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'm sorry, but everyone has asked the same thing, and if I said yes, I wouldn't be able to cover it"

Do not lend or give the money to any of your colleagues.

'Oops i made a mistake and when i went to cash it i hadn't won nearly so much! I got myself a box of chocolates for it instead. Oh well. Silly me! '

Phone national lottery to confirm.

They are cheeky fuckers but people get verrrry funny about these sorts of things and you have to work with them.

Then tell them your boiler broke and you need a new one and your DH was so excited he booked a summer hol for the whole (extended) family and the money is accounted for and spent.
I'd get the person who bought the ticket a bottle of champagne and some chocolates (not because they deserve it but in an attempt to keep things on an even keel at work)

If it's a prank, it's really cruel.

If it's not a prank, maybe you could buy her a scratchcard? That's all she bought you.....

I wouldn't have said anything, but you can't un-tell them, so I'd either say no, or give a reason why not as well (if you want, it isn't necessary).
I'm shocked they've all asked for money, they're the ones who should be embarrassed.

It was a naff secret santa gift, that turned out to be lucky. The sender does not deserve half!!!

Give them nothing. Although, I’d never tell them in the first place so it going to be awkward going back to work unless you leave your job haha

Plan of action

1 - Get it checked

2 - Tell them you're going to donate it to charity. That should stop the begging.

A low end four figure sum isn't a lot at all. Why would you share half?! E.g. you get £2,000 and share it, leaving you with just £1,000!!!
I would ignore all these messages. If you want to reply to the person who bought it then explain, "Hi, I didn't win that much! Everyones asking for share from work too! It's paying off my debt/or paid for a holiday." Then ignore further messages! Next time you win money, don't tell anyone!

I wouldn't share, but then again I wouldn't have said I'd won in the first place - I would never get scratch cards for people for this reason. They might feel conflicted about what to do with a win and, yes, if they won the big prize I might also feel bitter that I hadn't scratched it myself. It's not worth the stress.

Re: the fake scratch cards. They are so, so cruel. A friend's brother was in a really dark place, and received one of these for his birthday which said he'd 'won' £25,000. He was so ecstatically happy as he was heavily in debt, this would have written off every penny of it and left him with some to spare. He phoned the lottery, they informed him that it wasn't one of theirs and was a good fake.

He was inconsolable. He thought he'd been lifted out of all of his problems, but he hadn't.

He hung himself three months later. I'm not saying it's because of the scratch card because it clearly wasn't, he had a lot going on in his life, but it was a very very very very cruel prank to play.

First mistake was to tell anyone and it might be a bit awkward with the buyer so not sure what to do there; but with all the other people you can just say that you don’t have access to the money yet so can’t help them with Christmas. Surely it’ll take a while to claim the money then get it into your bank account?

I wouldn’t give to anyone, they are your winnings (if it was millions ok it would be different!) - enjoy

Give them nothing. The person that bought it put zero effort in, a scratch card is total laziness. Tell everybody that you watched the programme with Marcus Rashfird last night and we're so moved you donated the money to a food bank in the companies name. Everybody wanted the money so it seemed the fairest way to share it. Give a food back a donation and draw a line under it.

I don’t think you should give anyone anything, but at the same time do think you brought this on yourself. Why did you have to brag about it? Should have kept quiet

1. is it genuine?
2. you made a big mistake telling them; learn from this!!

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!

Had it not been for their brass-neck, I might have voluntarily gifted the donator a few hundred. As it is, she'd get diddledy-squat, along with the rest of the chancers. Enjoy your winnings in their totality.

And for God's sake, keep your mouth shut in future about money.

I'd tell them since you haven’t received the money yet you can’t share it with them. And if they ask again in the new year I’d say I treated/helped my family which is exactly what I would do after the year we’ve had.

Your colleagues aren’t thinking of you, only their own families and circumstances so I’d question why you should think of them. Do you consider any of these colleagues friends?

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.

Grabby CF colleagues you have there OP.

The scratchcard was a gift. If you'd have won nothing, they wouldn't be sharing their gifts with you would they?

I'd do something buy a team lunch or similar, depending on what's practical in your situation, but being asked to share the winnings like that is ridiculous.

Lesson learned for anyone else - knock a couple of noughts off the winnings that you admit to.

I'd tell them you were kidding about winning just to see how they'd react. Now you know they're all a load of grabby so-and-sos, you know who your friends are. Lesson learned OP.

I would just say you used it to clear a credit card debt that had been hanging over you for years. That way you’re not showing off and it gives the impression you really needed it. Then AFTER you tell then that tell them you are giving the last £100 to the person who bought it as a thank you.

@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.

Mug

I'd never have told them and they are cheeky fuckers