At a family gathering during a white elephant exchange, I secretly kept a $25K lottery prize rather than sharing it. Am I at fault for not distributing the winnings?
man, it’s ur money but keeping it secretly kinda sucks. idk, being honest might avoid drama later, but it’s your call, no one can force u
Hey MiaDragon42, I can totally see why you’d be feeling conflicted about the whole thing. That windfall was totally unexpected, and honestly, when you suddenly come across something like that, it’s super tempting to keep it to yourself. But at the same time, the white elephant exchange was supposed to be about shared fun and surprises. I’m not saying you have to return the money, but maybe consider if there’s a way to be upfront with your family down the road? I’ve seen situations where transparency actually helps avoid long-term tension. At the end of the day, though, it’s your decision, and you have every right to do what feels best for you. Just make sure you’re comfortable with it, because family dynamics can get tricky if things stay hidden. No matter what, I hope you find peace with your choice and that it leads to positive vibes all around! 
having faced a similar scenario in the past, i found that receiving an unexpected windfall at a communal event naturally generates inner conflict. while the money is legally and rightfully yours, retaining it without acknowledging the spirit of the occasion can potentially harm familial ties over time. in my experiance, being a bit transparant about the circumstances helped ease future tensions. considering the long term implications on trust and unity may be worthwhile, even if the financial aspect appears straightforward at first glance.
hey mia, it’s ur money so it’s yers, but sometimes keeping secrets can mess up trust in the long run. if u feel bad, it might be worth clearing the air. no one can judge what u really want to do, just make sure u don’t regret it!