AIBU to keep quiet about a competition cash win?

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I’ve won £1000 in a competition but not yet told anyone as I don’t have the money as yet (it does seem like a genuine win!).

At first I thought of telling my immediate family (DH and 3 teens) and sharing it out equally but I’m now thinking of staying quiet, keeping it in my account and just using it for carefree treats for the family as I fear the kids would go on a reckless spending spree (but maybe that’s a good thing too?)

AIBU to keep quiet about the money?

Thinking about it, if I won £1k it would probably be put towards something we need to do in the house, like new carpet or redecorating a room.

How lovely, congratulations on your win! x

Tell your husband but put it away into an emergency / treat fund

This....I'd be absolutely livid!

I’d absolutely be telling them!

This is extra money, so I’d book a holiday for us all or give them a couple hundred each and let them go on a a very rare shopping spree.

If money is very tight, then if perhaps just tell DH and order a family takeaway/day out but use the rest for bills etc.

As you say £1k is a lot to you and therefore for this reason alone it is something you don't need to tell the kids you have won but something you should discuss with your husband how it may make your life easier (on the basis it is a lot to you). It may well be that there is debt to clear or it should be saved for unexpected expenses like boiler repair if you don't have such savings.

It's a win for you, so use it however you want for yourself - it's very easy to think of it as "family" money but you're allowed to be totally selfish with it.

I'd tell my DH because his attitude to the money would be "that's great, hope you enjoy it" whereas my ex would be thinking of all the ways he could use it for his own pleasure, or make me put it in the family fund because I wasn't allowed nice things for myself.

Why would you keep something like that secret from your DH unless there is some kind of financial abuse going on or other issues?

Keep it yourself! 1000£ isn't a lot of money at all so treat yourself.

Do something nice for yourself with it. You could get a last minute holiday with that, that’s what I’d do anyway.

Congratulations.

Tell your dp (unless abusive?). You wouldn’t like it if they kept it from you.

Keep it for yourself and tell your DH. Perhaps treat him to a nice meal and then take away with the kids. Why share it? It’s nice to have a little buffer in your account!

Congratulations OP! What a lovely start to the year. Unless there's a reason like abuse or financial irresponsibility, I would definitely tell my dh but not necessarily the kids.

Whether you do or don't tell anyone, take some time to think about how to use it - in this house that's a huge amount of money. We would probably end up going out for a meal or doing something like going to the cinema as a family (things we can't normally do), then either paying off any debt that carry interest. If none of those/all on 0% and coping well, I'd put aside at least half for the next time the washing machine packs up or the car goes wrong, but we have almost no savings after 2 years of awful car problems so you might have more behind you than that!

Basically take your time to decide and don't feel you have to share it equally with the kids, but in your shoes I'd definitely tell the family and make it clear that I'd have the ultimate decision!

Congratulations OP. I have had a smaller amount this year. DH thinks it was £25.

Unless you have the money in savings to replace thibgs like your washing machine if it breaks and possibly alao another appliance, i would do a takeaway fkr the family and keep quiet.

We had 3 appliances go all within 3 months last year. It was an expensive time!

But if you split it between the 5 of you it would be £200 each. If it is a lot of money to you think about how you could make best use of it and present it as a done deal - I won some money so I have booked a weekend away, got new coats/shoes for everyone, decided to replace the washing machine.
You can tell your family without having to hand over 4/5 of it.

Why can't you tell them would your kids expect some of it.

Glad it’s not just me! £1000 is a lot of money - and a fantastic prize

I’d tell DH but not DS - he’d want to waste about £300 in V Bucks and Robucks

It absolutely is a windfall for people who don't have much money and live month to month. It could pay for new kitchen appliances, getting the car fixed, home maintenance, new shoes/coats/whatever for the kids or even just something nice like a little break or fun day out that would usually be out of budget. Knowing that you can worry that little bit less is an amazing thing if you are on a shoestring budget. Enjoy your windfall OP.

Congratulations! How did you win it? Could do with an extra £1k this month!

Although I would believe I could keep it secret, I just know I wouldn’t 🤣 Would give £100 each to the kids and keep the rest, prob towards a joint hol or something for the house or nice meal together.

I couldn't really afford to spend it on anything other than household bills and food shopping, but it would be a nice buffer in my bank account and would make me feel less stressed. I'd tell my family because it is fun to win something. I'm slightly surprised that the people who think it is loads money can afford to spend it on non- essentials.

Congratulations! £1000 is a lovely sum to win!

If I won this, I'd absolutely discuss it with my DH and DC. I wouldn't give them any individually, but we'd discuss together what to do - maybe an amazing day out, or add into an existing holiday to do something more expensive than we could otherwise afford.

When you say the kids would go on a spending spree if you gave them some money is that not up to them if you are giving them money. If you want them to save it then buy premium bonds or put it in an account that they can't get at.

Would you be ok with your partner keeping it a secret from you?

Choose your favourite child and give them the full amount.