I am getting harassed by family over a $5,000 lottery win. :(Prev Topic Next Topic

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hypersoniq

Pennsylvania
United States
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Jul 9, 2026, 2:34 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Tucker Black on Jul 9, 2026
Doesn't the lottery withhold taxes for you?

It depends on where you win... in PA, they can pay out up to $2,500 (usually by check) at a retailer, you are responsible for the taxes on your own. They only jump in and take taxes on a win over $2,500... and on a big prize they do not take the full amount you will owe... for instance on a PB or MM jackpot, they will withold 24%, you may owe up to 37%. When I go after a prize, I multiply by 0.559 to see how much I would end up with after 37% federal and 3.08% flat state tax.

Have an EXCELlent day!
Brock Lee

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Jul 9, 2026, 3:08 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Lotto Motto on Jul 9, 2026
I recently won $5,000 in the Pick 4 game and gave a family member who was in dire need of $500 exactly $500 to help her out and I told her I won $5,000 in the lottery and told her not to tell anyone else about my lottery win. She thanked me for the $500 and promised not to tell anyone else about my lottery win. She absolutely understood that I didn't want her telling anyone else about the lottery win.

This family member who was supposed to keep this between me and her told "one person," who then told ,"one person," and so on and so on(the infamous cliche of only one other person supposed to know ended up being a lot of people ended up knowing happened to me in real life and now my family is constantly harassing me over the $5,000 win constantly asking me for a cut of the money.

I tell them I can't give them the money as the money is for my living expenses and they criticize me giving that family member $500 but not giving them any money and calling me a selfish prick. This really shouldn't have been happening to me in the first place. I really thought that the first family member was going to keep her promise to me to not tell anyone else about my $5,000 win. She has now put a target on my back. It hurts real bad as she absolutely knows I wouldn't have told anyone else if the situation was reversed.

this reminds me of a story about a gambler who was trespassed from the casino for cheating at bingo. one time, this gambler had received money from a family member that was to be used for a haircut, but the gambled instead went and gambled at the casino with the money and lost all the money. the family member who had donated that haircut money was very mad. sometime later the gambler won $5000 gambling. the family member asked for their haircut money back.

"don't believe everything you read on the internet." -- abraham lincoln

"abraham lincoln is a liar." -- william shakespeare
Artist77

United States
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Jul 9, 2026, 5:24 pm

I do not understand why some people have to tell their secrets or they will bust. We had a woman in our office who was taking an attorney job with a city and she went around telling ten or more people and swearing them to secrecy. Me as well and I barely knew her. It got back to management ASAP and she was called into HR about giving proper notice to our employer.

Just so dumb.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.
Brock Lee

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Jul 9, 2026, 6:57 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jul 9, 2026
I do not understand why some people have to tell their secrets or they will bust. We had a woman in our office who was taking an attorney job with a city and she went around telling ten or more people and swearing them to secrecy. Me as well and I barely knew her. It got back to management ASAP and she was called into HR about giving proper notice to our employer.

Just so dumb.

sounds like she had an ulterior motive. maybe hoping to get a counteroffer? seems unwise for a city to hire a city atty who can't stop blabbing.

"don't believe everything you read on the internet." -- abraham lincoln

"abraham lincoln is a liar." -- william shakespeare
Artist77

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Jul 9, 2026, 7:03 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Brock Lee on Jul 9, 2026
sounds like she had an ulterior motive. maybe hoping to get a counteroffer? seems unwise for a city to hire a city atty who can't stop blabbing.

She was moving into an easier job with fewer hours than a private entity. She was just a train wreck and thought she was going to be a big fish in a smaller pond.

Yea, cannot imagine her interacting with the press as a city attorney.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.
Think

Marquette, MI
United States
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August 20, 2005
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Jul 9, 2026, 8:24 pm

Quote: Originally posted by hypersoniq on Jul 9, 2026
It depends on where you win... in PA, they can pay out up to $2,500 (usually by check) at a retailer, you are responsible for the taxes on your own. They only jump in and take taxes on a win over $2,500... and on a big prize they do not take the full amount you will owe... for instance on a PB or MM jackpot, they will withold 24%, you may owe up to 37%. When I go after a prize, I multiply by 0.559 to see how much I would end up with after 37% federal and 3.08% flat state tax.

Don't you mean you multiply by 0.5992 ?
Albert Bundy

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Jul 9, 2026, 10:29 pm

Not only is it taxable, if you live in a deep blue state, a $5,000 jump in annual income could put you over your next threshold and count against you for the next 12 months and be very costly.

