Finding money..

Irishmummyof2

The 2 kiddies have been playing out the front with their friend and have come in with a £20 note which they found in the car park, so i knocked on the neightbours doors and no one is missing any money.
What do i do now? Dh thinks i should spilt it between our 2 and the little girl they were playing with at the time, and i don't know, as have never been in this situation before.
What would you do?

morg_monster

Why not give it to charity, or use it over the summer holidays to take the 3 kids for a treat like a Mcdonalds or to the cinema. I'd explain what happened and tell her parents of the plan though in case she's quite little and in a little kid way goes home and says "mrs whatsit took my money and put it in her purse...".
Or ask them what they think they should do with it - they might have some strong opinions! (depends how old they all are)
But of course explain to them that you tried to find out who belonged to first...

LondonDiva

Take them to the police station and hand it in. If it's not claimed in 6 months? the police will give it back.

Split it between them, then be mean to your kids:D by dividing it in 1/2. one 1/2 in the bank and the other to buy something else.

Curious_George_2

is no-one going to be brave enough to say it?

you have asked all your neighbours, and if you dont see anyone obviously looking for something outside your house by the end of the day then i say split it between the kids....
ive lost a note while out and about before and i certainly dont expect it to still be there hours later or the next day, nor would i go to a police station and ask if anyone had handed in a twenty,
as frustrating as it is... we have all done it,

"I'll need to refer to the case of Finders versus Keepers."

Andybez38

I lost £20 today in the car park.:mad: Can i have it back please.:D

Im a great beliver in finders, keepers, loosers, weepers.

Justie

the *right* thing to do is as London Diva says but we're not all that good

I found £1 on the checkout at the supermarket the other day, under the carrier bags - it could have been there for ages. If I'd handed it in it'd have just gone straight in the till so I popped it in my purse and used it to pay for the hospital parking later on... if I hadn't taken it then I wouldn't have had enough change for the hospital car park so I'm glad I did...

Curious_George_2

Justie wrote: »

the *right* thing to do is as London Diva says but we're not all that good

and can you imagine the look the copper will give you for handing in a note?
we are not talking about a wallet, or a purse here... those i would hand in,
but a note? that could belong to literally anyone?

naaaah, thats mine

sorry

KittyKate

I always feel really terrible when I find money (I know! How ungrateful!!) because I always think that it might be an old person or really needy person who has dropped it (after all, that's sod's law, I once lost a fiver when I was broke and I cried!)

So, I wouldn't give it to the kids. Honesty is the best policy, and I would make a huge show of contacting the police or putting up some posters etc so the kids understand that 'money doesn't grow on trees' (or in streets and parks!). Learning the value of money and how important it is to those who don't have enough of it is a huge life lesson.

If the money is unclaimed after a month (put something like 'small amount of money found in area. Call xxx for more info' and you might get less fibbers/timewasters as people won't call up for £5 but they might string you a line for £20) then let the kids choose a charity between them, or donate it to the local animal charity and take them for a trip there to visit, so they can see what good money can do.

Sorry if I sound a little preachy. But my MIL once found £50 and I was totally distraught! (she wasn't!)

katglasgow

I remember being a little girl and finding a purse with my borthers. My mum took us al to the police station to hand it in (big adventure!). x months later, the police contacted my mum to say it had not been claimed by anyone and we went back to claim it. My mum sais we had been so good that we could use the money to go to the Zoo! Now, I have no idea whether or not there was actually anough money in the wallet to pay for a trip of 5 to go the the zoo (I am sure it was a small wallet), but what a great lesson my mum taught us and it has always stuck with me!

January20

Curious_George wrote: »

and can you imagine the look the copper will give you for handing in a note?
we are not talking about a wallet, or a purse here... those i would hand in,
but a note? that could belong to literally anyone?

naaaah, thats mine

sorry

I totally agree. When my garage was broken into, or when my car was stolen, the coppers didn't come out at all. Just phone interview. So do you really think they have the time/inclination to deal with lost money?

And if you lost a £20 would you actually go to the police station to report it? I too can imagine the copper's face... and hear the sniggers too!

When I have lost money in the past (£5), I have put it to experience to be more careful with my cash!

Justie

Curious_George wrote: »

and can you imagine the look the copper will give you for handing in a note?
we are not talking about a wallet, or a purse here... those i would hand in,
but a note? that could belong to literally anyone?

naaaah, thats mine

sorry

oh I know but when there are kids involved it can be an exciting trip and a lesson in morality etc as katglasgow says.

If I'd found it myself I'd probably have pocketed it without asking the neighbours