A woman on Reddit shared her personal situation regarding a lottery win and her financially struggling brother, and the majority of users on the platform found her to be “not in the wrong,” supporting her sensible perspective on the issue.
The post garnered 3,600 reactions and nearly 1,500 comments within just a day.
Identifying herself as 28 years old, the woman, who goes by “Vedoric,” explained that she “recently won a substantial amount in the lottery. It wasn’t a jackpot, but it was enough to significantly improve my life — about $500,000 (before taxes).”
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She mentioned that she has always “been pretty cautious with money, planning to use it to pay off my student loans, make a down payment on a house, and potentially start a small business I’ve always aspired to.”
However, things became complicated when a family member learned of her winnings.
A woman indicated that she “recently won a significant amount of money in the lottery. It wasn’t a jackpot, but it was enough to make a big difference in my life — around $500,000 (pretax).”
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“My brother … found out about my winnings through our parents,” she wrote regarding her 32-year-old brother.
“He’s been facing financial difficulties for years due to mismanagement of money and some unfortunate circumstances, accumulating a lot of debt.”
“I’ve seen him squander money before.”
After calling her to congratulate her, he promptly asked if she could assist him by giving him $30,000 to clear his debts and regain stability.
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While she expressed that she “sympathized,” she stated, “I feel that giving him such a large amount won’t truly address his problems long-term.”
She shared that she has “witnessed his pattern of blowing through money before, and I fear this would just perpetuate the cycle.”
The 32-year-old brother (not pictured) of the lottery winner asked for $30,000 to help clear his debts. However, the sister is hesitant to provide such a large sum while receiving advice from others.
(Cyberguy.com)
She informed him, as detailed in her post, that she would be “open to helping him create a budget plan and even offer a smaller amount, like $5,000, for immediate assistance, but he reacted very negatively.”
He accused her of selfishness and not being supportive of family.
“I feel conflicted because I genuinely care about my brother.”
The woman noted that her parents “have differing opinions on this. My mom believes I should assist him because ‘family helps family,’ while my dad thinks my brother should learn to manage his finances independently.”
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She expressed her feelings on the platform, stating, “I feel torn because I care for my brother, but I also prioritize being responsible with my finances to ensure they last.”
Thus, she sought opinions from others, asking if she was wrong for “not providing my brother with a larger share of my lottery winnings despite his financial difficulties?”
“It is your money to do with as you please. After taxes, it will appear to be a considerable amount. But assess your own expenses, and you will find it won’t last as long as it might seem.”
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Fox News Digital consulted a psychologist for insight on the situation.
A Reddit user, whose comment received the most “upvotes,” stated, “It is your money to spend as you choose. After taxes, it may look like a lot, but evaluate your own expenses closely, and you will realize it won’t last as long as anticipated.”
“If you wish to assist, consider purchasing him a grocery store gift card for food or gas.”
The same commenter also noted, “Having this financial buffer allows you more freedom to pursue your own goals. Protect it and disregard the opinions of others.”
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Another person expressed bluntly, “Most lottery winners eventually go bankrupt because they feel obligated to give money to everyone who approaches them.”
This commenter also supported the original poster, asserting she wasn’t in the wrong for her choices.
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“He [the brother] will spend any money you give him and return asking for more. If you want to lend a hand, provide him with a grocery store gift card for essentials.”
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Another individual offered direct advice for this lottery winner and others in similar predicaments.
“Never disclose a sudden financial windfall to anyone.”
