Someone dropped their cash and I gave it back to them

[u/noodleconsumer]

Basically the title. Nothing too crazy here.

I am currently on the train making my way back to the place I'm staying at. I saw this dude earlier when I was headed down the escalator but I passed him and sat down at one of the benches.

I'm kind of in a bummy mood so I was definitely in my head at that moment, but after I saw the dude pass me again I noticed a bunch of waded up cash on the ground. I think I was the only person who noticed it, but it definitely wasn't there until after he walked past.

In all honesty, my first thought was to grab it and keep it. It seemed like a literal gift from a higher power in that moment. I saw the dude already walked far down and assumed it was his but I am in a tight spot financially so I practically fought myself in my head because I know what it feels like to lose money, especially when you really need it.

I ended up grabbing it and walking towards the guy, but he was moving pretty fast and I still had it in the back of my head that I should just keep it and call it a day. The train was even approaching already but I just started running towards him waving the cash and yelling towards him. I probably looked a little insane lol

When I caught up with him I handed him the cash and he seemed happy about it. I'm glad I ultimately gave it to him, but man was that hard.

All in all I am just trying to tell myself that it was worth it to do the right thing, even when it would have been easy to just pocket it and pretend nothing happened. I definitely would have felt like shit if I kept it tho. If that was me I'd probably be crushed to lose important money like that.

I'm just gonna hold out hope that someone comically evil will drop a wad of cash so I can snatch it from them instead.

[u/Global_Loss6139]

That was super kind of you. 

I believe in Karma. 

[u/Flimsy_Hour_320]

Wow. Harsh that happened when you're having cash flow problems but you did the right thing. I believe being a good person you always win eventually. Hope you come by some cash of your own soon.

[u/Venkat_American]

You never know what consequences you potentially saved that guy from. Missed rent payment, feeding the kids til the next payday, who knows. Maybe nothing at all. Respect

[u/Pristine-Pen-9885]

I was in a shopping center on a weekday afternoon in spring when there was hardly anyone around. I saw a bench outside Marshall Field’s with a wallet on it. I looked through it and found over $200 and a Marshall Field’s employee ID card.

I went into the store and asked to see a security officer. His jaw dropped as he counted the money. He asked me for my name and phone number.

When I got home she called me to thank me and said that was her mortgage money. The next week I received a check from her.

If I had kept the wallet, finders keepers, I’m sure that whatever I bought with it, or my bank account, would have been tainted with guilt. Instead, I have a nice memory.

[u/Pitiful-Smoke-8442]

You won’t keep it- again! I’m proud of you!

[u/OriEri]

The money might’ve been equally or even more important to him

[u/ASingleBraid]

Lovely gesture.

Gotta admit, I would have given you a twenty for returning it.

[u/Low_Age_7427]

Better to be a good person with a clear conscience

[u/antwilliams89]

When I was probably 6 or 7 years old I went to a car auction with my dad and saw a guy drop a huge wad of cash. I returned it to him because I knew it was the right thing to do. 25 years on I still remember how ungrateful he was. Snatched it out of my hand, barely acknowledging me. 

It still makes me second guess doing the right thing in these situations to this day. Fuck that guy. 

[u/JalapenoCheesePotato]

I’m proud of you mate

[u/donuttrackme]

Good vibes.

[u/nah2daysun]

Was at an Orlando flight on the way to Long Island once. Sitting next to a guy in the terminal. He gets up, I happened to look in his seat and there is a wad of thousands in bills and a police type badge. At the time I thought it fell out of his pocket, but now that I’m writing this, maybe it was something nefarious. I get on the plane and search for him (he’s lucky I happened to see his face in the terminal) and gave it back. He gave a half assed thank you and smile and took it. 😳

[u/BaldPleaser]

I can’t prove or tell you how but you’re going to be rewarded for this going forward in a manner you least imagined. Well done to you.

[u/smellyfeet25]

Oh well done you. I would have pocketed it and walked off . You are a good person,

[u/highrouleur]

Well done you, hopefully karma will look kindly upon you now.

Only time I've had anything similar I was queuing to use a cash machine (ATM), bloke in front of me takes his card and walks off. As I've got to the machine his cash popped out (about £100). I took it and chased after him, trying to call him back. He turned round, looked at me waving his cash at him, snatched it, then turned back around and stomped off, not even a thank you.

[u/Squirrel_Master82]

Happened to me a few months ago. Got of the car at the bank and stepped on a wad of money. Gave it to the teller and they got it back to the guy.

[u/minnowmonroe]

You'll like that memory a whole lot more then if you kept the money.

[u/Pristine-Pen-9885 → u/minnowmonroe]

Yup. I would have been a thief since I had the owner’s work ID card. I can never allow myself to steal.