Finding money

[baylok]

We're not talking about a lot of money - $10 or less...

 

[Jack Lewis]

My answer wasn't there.

If there's no way of identifying whose it is, pick it up and keep it. If it's near a shop, let the shop owner know you found an unspecified amount of money, and leave your phone number in case anyone returns asking for it. Make sure they know exactly how much was lost and in what denominations.

 

[Judy]

If I found $10. on the street, I would keep it. :-? :o
But on the other hand if I bought something and the cashier gave me way to much change I would give it back. I have done this on a lot of occasions.

 

[SyntaxVorlon]

If I see someone drop it I pick it up and give it to them, or if I see some person searching the ground nearby, otherwise I take it.
And I would only do this out on the street.

 

[Gary]

Money "lost" is NEVER yours, no matter what the amount, no matter what the circumstances. The issue is very simple. If no obvious owner is there, put it into charity.

 

[Homeskillet]

This reminds me of a new story I saw one time...I think it was Dateline or something similar. They placed cars in various locations that were not only unlocked, but running....just waiting for someone to steal them. And when they did, they caught them and arrested them. (The cars were equipped with GPS)....

Why is it someone can lose cash and it be morally ok for someone else to claim it....yet other property it isn't? That's what I don't get. I mean, I understand that cash is (for the most part) untrackable...I mean we don't have to register our cash like we do our automobiles, but it's still ours. What gives someone else the right to claim it if found, yet they can't do that with other property such as cars, etc.

 

[Jack Lewis]

Cars have license plates and VINs which means it's very easy to identify who the owner is. A $10 bill laying on the street is unlikely to be picked up by the person who lost it. Making sure the person can locate it if they do come back, by letting any permanent establishemnt nearby know about it, would be the right thing to do, but otherwise, it's simply money laying around, that someone will eventually pick up.

 

[saved]

Based on the amount you suggested and there is no way to figure out who dropped it then you can keep it with a clear conscience. It would be up the the finder to donate it or spend it for themself.

 

[antitox]

There were some good points about the honesty of it not being yours if you found it; however, how are you going to get it back into the owners hands when everybody on planet earth will gladly lay claim to it? If you want to give to charity or some good cause, that's fine, but I personally find it difficult to believe that a store owner isn't going to eventually stick it in his cash register or pocket if you leave it with him; especially if it's an employee. Cash has no identification to anyone...no evidence of belonging; it's whole existence is spent going from hand to hand.

yo

 

[atmosphere]

here's a story for you: i was at Summerfest (a milwaukee thing) a couple years ago... i was walking to a beer tent and i saw a small pile of money on the ground. keep in mind, the place was packed with people. i was tempted to pick it up, but i thought something wasn't right... there were too many people just standing around it- why didn't they pick it up? i looked closer and saw that it was in a small pile of vomit. so, i went up to a guy and asked what was going on, he laughed and said "watch...". so i did... another guy came up and threw a dollar on the pile. i couldn't believe what i was seeing- it was funny. then, sure enough, a drunk guy walked passed it, noticed it, went back and picked up the pile of money with his bare hand. the crowed erupted with laughter- i'll admit, i was rolling too! the man went to the beer tent and got himself a few beers with his new found and hard earned cash. i don't know if he noticed the vomit when he picked up the money- maybe he did and was thinking, "i don't care, free beer." the moral of the story is whatever you want it to be. i don't think it's a big deal to pick up some cash on the ground and keep it for yourself, but beware of on-lookers... odds are, if someone's watching, something is fishy... or chunky. anyway- thought it was funny.

 

[Featherbop]

I would take it, if it was clean and I couldn't find the owner.

 

[Homeskillet]

Cars have license plates and VINs which means it's very easy to identify who the owner is. A $10 bill laying on the street is unlikely to be picked up by the person who lost it. Making sure the person can locate it if they do come back, by letting any permanent establishemnt nearby know about it, would be the right thing to do, but otherwise, it's simply money laying around, that someone will eventually pick up.

Yeah, I understand that , but just morally speaking....what's the difference between picking up cash that you see laying on the ground and taking a car that is just sitting there with keys in the ignition. Strictly morally speaking, what's the difference?

 

[reznwerks]

money

Money "lost" is NEVER yours, no matter what the amount, no matter what the circumstances. The issue is very simple. If no obvious owner is there, put it into charity.

