'Now I know who my real friends are'

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#1
A case of "More Money, More Problems"? Being rich suddenly can give you more worries and show you how true friends are!

The Straits Times
May 28, 2012
JACKPOT AUNTIE: CHOO HONG ENG
'Now I know who my real friends are'


THE 'Jackpot Aunty' who became cash-rich from taking on the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino to claim her winnings now feels poorer for the whole experience.

Madam Choo Hong Eng, a 58-year-old hawker, got the $416,742.16 she won at a slot machine at its casino last November.

But she has also lost friends, some of whom go back 30 years.

She told The Straits Times that she still gets calls every other day from these 'friends', who have come out of the woodwork to ask for help in paying their credit card bills and loans or to restart failed businesses.

The Mandarin-speaking woman, who runs a vegetarian stall in Geylang East, said: 'When I turn them down, they get angry with me and scold me for being heartless. But what can I do? I can't help so many people!'

The devout Buddhist has donated the bulk of her winnings - $280,000 - to 26 charities, with each getting between $5,000 and $20,000.

The charities that did not make it to her list of 26 are another source of stress for her. They have needed placating too.

She said: 'They make me feel so bad. Winning the money has given me more problems.'

Dealing with the pressure of sharing her new-found wealth has whittled 3kg off her frame.

The mother of two adopted girls had won the money at the MBS casino last October, only to be told by a manager that the jackpot machine had a glitch.

She was told she would get $50,000 and a car worth $258,962 instead.

She was adamant about getting what she had won, and complained to the Casino Regulatory Authority. A month later, she was handed her winnings in full.

With the bulk of the money given away to charities, she spent another $60,000 on volunteer work such as cooking up meals for 3,500 residents in welfare homes.

She also bought 10-course restaurant dinners for the residents of an old folk's home and made a donation to the victims of the Bangkok floods.

Not a single cent was spent on herself or her daughters, she said.

She still lives in her five-room HDB flat in Pipit Road and drives her trusty year-old Volkswagen delivery van; her new Samsung smartphone was a gift from her telco for being a loyal customer.

She said that she is an inveterate bargain-bin shopper, and that she was wearing a $1 pair of slippers when she hit the jackpot.

The one thing that has changed: She has sworn off going to casinos.

'The big win was just pure luck and I don't think it will happen again. So why bother wasting my money and, in the end, ruining my own life?'

Saying she is thankful for the few friends who have stuck by her, neither resentful of her fortune nor pestering her for handouts, she added: 'At least, now I know who my real friends are. But I really wish things will go back to normal.'
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#2
on money and friends.

that's why they always advise if win money don't tell your friends and not even your own wife Big Grin

another thing I have observed is that when a person with money dies besides appearance of the tax man there could be a lot of people from out of the blue suddenly claim to be his friends and say he owe money to them when he was alive or made promises to donate money to various organizations.

Make sure before your deathbed you settle all your money matters otherwise the people you left behind going have to clean up after you go.
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#3
Hopefully from this article she would have gotten some form of closure over all the initial publicity when she won the money from the casino.
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#4
I always believe friends are "贵精不贵多" (Things are valued for their quality rather than their numbers).

During the period, it is an oppurtunity to have a clear view who are the "quality" friends. Having said that, it is always a bitter feeling in front of the reality when it occur Sad
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#5
Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

Just my Diary
corylogics.blogspot.com/


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#6
(28-05-2012, 11:36 AM)corydorus Wrote: Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

Before you move on, please be abosultely sure that only "fake friends" are weed out, not family members or extended family members.

The bitter feeling you will be facing, is very difficult to endure, if (extended) family member are the ones been weed out Sad

My advice, do not do it unless there are no other choices Tongue
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#7
(28-05-2012, 11:45 AM)CityFarmer Wrote:
(28-05-2012, 11:36 AM)corydorus Wrote: Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

Before you move on, please be abosultely sure that only "fake friends" are weed out, not family members or extended family members.

The bitter feeling you will be facing, is very difficult to endure, if (extended) family member are the ones been weed out Sad

My advice, do not do it unless there are no other choices Tongue

Agree. You can ignore your friends but not relatives. No matter what happens, you will meet up again occasionally on family+extended family's gathering. Whether you like it or not.
It is only when you are in deep Sh** and definitely not when you are in "deep in goldmine", that you can see who are your real friends. In fact you should always be careful of people around you when you are deep in goldmine.
Anyway, in reality what are friends for?
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
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#8
(28-05-2012, 11:36 AM)corydorus Wrote: Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

After you'd successfully weeded out your 'pig-dog' friends, your true friends may not believe you when you finally tell them you actually didn't hit a S$1M prize. They may think that you don't trust them enough and is now lying to them... End up maybe with not a single friend... Rolleyes
Luck & Fortune Favours those who are Prepared & Decisive when Opportunity Knocks
------------ 知己知彼 ,百战不殆 ;不知彼 ,不知己 ,每战必殆 ------------
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#9
(28-05-2012, 02:28 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(28-05-2012, 11:36 AM)corydorus Wrote: Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

After you'd successfully weeded out your 'pig-dog' friends, your true friends may not believe you when you finally tell them you actually didn't hit a S$1M prize. They may think that you don't trust them enough and is now lying to them... End up maybe with not a single friend... Rolleyes

Ha! Ha!SmileBig Grin
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
Reply
#10
(28-05-2012, 02:28 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(28-05-2012, 11:36 AM)corydorus Wrote: Maybe I should play a trick and fake hit S$1M prize and use it to weed out "friends". Smile

After you'd successfully weeded out your 'pig-dog' friends, your true friends may not believe you when you finally tell them you actually didn't hit a S$1M prize. They may think that you don't trust them enough and is now lying to them... End up maybe with not a single friend... Rolleyes

I once talked to an elder, on topic on self-initiated test on relationships, which i strongly agreed.

Self-initiated test on any relationship (family, love, friend, associate etc) is a destructive test. You may get your desired answer, but the relationship will never be the same again.

So his advice, unless you intent to dispose the relationship, then never ever think of doing it. Big Grin
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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