If you found $100,000 dollars what would you do?

[clairebear]

I know without a doubt I'd keep it. No normal hard working person would be carrying around that kind of cash. It would probably be drug money or something shady like that. So I really wouldn't feel bad keeping it. I wouldn't put it in the bank though, that'd be suspicious. I'd just keep it in a safe and spend it slowly as cash so there would be no trace.

 

[swampwitch]

The cash could have fallen from an armored car... it's happened before. Then the bills would be traceable and anybody who tries to keep it would be in lots of trouble.

 

[calico2222]

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

The cash could have fallen from an armored car... it's happened before. Then the bills would be traceable and anybody who tries to keep it would be in lots of trouble.

In boxes and hidden under a tire in the woods?

 

[swampwitch]

Originally Posted by calico2222

In boxes and hidden under a tire in the woods?

Well, sure, it is not known where the money was from originally.

 

[jamiekitty]

It's so crazy you bring this up! A long while back I was working at a salon (making peanuts) and a customer came in and by accident left an envelope with 500 dollars cash. His GF and I were talking while he was tanning and she told me about how they went for dinner and were shopping at TH before they came in. So when I found this cash I saw a receipt for TH and a restaurant so I tracked down his work number and called and left a msg for him. He came and got his money a while later but NEVER thanked me. I dunno... I believe in the right thing but still was kinda irked he never said thanks considering I could have easily kept it and never told him.

 

[swampwitch]

Originally Posted by Jamiekitty

It's so crazy you bring this up! A long while back I was working at a salon (making peanuts) and a customer came in and by accident left an envelope with 500 dollars cash. His GF and I were talking while he was tanning and she told me about how they went for dinner and were shopping at TH before they came in. So when I found this cash I saw a receipt for TH and a restaurant so I tracked down his work number and called and left a msg for him. He came and got his money a while later but NEVER thanked me. I dunno... I believe in the right thing but still was kinda irked he never said thanks considering I could have easily kept it and never told him.

You didn't return the money because you wanted a thank you (although that would have been nice), you did it because you live with integrity.

I'm kind of surprised at how many people here said they wouldn't return the money, or they would return it because they might get caught. C'mom, guys, I am convinced the people at TCS are the salt of the earth. Wouldn't you want to turn in the money because it's the right thing to do?

If nothing else, remember the golden rule. Wouldn't you want the person who finds your money to turn it in?

 

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

If nothing else, remember the golden rule. Wouldn't you want the person who finds your money to turn it in?

I'm not a drug dealer or some other criminal leaving large amounts of cash around either. If it were a logical amount that one person could lose (up to a $10,000 or so) - yes I could possibly believe someone may have came to that money honestly somehow (we have a casino in town, so that amount isn't too far fetched). No one gets paid $100,000 in cash legally. You can't even get that large of an amount at a time from winning a lottery. So I think is coloring many people's choices.

 

[swampwitch]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I'm not a drug dealer or some other criminal leaving large amounts of cash around either. If it were a logical amount that one person could lose (up to a $10,000 or so) - yes I could possibly believe someone may have came to that money honestly somehow (we have a casino in town, so that amount isn't too far fetched). No one gets paid $100,000 in cash legally. You can't even get that large of an amount at a time from winning a lottery. So I think is coloring many people's choices.

So... it's okay to rationalize our way out of doing the right thing, if we want something badly enough?

If it's not mine, I'm not going take it. Period. I don't see another way.

 

[pami]

I would definitely turn it in.

 

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

So... it's okay to rationalize our way out of doing the right thing, if we want something badly enough?

Personally, debating what I would/should do with the money is moot point. I'm simply too unobservant to notice things like envelops, wallets, phones and even lost jewelry (thankfully I did see the guy's lost phone today - but at least 5 minutes after he left...and it was bright orange

). I wouldn't touch boxes or bags left anywhere - my luck it wouldn't be drug money I'd find, but drugs or something much more harmful. I don't want to be involved at all with anything like that or risk opening something that could potentially explode.

 

[pauly jozseffrd]

I would count the Cash than take it into the closest Police station and give it to them...........NOOOOOOOOOT!!!   I WOULD KEEP THE CASH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH IT!!!!

 

[windycitymom]

I'd turn it in and hope that I'd be given some reward !  

 

[my4llma]

That amount of money I'd love to keep but wouldn't even touch, my 1st thought would be drugs.

 

[natalie_ca]

Before I answer this, I need to tell a story.

In 1978 or 1979, when I was 16 or 17 I found a large sum of money and turned it in.  It was the last shopping day before Christmas and I had gotten on a bus about an hour before stores closed. There was only a couple of people at the front of the bus and being a typical teen, I went towards the back of the bus to sit down. After sitting I looked across the aisle and saw a large paper shopping bag like the kind you used to get in department stores. It looked like it had something inside it so I got up and went and looked. Inside was a seashell and straw purse: typical granny style.

The purse was full and included a wallet with identification, credit cards and over $700.00 in cash: Likely the amount of the ladies monthly pension cheque.  To give you an idea of how much money that was at that time, minimum wage was $1.85 per hour.