That is what is wrong with Christianty. Christians are taught they are undeserving even when things go their way. Maybe God wanted you to find the money. That reminds me of this story about a guy during a flood. There was this lone holdout that wouldn't leave his home even though the flood waters were coming. The officials came buy and warned him to get out but he said "God will protect me" . Before you know it the waters are at the porch and down the flooded street came emergency personel in a boat offering to help but the man said "Gd will protect me". The next time we see the man on the roof with a helicopter offering to rescue him but still to no avail as the man shouted "God will protect me". Before too long the man and his house disappeared under the water and now the man is before God and asks in a puzzles voice: God I was sure you were going to protect me, what happened? What more could I do, said God, I sent the officials, the emergency personel and a helicopter? If you can't find the owner keep the money and do with it as you please with a clear conscience.

 

[Homeskillet]

Yes, rezn...I totally see the point you made in that story....but the difference is this...There was no moral reason for that guy to NOT accept help.....

Ok...let's say I've been praying for a long time for God to provide me with means of transportation...if I don't get any I will lose my job and this is a huge need of mine. Then lo and behold I'm in an empty parking lot except for this one car....key in ignition...and so I think to myself "This is God's answer!" and I take the car. If cars were totally untrackable and no VIN's or anything......then why is that wrong and yet picking up lost cash isn't? See what I'm trying to say?

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

This is kind of a trick question because it really depends on the situation and place. If you are out on a busy street, dont' you think it would be hard to figure out who the owner is unless there is a bill paperclipped to it? It isn't like you can say "Hey! Did anyone lose this $5 bill?" However, if you see it on the floor in a store while standing in line, it could very likely belong to the person in front of you. I would ask them in that case. Most likely they would say it was theirs but at least I was trying to be honest.

Now, I usually find change laying around my foyer to the dance room from my students. Since we have a costume fund and the snack items I sell to them are for that cause, I just put it in that fund. I tell them that is what I do so they are aware of it.

If a checker gives me too much change, I make sure to set it straight.

 

[Jack Lewis]

Cars have license plates and VINs which means it's very easy to identify who the owner is. A $10 bill laying on the street is unlikely to be picked up by the person who lost it. Making sure the person can locate it if they do come back, by letting any permanent establishemnt nearby know about it, would be the right thing to do, but otherwise, it's simply money laying around, that someone will eventually pick up.

Yeah, I understand that , but just morally speaking....what's the difference between picking up cash that you see laying on the ground and taking a car that is just sitting there with keys in the ignition. Strictly morally speaking, what's the difference?

Are you serious?

 

[Nikki]

What I was about 11, my dad and I found a wad of bills on the floor of a gas station. It totaled up to $42. We gave it to the clerk and he said that if nobody claimed it by the end of the day, that it was ours. So, we left our number and the next afternoon, the said nobody had claimed it and we could come pick up the money.

My dad took me out to eat and to the movies with it.

 

[giftsbymatthew]

my choice try to find person it belongs to, if cant keep it. How do you know it wasnt ment for you? God works in mysterious ways.

 

[Homeskillet]

[quote="Jack Lewis":5ca68]Cars have license plates and VINs which means it's very easy to identify who the owner is. A $10 bill laying on the street is unlikely to be picked up by the person who lost it. Making sure the person can locate it if they do come back, by letting any permanent establishemnt nearby know about it, would be the right thing to do, but otherwise, it's simply money laying around, that someone will eventually pick up.

Yeah, I understand that , but just morally speaking....what's the difference between picking up cash that you see laying on the ground and taking a car that is just sitting there with keys in the ignition. Strictly morally speaking, what's the difference?

Are you serious?[/quote:5ca68]

Yeah, I am. And I know what an oddball that makes me....but think about it.

If a person hops into an abandoned car and drives off ....he gets arrested for theft.

If a person picks up an abandoned wallet with cash in it....it's his for the taking.....finders keepers, right? What makes other personal property any different....(other than the fact that cash isn't trackable.)....

 

[Jack Lewis]

[quote="Jack Lewis":f7b2f]Cars have license plates and VINs which means it's very easy to identify who the owner is. A $10 bill laying on the street is unlikely to be picked up by the person who lost it. Making sure the person can locate it if they do come back, by letting any permanent establishemnt nearby know about it, would be the right thing to do, but otherwise, it's simply money laying around, that someone will eventually pick up.

Yeah, I understand that , but just morally speaking....what's the difference between picking up cash that you see laying on the ground and taking a car that is just sitting there with keys in the ignition. Strictly morally speaking, what's the difference?

Are you serious?

Yeah, I am. And I know what an oddball that makes me....but think about it.

If a person hops into an abandoned car and drives off ....he gets arrested for theft.

If a person picks up an abandoned wallet with cash in it....it's his for the taking.....finders keepers, right? What makes other personal property any different....(other than the fact that cash isn't trackable.)....[/quote:f7b2f]
Who said anything about a wallet. The subject is about money, not a wallet. A wallet would have the name and address of the person the money belongs to. Just money, wouldn't.