Real-life MMD: Should I shop my brother over his scratchcard win?

milvusvestal

Normally, I would say that he should keep the money, as it's no different to borrowing from a bank to invest in shares and making a handsome profit; the difference is that a bank borrower pays interest in recognition of the loan.

Here, your brother has evidently lost all sense of common decency, forethought and financial acumen, assuming he had any in the first place, and is living in a fool's paradise if he thinks that spending the money needlessly is the sensible move. The very first step he should take is to clear his debt completely with interest, then spend the rest of his win using public transport to get himself around looking for a job instead of wasting money on gambling.

OK, so he was lucky enough to win this time. He needs to ask himself what the odds are against him winning that amount again.

LesD

Weird! Why is there even a debate on this?

minicooper272

I agree with the majority of people posting - I think your brother ought to pay your sister back.

If he is unemployed, and money is very tight, there isn't an easy way for him to spend £500 without her noticing (and getting annoyed). You need to tell him you intend to tell her, she might even say he can keep the winnings and pay her back when he gets a job.

I don't know why people are judging him for buying scratch cards when he is unemployed - we don't know the circumstances around the purchase.

Jims_Money_Saver

Just Take the £300 off him & give it back to your sister NO ARGUMENTS!!!!

sugarbaby125

Tell your sister today, if your brother will not do so in your hearing. The danger is that this money issue will turn into a long standing family feud, if it is not nipped in the bud as soon as possible.

You know your sister. We do not. From what you say, she will not be happy, if your brother spends his winnings, without repaying her generous loan. He has not attempted to repay any of the loan, yet when fate drops the perfect opportunity into his lap to repay the £300 in full, he selfishly does not want to even consider repaying the debt.

I give money to family or close friends in need, not loan them money, as otherwise they are just swapping one debt for another. I recently borrowed £585 to a friend, who has never attempted to repay a single £1 of the debt. He simply refused to take my calls or answer any of my texts. We are no longer friends. He obviously felt our friendship was only worth £585! At the time of loaning this friend the money, my Mother was in Hospital, having suffered a serious stroke and it was obvious that she would never recover. Even when this friend knew that my Mother had died, I did not hear from him. I eventually got an email with a new mobile number asking me to contact him, then when I phoned the mobile number, it was not his number!!!!! The £585 was my savings for my daughter's 21st Birthday. I was able to save that and more over 6 months, so that my daughter did not miss out, because of the disloyalty of this friend.

Trev2

Maybe he's won £500 but you can be sure that he has spent more than £500 winning it, so it isn't a win. If he'd won £millions then he can pay it back before he blows the rest. Just a loser so his sister shouldn't lend him money but it is difficult when it's family!

Mark_Beech

Yes you should definitely tell your sister. I have a brother who has done this sort of thing all his life ...... "Borrowing" money from relatives when apparently in a fix ..... but NEVER paying it back.
He should learn that there are consequences.
If he's anything like my brother however .... it will be like water off a ducks back!
I cannot have ANY sympathy for people who are prepared to be so self centred.

tallgirld

I think we have the same brother!

YES I would tell my sister. If your brother is anything like mine he still will not pay it so it will make no difference!!

retiredbutnotold

I know of a similar case. In this instance the sister found out and sued the other for her loan. Since then they have hated each other and made life a misery for their mother, since each expects the other to take sides. The family has just not been that since.

Would you friend wish to possibly cause a similar break up emnity for the sake of £200?

I would say pay it back, he will still have plenty to have a treat with.

nczm

If it was my brother I would shop him, you're doing your sister an injustice by not doing it. Worst comes to the worst let it "accidentally" slip out