I took the bag and purse to the bus driver and reported that I had found it. The supervisor was stationed 2 stops ahead, so he in turn reported it to the supervisor.  All 3 of us took inventory of the purse and wallet before the supervisor took the purse for the lost and found.  They took my name, address and phone number to give to the owner of the purse when she picked it up.

My brother who is a bus driver checked on the status of the purse a couple of days later. The woman had picked up the purse and was grateful that it was returned completely intact. She was given my name, address and phone number.

I wasn't expecting a reward! However, a telephone call to thank me for returning her purse with all of the money inside would have been very welcome.  I'm 49 years old, and to this day the fact that she didn't pick up the telephone and thank a 16 year old teenager who was honest enough to turn in not only her purse, but all of her money, still burns me.

So if I found $100,000 in boxes sitting inside a tire by a dumpster, would I return it?  Not on your life!

However, as Sarah pointed out, if you started spending large sums of money or sticking huge windfalls in the bank suddenly, people would become suspicious.  So what I would do is basically cook the books so to speak.

I would again start up my home based website building. Make up invoices for phoney clients and take payment from my stash of cash. In time the money would find its way into my bank account. Now granted because I was claiming I was earning that income in a home business, I would have to claim the income on my income tax. However, I would be able to offset some of it with deductions and even more by putting it into tax free RRSP savings for my retirement.

In the end I would still be able to buy that car, take that trip etc.

 

[thembcat]

I would like to say that I'd turn the money in but I'm not sure if I'd be able to.    Most likely I'd turn it in after stressing to the police that if no one claimed it with in the waiting period, it rightfully goes back to me. Then I'd call right when the wait period to end and ask about it.  Then again I think if the money came with contact information like a wallet and I.D. I would def. turn it in. There's a difference when you can link it to someone. I guess its because when you can actually link the money to an actual person, you'd feel worse about taking to money where if it was just left in a paper bag with no way to link it to a person....then again, I might not even want to touch the money in fear of a angry drug dealer hunting me down and a epic, blockbuster worthy race to get the money back in time or else the ruthless killer will kill your loved ones (lol too many movies and crime shows)

However if my dark side won out and I did end up keeping it, I would deposit only $100 to $200, maybe even $300 a week.  One or two hundred a week could easily be a side job so it wouldn't really raise any suspicions. For all the bank knows, I could be helping clean houses on my spare time, or be doing yard work, it being close to winter, once the snow really starts coming down, I could be shoveling snow for people.   As long as you didn't deposit huge sums of cash, they shouldn't get suspicious.  You could even up it around christmas because you can squeeze in a another $100 or so here and there as "christmas money".      Helping clean someone's house would probably hold up better especially if you say its from an elderly person or couple because (no offense to any elderly couple out there) many tend to use only cash any more.  I use to work at a bank...well credit union, and we always had elderly people coming in to get their weekly allowance out. Some would pull out almost $1000 just for a week because they pay only in cash.

 

[cheylink]

   Well I can't lie and say I wouldn't be tempted, but I would definitely turn it in and hope that there would be some reward or it would be unclaimed............. That much money, found in such an odd situation, there has to be some major repercussion! How many movies show every possible worst situation?!

 

[ducman69]

These workers turned it in. What would you have done? Would it be different if you were the only one to find it?

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/1.../detail.html#-

Were they honest, or was one of them afraid?  If the money were stolen from a bank it might be marked or numbered and if it belonged to drug dealers then all it would take is someone among them to blab or draw attention to themselves spending large sums all at once and they and their families could be in mortal danger.   If I were in such mixed company with guys I didn't trust, I'd probably turn it in too and just hope for a reward.

I think the result would have been different if a single individual came across it rather than a group that may not have trusted each other perfectly.

If I came upon it by myself, I would have stashed it in a safe place and left it there for a year, then spent it in small transactions over a period of ten years.

I would consider it a annual bonus and not make major lifestyle changes accordingly.   

 

[3catsn1dog]

I won't lie I'd keep it and pay off bills first and then get the things we need or replace what needs replaced. First thing I would pay would be fines lol. That's about thirty grand between the two of us. I would put fu coverage on my vehicle and pay my insurance off for a couple years. There are so many things that I could use that money for I couldn't not keep it and its purely selfish because I would kill to be debt free and not have to pinch my budget like scrooge all the time just to save up for something we need or whatever. I know it sounds bad but who doesn't want a little cushion when it comes to their finances.

 

[Draco]

I won't lie I'd keep it and pay off bills first and then get the things we need or replace what needs replaced. First thing I would pay would be fines lol. That's about thirty grand between the two of us. I would put fu coverage on my vehicle and pay my insurance off for a couple years. There are so many things that I could use that money for I couldn't not keep it and its purely selfish because I would kill to be debt free and not have to pinch my budget like scrooge all the time just to save up for something we need or whatever. I know it sounds bad but who doesn't want a little cushion when it comes to their finances.

I ditto that. I am depressed and tired of being late for my rent each month and being so tight each month. I'd like to be able to treat my parents out for dinner here and there and such, and I can't even do that. 

Heck, I'd be happy with just 5k of that 100k to get me out of debt at least!!

 

[swampwitch]

Darn I thought strange_wings was back then I saw it's an old thread.