A woman who bought her nephew a winning lottery ticket has sparked a debate online after demanding that he gives her a large portion of the money.
The aunt took to Reddit's Am I The A**hole forum to discuss her predicament, saying her nephew had won a 'life-changing' amount of money.
Explaining the situation to other users, she explained that she'd had a 'really rough year' after being laid off from her job.
Advert
The woman wrote: "I do own my house and managed to scrape buy to pay my property taxes and insurance with odd jobs but I am eating ramen just about every meal.
"I love my nephew and can't get by on the thought that I wouldn't be able to get him a birthday present (Nov 3rd).
"I scraped together whatever change I could and bought him some lottery scratchers. and holy s*** he actually won (on two of them no less).
"One was for about $50 [£36] which was cool enough but the second one was actually into the middle 5 figures.
Advert
"I mean life-changing money (I can't say exactly how much because in our state lottery winners are all public record)."
She continued: "His parents (my sister and her husband) are very well off.
"My nephew has a fully funded college fund and every material thing he could ever want.
"When I found out I told my sister that it would be really cool if my nephew gave me at least 3/4 of the winnings.
Advert
"She asked if I was serious. I said I felt I was being very generous because I really need all of it.
"She actually hung up on me. I texted my nephew and I think he actually blocked me.
"Here's the thing, I NEED this money. It's a matter of me eating or not eating.
"He doesn't. Am I the a****** for thinking he should share the winnings of the gift I gave him?"
Advert
Commenting on the post, which was shared on Reddit last year, many people didn't find themselves sympathising with the woman.
Telling her YTA 'You're The A**hole', one person said: "It was a gift. You don't get to ask for part of someone's gift. It sucks you're having it tough but still doesn't mean you're "generous" for asking for only part of the gift. Sure ask them for help, but don't ask for his gift."
Another agreed: "If he hadn't won you'd have been out the same amount of money. You were gifting him the chance to win more and guess what? He did. If he decides to give you some that's an awesome, heartwarming gesture - which you've totally ruined the chances of by demanding 3/4s. Just try and be happy for him. And reach out to local agencies for help."
Advert
A third added: "3/4s??? You're crazy. YTA. It was a gift. While it would be nice for your nephew to share some of the winnings, calling up his mother and demanding 3/4s of the winnings is completely out of line."
Fourth said sarcastically: "Here's a gift; it's probably worthless but if by some miracle it turns out to be worth something I want it back. It's only for you if it's actually worthless. Great gift, OP. And not how gifts work, you only get to add that kind of conditions in advance. YTA."
While the general consensus of people believed she was in the wrong, one person piped up with a little more empathy.
"I completely understand where you're coming from, you're frustrated that you pulled together this money and someone much more well off managed to win a load of money on the cards you bought," they told the woman.
"I would apologize to them, though. Explain it was s***** for you to insist you deserve it for buying the cards because they were a gift. But I would also explain you weren't trying to be selfish and went about it wrong, that it would mean a lot if he would share some of the winnings because you're really struggling right now and it would change a lot of your life for the better."
Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: World News, News, Money, Reddit, Lottery