Lottery winners - do you tell others in your life about your wins? (New York: apartment, for rent)

[BritinNYC]

As some of you may know, I recently moved into a lottery apartment (yay!) but I really don't know whether or not to tell especially nosey people about it!

For one thing, I am slightly uncomfortable with people asking direct questions about how much rent we pay etc (unless it is someone I know well), and even then, I am a bit uncomfortable in indirectly letting people know our income (maybe it is less of a taboo here, but where I am from in Europe people don't really talk about such things!), especially with those buildings exclusively at one AMI and not another.

I'm wondering how other lottery winners have dealt with it. Told everyone around you, or played your cards close to your chest?

I had one friend go off on a rant about how any household with an income of $100k or more can just afford to pay market rate anywhere in the city and shouldn't be included in the lottery (a debate for another day), so I am super cagey with that person in particular, and just left that part of our move story out - and yes, they are hopelessly naive about rents here for some reason (thought they could get a one-bed in Manhattan for $1000 when they moved here...I wish!).

Curious to hear how you all deal with it!

[Gilmoregal]

You are curious about discussing this with the other tenants in your building?

LOL 1k for rent anywhere these days is a miracle

[Ghost20]

I have not won a lottery yet but I talk about it pretty openly and encourage others to look into it because u never know. I think generally most people here still don’t discuss salary but I’m part of the whole salary transparency movement lol so I have no problem discussing my income.

[Ghost20]

Oh and when I say “here” I mean NYC not this forum obv lol

[Gilmoregal]

Originally Posted by Ghost20

I have not won a lottery yet but I talk about it pretty openly and encourage others to look into it because u never know. I think generally most people here still don’t discuss salary but I’m part of the whole salary transparency movement lol so I have no problem discussing my income.

Same, I tell my friends & co workers about it. Without even bringing up my salary or anything a lot of people kind of shut down the conversation because they think its incredibly hard to win it (even though I know a lot who have won). They also think its some kind of "scam".

So those I know who know about think its fake or have won it/gotten called to provide documents. lol

[BritinNYC]

Originally Posted by Gilmoregal

You are curious about discussing this with the other tenants in your building?

LOL 1k for rent anywhere these days is a miracle

Tenants, friends, employers, family, randos we interact with daily. So many "So, why did you move? How much is your rent at your new place?" type questions.

Obviously some of my friends I am happy to share if they didn't know about it. But other people? I guess I am worried about judgment - on one memorable occasion I got told I was "stealing housing from real New Yorkers" and that I should "leave"! (Even though my other half is a "real " New Yorker? OK then! lol!)

I guess I am just going to have to gauge the intention / judgment level on an individual basis! (I overthink things. It's a whole thing! lol)

Also - quite agree - would love to pay $1k rent! Sign me up!

[someoneinqueens]

I'm a single household who earned more than $100K/year now & when people asked how much I pay for my rent, I asked them to look up my building on StreetEasy, end of story! Unless they are a very very close circle of mine otherwise it's none of their business.

[Gilmoregal]

Originally Posted by someoneinqueens

I'm a single household who earned more than $100K/year now & when people ask how much I pay for my rent, I asked them to look it up my building on StreetEasy, end of story! Unless they are a very very close circle of mine otherwise it's none of their business.

I love this response

[BritinNYC]

Originally Posted by Ghost20

I have not won a lottery yet but I talk about it pretty openly and encourage others to look into it because u never know. I think generally most people here still don’t discuss salary but I’m part of the whole salary transparency movement lol so I have no problem discussing my income.

Agree with this in general, and would happily discuss with people in the same industry as me!

[BritinNYC]

Originally Posted by someoneinqueens

I'm a single household who earned more than $100K/year now & when people asked how much I pay for my rent, I asked them to look it up my building on StreetEasy, end of story! Unless they are a very very close circle of mine otherwise it's none of their business.

Excellent response! I find it often comes from a place of nosiness rather than a place of "oh, I'm considering moving into a similar size apartment in your area and wondering what to expect!"