all extremely difficult though and I greatly empathise, OP!

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 23/12/2020 14:37

"I went to claim it and I'd made a mistake - it wasn't a winner after all" And then put £200 in to the charity of your choice.

OR " I read it wrong it was £20.00 not £2000"

I would ^absolutely" lie as there are some grasping people around.

Divebar · 23/12/2020 14:38

I’m embarrassed on behalf of your crass colleagues... I hope the cards genuine and you have a nice time in the sales.

LuckyAmy1986 · 23/12/2020 14:38

I can't even believe people are asking you for any of it to be honest.

cakewench · 23/12/2020 14:38

Also, my response would be different if it were an enormous sum. 2k is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not as if you can hand out a few hundred to everyone easily and still have anything left over for yourself...

ittakes2 · 23/12/2020 14:39

Just tell them sorry you already used it to pay off an outstanding debt.

safariboot · 23/12/2020 14:39

Oh, and if it was a fake, if I was the manager I would be giving the giver a written warning for workplace bullying. It's not an acceptable 'prank'.

cakewench · 23/12/2020 14:39

@Bakeachocolatecaketoday

"I went to claim it and I'd made a mistake - it wasn't a winner after all" And then put £200 in to the charity of your choice.

OR " I read it wrong it was £20.00 not £2000"

I would ^absolutely" lie as there are some grasping people around.

Or this! If you haven’t showed the card to anyone, do this!
Dishwashersaurous · 23/12/2020 14:40

Go for I’m so embarrassed I read it wrong- it was £20.00 not £2000!!

Oh well at least I can buy some really nice biscuits

cakewench · 23/12/2020 14:40

@ittakes2

Just tell them sorry you already used it to pay off an outstanding debt.
This is also a brilliant response. Possibly the best one.
Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/12/2020 14:40

If I knew a colleague was genuinely struggling I would help

I suggest you don't make that known, because it'll immediately become a competition for who can invent the best "struggling" story

No point either in sharing half of it, because between them they clearly want the lot
As is usually said on here "no is a complete sentence", but if you can't manage that - and since you've not yet got the money - just tell them your boiler blew up over Christmas

ancientgran · 23/12/2020 14:41

Maybe sharing some would be the nice thing to do if they hadn't all been so cheeky and asked. Now it would teaching them that poor manners pay off. They didn't all ask though did they.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 23/12/2020 14:42

Ugh, this is why scratch cards are terrible gifts.

The gift was GIVEN to you - if it hadn't won, you'd have had a useless piece of cardboard.
Since it DID win, the winnings should be yours.

The giver is a cheeky fucker. If she'd given you a bottle of shampoo, would she have expected half of that back? Pretty sure not. The scratch card probably cost LESS than a bottle of decent shampoo, so her outlay was next to fuckall and she's trying to make money off you.

Remember, if it hadn't won, you'd have had a useless piece of cardboard as a gift.

DaisyDreaming · 23/12/2020 14:42

I would be far less likely to give her any as she had the cheek to ask!!!

If it is a prank one before you announce that you know it’s a prank you can claim you will share it!

Carolofthebellies · 23/12/2020 14:44

Tell them your colleagues that you weren't aware you were meant to share your winnings with anyone and unfortunately have already used most of the money on paying out a debt.
It was indeed silly to tell them about it.

Palavah · 23/12/2020 14:45

If it is real I'd buy everyone in the team a national lottery scratch card for themselves. Lucky dip.

EssentialHummus · 23/12/2020 14:47

I agree with a PP about buying them each a scratchcard, and then saying that you'd spent the rest on re-paying a debt or donated it to [incredibly worthy charity that no one could possibly argue with].

needabus · 23/12/2020 14:47

This reminds me of how my dm 15 years ago went through my bag one day and took an old lottery ticket just so she coukd then do the same numbers each week so that of I ever won she was ‘getting half’ by some kind of mental logic as she was such a narcissist

needabus · 23/12/2020 14:48

And she still does them !!! I changed my numbers when I found out 🤣

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