Do whatever makes you feel better. Back when I was a single parent I was broke. I went to the grocery store with about 5 bucks to buy things to keep me and my daughter alive for the week. As I walking into the store, I found a wad of bucks on the ground (don't remember how much). I looked around and didn't see anyone that might have dropped it, so I picked it up and bought some groceries with it. Those were desperate times. I considered it a gift from God.
Another time when I was broke, I needed to go to the laundry mat, but dreaded spending the money to do laundry. I stopped by a phone booth to make a call (pre-cell phones). I put in my quarter to make a call and I heard a thunk noise. No dial tone. I opened the coin return thingy and quarters started falling out. Again, I considered it a gift from God. I needed quarters and found a fistful. Coincidence? Don't know, but I thanked God anyway.
Another time I tried to get change from a change machine. I put in my dollar and the machine started spitting dollars back at me. I was at work and I turned the money in to a manager to return to the vendors. She stuck it in her billfold with a big grin on her face and said "Thanks!"
So, as I said, do whatever.
posted by GRM
5 months ago
I found, I think it was $22, on the sidewalk once. I was working at an all news/talk radio station at the time. I asked the program host for a little air time and said that if anybody knew the exact amount of money I had found and what was attached to it, I'd give it back.
It turned out that it had been dropped by a woman who worked for one of our competitors, the daily newspaper. The money was for a going-away present for one of their employees. She'd been going around the office accusing several people of stealing it.
She wrote me a nice letter to say "Thanks."
I had a friend that found $20 in a covenience store that I often patronize. I had been in the market earlier in the day. Upon finding it, she turned it in to the cashier, said she had found it on the floor and someone may come to claim it and then left. She then came to my house and told me about the experience. I said "Well, you just gave that cashier $20.". She challenged my point so to resolve the issue, I went to the market about 15 minutes later and explained to the same cashier that I had been in there earlier and I had lost some money while in the store and wondered if anyone had found it. The cashiers response was , No, no one turned in any money. If I didn't know who lost the money, I would keep it and say finders keepers.
There is a third option: just leave it where you found it. I almost did that. Let somebody else wrestle with the moral dilemma. I'll let more folks respond, and then I'll let you know what I did...
I'd definitely pick it up, then hand it off to the next pre-teen girl or boy I met, saying I'd just found it and knew they needed it more than I did. I've done exactly that several times, occasionally asking if the boy or girl had lost it.
Coins in parking lots are quite another story...those I keep...especially the one cent pieces. Even the boys and girls tend to toss them away as worthless. I, however, have a gallon whisky bottle that holds $60 worth of pennies when full. I know, because I've filled it a few times...it's nearly full now.
So Urban - you hand it to the next preteen you saw? You live dangerously.
The last thing I'd do is give it to the cashier. I agree with Gary on that one.
I'd use the money to bring peace to the world and help all those undernourished babies.
Found a wallet laying in the street once - no money, no ID - but a bunch of credit cards and a phone company calling card with a phone number and name. Called her up, left a message. Later that night she called and we arranged a time to meet. I gave her the wallet and she offered money. I said no - just send me a Christmas card (this was about Oct-Nov). Fast-forward to Dec I got a Christmas card with $50 tucked in.
A bank in Cheyenne once made a bank error because of a light(this was in 1983) ning strike of $26 000 in our favor. Do ya take the money and run or continually point out the error of their ways? 3 TIMES!!! Until they get it? I was of mixed minds. If the teller was so stupid to discount my protestations twice then who was I to argue? I'm not God. 3d time is a charm. If on the 3d count they failed to discover the discrepancy I was home and hosed. Alas......Everyone thanked me for being honest as they discovered the glitch and I walked stock free..broke.
I feel like a muggins.....still do.
I've lost money and found it. Way back when the kids were little I lost 3 $20 bills which I could ill afford - of course it was never "found". I've found a $10 under the tire of a car next to me in the parking lot, and one time I was going to get lunch for my evil boss (around Christmas) when I found a roll of bills laying in the gutter, wet. When I counted it - $120.Merry Christmas to me!
