To share or not to share Secret Santa Scratchcard Winnings

[WoolieLiberal]

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!!

RTFT @BonnieDundee

Excellent idea OP!

I often give scratch cards as gifts, and if someone wins something I don't ask for any of it... bit odd to be honest. Keep it for yourself.

I would buy a scratch card got the person who bought you yours. Then keep the rest. Tell colleagues you are using it to pay off your credit card.

Your first mistake was telling ANYONE....

I agree you should be keeping it.. it's your Secret Santa... tell the office twat to piss off..

To be honest I am very surprised that you got asked by so many considering the sum isn't massive. I think that they were likely asking just in case but not fully expecting that you would oblige, basically being chancers as others have said. I think that it would have been nice to give something small to the gifter but since they asked for half which I think is too much, I don't think you should feel you should give anything at all. Your idea about doing something for your relative after Christmas is lovely, I hope you have a nice time planning it. Please remember that your colleagues will not be let down by you not sharing out your winnings, it will soon be another forgotten event.

They're bullying you out of your money. Don't let them.

OP you do not owe these rude chancers a thing! Enjoy the money and spending time with your relative. Please think long and hard before splitting the money with your colleagues, they’re being incredibly rude and bullies. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever ask a colleague in this scenario to share the winnings with me or give me £100 or anything. I’m shocked you’re considering giving into this!

So glad you are keeping it OP!

That is a lovely idea OP

Great decision op. Have a lovely Christmas and happy new year.

Lovely idea op!
Merry christmas 🎄🎄🎄

No it’s gift for you to choose want you want to do with it.

We still don't know if it's a real scratchcard...

In any case, you've said it yourself in your latest post, OP:
My workmates are friendly enough but not close so wouldn’t normally expect nonwork messages from them outside of work time.
So not friendly enough for non work related messages, but okay to split 1K between them? Nah!

Lovely lovely idea OP. Much better Hahn trying to appease work colleagues. I’m glad you’re sharing it with someone you care about! X

Obviously you should have kept it quiet, how shameless to ask you for money.

Cheerily bat them off op.
They won't be happy with what you give them anyway and if you have dc, put some into (drip feed it in eg 100 a month) junior stocks and shares isa) for their futures, open a sipp for yourself and put some in (never lump sum, you can put cash in then buy stocks) if you put x amount in the government gives you free money eg for every 80 you put in, they give you 20.
Look for low costs index funds esp vanguard.

Bloody hell, wow! not RTFT but I can't believe the cheek of your colleagues.

Why on earth would they be entitled to any of it? Frankly a scratchcard is a thoughtless gift (even if it has come good on this occasion). Please don't give any to anyone at work.

If the buyer had not asked, I might have given her a token amount but I have no idea upon what logic she feels entitled to half.

Nice idea to do something for a relative. Stick with that and just consistently say 'no' to any further requests.

Tell them your boiler stopped working so you bought yourself hot water and heating!

Reply to all these CFs on one email - " given so many of you have asked to share my winnings (which would leave me with nothing) I have decided to make a donation to x charity instead. "

I'd have shared it out amongst the secret santa participants automatically., it's Christmas.

Why on earth would people give money to the person who bought the scratch card??

Have I gone mad?

This is nuts. I can't believe your colleagues are begging you for cash! How pathetic and greedy.

" given so many of you have asked to share my winnings (which would leave me with nothing) I have decided to make a donation to x charity instead. "

Agree - great answer. Just replace charity with "a relative".

It’s a lazy as feck secret Santa, I would probs give the buyer a gesture of a £100 in a card and that’s it

Honestly OP I would check that it’s genuine before you send any more messages.

I looked at the fake ones on ebay and they don't have the national lottery symbol on, which the real ones do, so it would be easy to tell.

I don't care if it's a lazy secret Santa, I'd rather have a scratchcard instead of most of the other suggestions that people always have (chocolate, toiletries, house tat etc) even if I didn't win £2k with it.