Have you ever done something as stupid as this?

Question

Up to late with Yahoo answers last night and wasn't thinking clearly this afternoon!

Here's what happened, I took a huge pile of clothes to the laundromat and put $20 in the change machine in there. The coins were coming out very slowly so I just grabbed the first $5 worth of quarters and started to put all the clothes in the washers, while the change machine churned out the rest of the quarters. Something was wrong with one of the machines and I had to fiddle with the door for a while, it took about 5 minutes. And then -- you guessed it -- I totally forgot about the $15 worth of quarters in the change machine! I started to read a magazine and then 10 minutes later I suddenly remembered the quarters that I didn't pick up and I ran back to the machine and they were all gone! There was only one other guy in the laundromat the whole time, so I figured he took them. "Excuse me," I said, "Did you see some quarters here?" "No," he answered. "Damn, I forgot to pick up all my change and

now they're all gone." "Yeah, that happened to me once, I put $10 in and went out to my truck and came back and someone swiped it all," he said. "Did you see anyone?" I asked. "Yeah, there was this one guy who came in and used the machine, he probably took them." I didn't see anyone. This guy was standing right next to the machine, folding his clothes. Obviously lying. Unfortunately for me this guy is a trucker, he's twice my size! Ugh, I can't stop thinking about how stupid I was to leave the money there.

Answer 1

Matthew, NEVER leave money unattended in a public place. Thieves look for places like laundromats and arcades where people are multi-tasking and can easily be distracted to rip people off. Always tend to your money first, secure it in your pocket and then get to the business at hand. Also pickpockets love places like this where people work in close proximity with strangers. My heart goes out to you. I have been ripped off a couple of times and felt so angry and violated when I found that money I worked hard to earn was taken away without a thought by a thief.

Answer 2

Something a little similar happened to me once. A couple of years ago I was taking out money from an ATM. When I read the receipt I was surprised, because there was much more money on my account than I expected. This distracted me so much that I forgot to take my money. I realized 5 minutes later and ran back, but the money was gone. Fortunately, when I talked to my bank I found out that the ATM had taken the money back after it was left untouched for a couple of minutes. I'm lucky noone used the ATM in the meantime. I felt incredibly stupid though for forgetting that money.

Answer 3

Poor you! My guy once went to a cash point to get a balance and some cash. He ordered the cash first and then decided to get a printed balance. He was shocked at how little money we had in our account and walked back to the car in a daze and drove off only to realise as he turned into the next street that he had left the money sticking out of the cash till!! We went back but someone had obviously noticed the cash and whipped off with it! Hey ho, such is life! Bummer at the time though!

I bet you feel a little better now you got it off your chest like you just did, no? I know when I lost my job just before summer, I went on to my 360 page and blogged a massive long rant about how unfair it all was and when I had finished, I definitely felt somehow lighter and less annoyed by it all! Hope your story telling made you feel the same!

Answer 4

Wow that was tough, rather mean of him not to return it to you.

Thankfully I have not lost any money in that way.

But a friend of mine went to the ATM, withdrew $500, her entire pension, only to be distracted by something or someone, she walked away not collecting her money. She remembered a few minutes later, but her money was gone, she had hoped someone was good enough to hand it into the bank, but no such luck.

She had to beg and pled with Centrelink (social security) for a advance payment, of which she had to pay back. Even then I think she only got a little over half from them.

So makes me a little more carefull around the ATM, if drawing out larger amounts I go into the bank and withdraw over the counter.

Answer 5

Everyone's done things like that. Worse than losing the money, however, is to keep beating yourself up over it. Anger isn't worth expending over the small stuff... and it is anger to an extent... at yourself for leaving the money behind in the change machine, and towards the other guy for being so dishonest. But the time and mental energy you end up expending mulling it over is worth more than the fifteen dollars. The money is gone... I'd smile and forget about it.

Answer 6

Funny story, let it go and learn from it. If something like that happens again don't back down man ark up and get what is yours. People do that sort of thing because they can get away with it. Sorry about the loss though what a pain in the but man.

Answer 7

Yes!!!!! I have lost purses, especially one in a shopping cart and I have lost wallets, especially one on a phone booth and one in a phone booth when I was placing a call. I lost my money each time, except once. And, I have lost my wallet at Dollar General and my paycheck has blown out in the window when I was driving down the road. So, I know exactly how you feel.

Answer 8

lol biker..i remember one time when i was 10 or something i went 4 wheeling with some older guys and we passed a couple HUGE bikers wearing their leather vests and all and i randomly waved hi and smiled at them then they did the same back and i felt so stupid after i realized what i just did

Answer 9

It's not so bad that you forgot...it's an honest mistake. The bad part is that this guy just clearly lied to your face! How horrible is that! It'll come back to him...trust me and you will get what you lost back ten fold! No need to worry... :)

Answer 10

That's a major bummer