What would you do in a similar situation ?

britexpat
By britexpat

Here's a heart warmer... I love the last paragraph ...

My question: What would you do in a similar situation ?

___________________________________

A man discovered $45,000 (£28,000) stuffed into tins and boxes in the attic of the new home he had just bought – and gave the money back to the previous owner's six children.

"I freaked out, locked it my car, and called my wife to tell her she wouldn't believe what I had found," said Mr Ferrin.

Despite being tempted to keep the money to help him pay for mounting bills and broken down car, Mr Ferrin sought out the children of the home's previous owner, who had died, and gave them the money.

"I'm not perfect, and I wish I could say there was never any doubt in my mind. We knew we had to give it back, but it doesn't mean I didn't think about our car in need of repairs, how we would love to adopt a child and aren't able to do that right now, or fix up our outdated house that we just bought," he said. "But the money wasn't ours to keep and I don't believe you get a chance very often to do something radically honest, to do something ridiculously awesome for someone else and that is a lesson I hope to teach to my children."

By anonymous• 25 May 2011 08:05
anonymous

It depends on the situation. Is this a house in a big city and you actually have to track down the previous owners children because you have no idea who they are? Or is this a small town and you know who the children are and everyone knows you. If it's the first situation, keep it and count your blessings, if it's the second, return it to the children, because it would look bad if you didn't.

By anonymous• 24 May 2011 17:00
anonymous

If honesty gives solace to the conscience, its great...if honesty keeps a man hungry,i can't decide but if honesty can get you killed in a situation, better to be dishonest !!

in this case, i would prefer being honest.

By SalmanYousaf• 24 May 2011 16:54
SalmanYousaf

Yeah Jawiayesha, its true, it depends on the situation and greediness in the person at that time!

By flor1212• 24 May 2011 16:51
flor1212

?

By jawiayesha• 24 May 2011 16:48
jawiayesha

a lot will say well give it back but when the time comes only a few stick to their words

By reysaj• 24 May 2011 16:45
reysaj

give the money back to the owner.

By flor1212• 24 May 2011 16:42
flor1212

but wait 'til you are on the same situation!

By aejasaslam• 24 May 2011 16:40
aejasaslam

give back it...god bless u!!

By aejasaslam• 24 May 2011 16:39
aejasaslam

give back!! god bless u!

By reysaj• 24 May 2011 16:34
reysaj

Even if I needed money for living but I couldn't keep that big amount of money not mine.

By SalmanYousaf• 24 May 2011 16:34
SalmanYousaf

obviously its not mine and i will not keep it with me ... i will have butterflies in my stomach unless i return it :D

By flor1212• 24 May 2011 16:34
flor1212

that's his decision (praiseworthy but........). I'll keep my option if such situation rises! It really depends at the end!

By gudone• 24 May 2011 15:49
gudone

no doubt give it to the original owner.... cant sleep with some1 else's money in my pocket... hufff...

By FathimaH• 24 May 2011 15:47
FathimaH

Without a doubt I would do the same,Inshallah. Ie search out the rightful owner and return the cash.

By anonymous• 24 May 2011 15:35
anonymous

With no shadow of a doubt.

By nomerci• 24 May 2011 14:45
nomerci

Brit, I can't say for sure. I would have to be in the situation and see how I feel at that time to be sure to make the right decision.

By britexpat• 24 May 2011 14:43
britexpat

So, would you suggest keeping it ?

By nomerci• 24 May 2011 14:42
nomerci

Well, the previous owner of the house might not have known about the money either...why would he have kept it in attic?

Life always presents us with what we need...more often than not we simply do not realize that.

By anonymous• 24 May 2011 10:23
anonymous

Keep it.

By Mommy24• 24 May 2011 10:09
Mommy24

I would do the same.. give it back to the owner or his family...

By ssbnss• 24 May 2011 08:50
ssbnss

try to find the real owner or his relatives if not available then give to charity in any way its not your

By britexpat• 24 May 2011 08:13
britexpat

OK.. We know you want to keep the money :o)

By Colt45• 24 May 2011 08:11
Colt45

Umm the only downside is that the previous owner is DEAD :-(

By Straight Arrow• 24 May 2011 08:09
Straight Arrow

Take the money and give it to the previous owner, also this money might be illegal and there is a plan to trap you, so the safest thing is to give the money back to the previous owner.

By Colt45• 24 May 2011 08:01
Colt45

How can one be so sure it was the previous owners money, or someone else's. I would just take that money and pay off my bills (if I had any), give some to charity and invest the rest ;-)

By Oryx• 24 May 2011 07:39
Oryx

I would ask if they would split it 7 ways. the 7th part being my reward. Of that reward I would give 50% to charity and 50% to pay off the bills. If I had no bills then I would give 100% to charity. if the children seemed really poor then I wouldn'task for my share.

By Formatted Soul• 24 May 2011 07:36
Formatted Soul

I would return to the owner..as we were taught from childhood not to take others belongings...:)

Probably the children were clueless about the money. If they knew about it.. Probably they would have fought for that…. now that they got equal share...:)

By Uranus1• 24 May 2011 07:22
Uranus1

The same as the man. The guilt if I did not would be too much.

The kids should give a him a reward as a way of thanks, though.

By anonymous• 24 May 2011 07:21
anonymous

wow, praiseworthy.

in a world full of cheaters & some who does their best to take advantage of others,, still there are people who are honest and stands out to make a difference....

i would do the same :)

By anonymous• 24 May 2011 07:18
anonymous

On retrospect Britex,This is an awesome moment, the proverbial hot water to test the strength of the tea, I really would need to find my self in that situation to know for sure, .....split it between his kids and my self probably?......dunno....

By s_isale• 24 May 2011 07:02
s_isale

give back to the original owner. its not mine anyway.

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