Depending on the blue state you are in...

the electricity rate you pay

the heating fuel bill you pay

your broadband service

your natural gas service for cooking

water & septic

medical bills

medications at the pharmacy

your rent if you live in a government housing tower, etc

...there are many monthly bills that have rates tied to income. So if you live in a bluer state and win $5,000, you can tell everyone and ask to borrow money from them at the same time because you will be paying an extra $6,000 over the next 12 months or whatever.

Al Bundy Member #254,954 NO MA'AM
grwurston

100

Same digits. Different games.

United States
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April 24, 2010
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Jul 9, 2026, 11:27 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jul 9, 2026
I do not understand why some people have to tell their secrets or they will bust. We had a woman in our office who was taking an attorney job with a city and she went around telling ten or more people and swearing them to secrecy. Me as well and I barely knew her. It got back to management ASAP and she was called into HR about giving proper notice to our employer.

Just so dumb.

Always leave a job on a good note no matter how much you hated it. You never if you'll need another job down the road and that may be the only place looking to hire someone.

Before you play there are 2 choices to make. Low sum or high sum and consecutive pair or no consecutive pair. Choose correctly and you go from 120 combos down to 30. Not a bad starting point.
JustMaybe

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Jul 9, 2026, 11:46 pm

"I told her I won $5,000 in the lottery and told her not to tell anyone else about my lottery win."

That right there is where your problems begun

I believe winning the lottery jackpot is a 💯 % factor of luck.

May Fortuna, goddess of chance or lot vindicate me.
grwurston

100

Same digits. Different games.

United States
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April 24, 2010
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Yesterday, 1:22 am

A little Rock 'n' Roll music to cheer you up!!

Rival Sons, Secret https://youtu.be/o2KC_jg0Ims?si=uk6k9BAyA9fc4nXA

Before you play there are 2 choices to make. Low sum or high sum and consecutive pair or no consecutive pair. Choose correctly and you go from 120 combos down to 30. Not a bad starting point.
Lotto Motto

Miami Florida
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March 16, 2025
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Yesterday, 5:57 am

Somebody reached out to me in private message regarding the $5,000 win/family betrayal/family harassment and I responded twice but for some reason I seem to not be able to send private messages.
Artist77

United States
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January 16, 2012
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Yesterday, 6:29 am

Quote: Originally posted by grwurston on Jul 9, 2026
Always leave a job on a good note no matter how much you hated it. You never if you'll need another job down the road and that may be the only place looking to hire someone.

Well that varies in regard to professional degree jobs and lower end jobs. Attorneys and accountants can always find jobs as long as your license in in good standing. People who have minimum wage jobs can always find something else.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.
Artist77

United States
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January 16, 2012
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Yesterday, 6:33 am

Quote: Originally posted by Lotto Motto on Jul 10, 2026
Somebody reached out to me in private message regarding the $5,000 win/family betrayal/family harassment and I responded twice but for some reason I seem to not be able to send private messages.

Be cautious with private messages. Someone might have you marked for easy money based on your posts.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.
Artist77

United States
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January 16, 2012
10,982 Posts
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Yesterday, 7:33 am

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jul 10, 2026
Well that varies in regard to professional degree jobs and lower end jobs. Attorneys and accountants can always find jobs as long as your license in in good standing. People who have minimum wage jobs can always find something else.

Most businesses , for legal reasons, are limited to verifying dates of past employment only and job title.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.
Artist77

United States
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January 16, 2012
10,982 Posts
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Yesterday, 10:31 am

Quote: Originally posted by Albert Bundy on Jul 9, 2026
Not only is it taxable, if you live in a deep blue state, a $5,000 jump in annual income could put you over your next threshold and count against you for the next 12 months and be very costly.

Depending on the blue state you are in...

the electricity rate you pay

the heating fuel bill you pay

your broadband service

your natural gas service for cooking

water & septic

medical bills

medications at the pharmacy

your rent if you live in a government housing tower, etc

...there are many monthly bills that have rates tied to income. So if you live in a bluer state and win $5,000, you can tell everyone and ask to borrow money from them at the same time because you will be paying an extra $6,000 over the next 12 months or whatever.

What????? I know of no monthly bill like internet or electricity tied to income in any state and which could be affected by a $5 k win. Do you have documented examples?

$5000 could possibly affect Medicaid, low income housing, child support and Social security if you claimed before your full retirement age.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

How Great Thou Art. God has blessed America.