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!!

I think it depends if the person would be happy for you to go back to them for another gift if the scratch card was worthless! It’s the gamble they took.

I would buy everyone who was in the secret Santa a gift each - a scratch card each 😉

I'd buy the gifter the same brand of scratch card as a thank you - "Maybe you'll be as lucky!", and the rest get a firm no. "Sorry, i don't lend money to friends or family. It never ends well!" should do it! If they persist, i'd say you donate £ to local support groups for this sort of thing, and offer to give them the details of how to contact... (and btw, i think a genuine donation from your winnings to charity is a great way to "pay it forward", regardless!)

None of them deserve anything. Look after numero uno. Lie and say you are paying down debt if you have to.

It's a keeper. Don't breathe a word. It's yours all yours. Have fun. 💰💰💰💰🥂😄

Get in a time machine and go back and dont tell anyone anything

Noooo! Your money fair and square. Enjoy spending it 😀

Give the person who bought it the cost of the ticket back.

Seriously though who does that? You don't buy someone slippers and ask to share them?!

Tell them April fool only kidding !! Lol and say no more. If it’s a fake ticket you come out looking un had.

You must be bonkers! Keep the money. Don't give it to any coworkers especially not the cf who gave you the card. Have a Merry Christmas, ignore the messages.

Tell them you were joking, when you said you had won.

@PorridgeOaf

It's Christmas, it's been a shit year for everyone, and it's not like you earned it. Personally, I'd split it evenly between the team. It will be remembered.

Unless everyone is splitting and sharing their gifts, then no, I wouldn't be sharing winnings.

This is the risk people take if they give a scratchcard as a gift. If you're not happy with the idea that the recipient actually wins, then don't give them as gifts.

I would totally tell people you feel an utter tit because it turns out you never won anything at all....

we do scratch cards for Christmas, under £100 you keep all the winnings over that you share with us (we buy them) of course this is all close family, if someone gives you a present it's all yours, Keep it

The scratchcard was your gift - and the winnings are yours so you should use them for you and your family - colleagues are CF's for asking - if anything they should've kept their [greedy] opinions to themselves and perhaps you may have treated them to a small lunch or something. You can't give one without the rest wanting something so tell them it wasn't much and just about covers your own debts and small treats for nearest and dearest/day trip/weekend away/paying off credit card/mortgage arrears etc. I might even be tempted to spin a big fat sob story along the lines of 'I was wondering how we would afford Xmas AND the mortgage this month so this has come at just the right time to prevent us falling in a hole of debt'...it was meant to be a SECRET SANTA gift so I notice the person who bought it has no problem identifying themself in a flurry of wanton greed!

I wouldn't have told anyone I'd won in the first place, but, as you say, the cat is already out of that bag. If it were me, I'd tell them to mind their own business and MY winnings are nothing to do with them, only I wouldn't be that polite! Enjoy your prize and don't let a few vultures tarnish it for you. Maybe it's best you just tell people your financial affairs are your private business and you have no desire to discuss them outside of your marriage/family. You could say family have already spent it with last minute online shopping.

It always gets my back up when people have these strange expectations of sharing in winnings/windfalls/inheritances someone else gets, and I never know what on earth makes them feel so entitled to try and claim a share of anything that is not theirs! F* Off might be your best response if they still fail to get the subtle 'no' to requests for money from you

I really really wouldnot reward your colleagues grabby behaviour by giving them any money at all. I'd buy a nice treat for everyone, maybe cakes/pizza or something non consumable to share (not sure what...) and tell them the rest is going to charity and then do as you see fit. Can't believe people can be so entitled.

If they keep asking I'm afraid I would tell the secret Santa you have decided to be generous and gift them 100% of what they gave you. Make a big show of presenting a large padded envelope. Inside is a £1 scratch card with a note saying "enjoy your gift you mercenary cow".

Agree with giving everyone a scratch card - if someone wins a fiver ask them for half and see how that goes down.

I sent my nieces a £2 scratch card in with their Christmas cards. One of them has won a tenner, shall I ask her to share it with me?!

Tell your colleagues to get lost, you are treating yourself and your family. I wouldn’t buy them a thing now they’ve been so grabby and cheeky. Do you really think they’d share with you if the boot were on the other foot? Of course not.

You won it you keep it!
If she didn’t want you to keep what you won she shouldn’t have bought you it!
I am actually staggered that this person has asked! Unbelievable.
Just don’t respond to anymore questions and do whatever you like with what is legally and morally your winnings!

for people who never message you out of work id tell em no

Don’t fucking give it to your grabby team!
It’s yours, they wouldn’t have shared their presents if you were left empty handed with a dud scratch card.

If you really want give the gifter £50 and keep the rest.

Don’t lie, just tell them you’re paying off debts and you can’t lend them money. You know like fuck will you ever see that again

How many in the group? If less than 200 A bottle of proseco each or similar. The end

No. It's yours. They must have known you might win something. Unless, of course, they assumed you would get nothing and that would be a rubbish present. They are cheeky and rude to ask as are the people asking for help for Christmas. Just say no. If you feel uncomfortable, say you have a few bills you need to pay or things that need done in the house.

Hi,

How rude of your colleagues. They don't have any manners. Definitely don't share, but buy yourself a new car and never mention the card again.

Merry Christmas to a lovely person.