MONEY.

[rosetta]

Do you talk about it in polite company?

 

[Puppmom]

Nah, I don't know anyone who has any!

 

[atroop711]

nope..nor do I like to discuss religion or politics...just can get out of hand quickly

 

[Miss Sparkly]

nope..nor do I like to discuss religion or politics...just can get out of hand quickly

Agree.

 

[purselover]

I don't at all, but DH and the rest of our group of friends do. I know everyone's salary, student loans etc. I also find it really annoying that DH's sister and cousin are ALWAYS asking how much everything costs, from a new pair of shoes to our wedding and it drives me nuts. I'm always vague and say something like I'm not sure, but DH has no problem telling, I'm finally starting to break him of this habit.

 

[ForteKitty]

Polite company.. dont have any. My friends, yes. They love a good deal and i love to share, so the the topic of money comes up quite often. But we're frugal people and most of the time it's related to saving money tho, not really spending money. It's never in a boastful or snooty way. My good friend actually posted a list of everything she spent on her wedding, just to prove that a great wedding can be inexpensive and still look really fancy. (tip: those stupid uplights make a world of difference in a venue!) We also know how much each other make, so it's not a big deal. I'd be really annoyed if people ask just to be nosy or competitive tho...

 

[TooPatient]

My family talks about money. Less interested in how much people make and more interested in really good deals (Macy's kids' coats for $19!), how to cut the budget, etc.

At work? The 2 guys I work for both talk a fair amount about what bills they pay (even the ones I don't manage), how much house work costs, mortgage, etc. -- I don't talk much with them about my stuff usually.

People we just met? No. Not unless there is some good reason.
Polite company we've known awhile? We don't initiate, but it actually came up last time we were together.


I guess I do talk about money a lot more than other people might. I work for stock brokers so it is kind of my job and when someone asks what I do they often take my answer "Oh... I just work for a couple of stock brokers." and start discussing other money stuff. (budgets, saving, retirement, taxes, politics, etc, etc, etc)

 

[Prana]

To close friends and family, yes---to a degree.

But not to anyone else. I don't even entertain the idea of a discussion.

 

[Haven]

No, never.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Do you talk about it in polite company?

I was raised to never talk about money with other people. Once I told a friend how much my dad was paid - I don't even know how I found out - I was in middle school and she went home and told her mom and they said I was lying. lol!

Most of the people I know do. Some I consider bragging and innapropriate, others I don't. One gal I knew (she moved away) told me her and her DH put $100K down on their house. A few weeks later, she told me again. Then about four months later, they sold their house and lost about $70K of that money, which must have left her feeling a bit silly. I thought her initial bragging was rather tasteless because I had only known her for a few weeks when she told me for the first time.

Recently, I've found more of my mommy friends discussing ways to save money here and there. Interesting enough, nobody is broke, just realizing if we use coupons we can pad our savings a lot more. Most of us are sick of spending $60 on halloween costumes.

 

[yennyfire]

Not in terms of salary, how much our homes/cars, etc. cost. In terms of "hey, Macy's is having a great sale...I got these shoes for %40 off!"...yes.

 

[elrohwen]

It's not a totally forbidden topic by any means - most of our friends work at the same place we do, so we know roughly what people are making. We don't talk about actual salaries, but we don't have a problem discussing student loans, mortgages, rent payments, car payments, etc. Some of my friends are also extremely financially savvy, so they love talking about money and I've learned some things from them (especially about mortgages).

In general we all make about the same and have the same philosophies about money (we're all cheap!), so it doesn't seem strange to talk about it. In another situation, I would be less likely to discuss it.

eta: I just remembered that a few friends are getting married and asked me (with my permission) how much I spent on the wedding. I was happy to help and even volunteered to send them my budget spreadsheet. I remember how hard it was to come up with a budget when you don't know what your money will buy in the wedding world.

 

[somethingshiny]

One of my sisters doesn't talk about money but the rest of us do. We don't have nearly enough to brag about, but when someone gets a raise we all celebrate, etc. We know how much each other's homes, cars and gadgets cost and we're always happy to talk about our latest great deal.

My family and friends also talk about politics, religion and sex. No topic is off limits.

 

[D&T]

As for homes, cars and electronics, my family and DH's family don't mind talking about it, even salary. We don't care, and they don't either. We don't compete. Only close friends of ours might know what our salary is, but we never talk about it. If there are job postings or careers in mind they are interested, that is related to mine or DH's we'll just be general about it. I think when I was younger, I used to ask all the time what things cost, not because I was nosy but if I was truly interested in similar items and wondered if its reasonable for my own budget or not. I am more conscientious now that I am older about any fianancial talks with people around me, especially if they are in financial stress.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I do with family, a bit - like they all know my hourly pay, how much my car was, etc. But I don't run over there every time I buy something to share how much I spent, you know? I also have a best friend that talks about it with me because her family is totally jealous and really cruel about how much more money she makes. She's a certified nurse and makes BANK (she's single, too) and her family will often expect her to pay for things just because she has money. Sooo wrong. So her and I talk about it because I am not that way with her.

 

[ksinger]

LOL! Our family talked about money. If you call bragging how LITTLE you paid for something talking about money! Finding the best thing for the best bargain was the form of oneupsmanship in our family. That and being able to take said sow's ear, sew it into a silk purse AND bead the darn thing. BY HAND. Store bought always played second-fiddle to the handmade.

But really talking about how much you made? No. Poor taste. Not done.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Depends on the friend. I have nothing to hide financially--the good, the bad and the ugly--but I never talk about how much something costs. I don't discuss my salary, the mortgage, or how much my wedding costs, for instance. But, I don't mind talking about how to accomplish a financial goal or how frustrating a financial setback is. One of my friends recently quit her job to be a SAHM and we sometimes talk about the impact it has on a woman, which I find very helpful since it's a decision that's been hanging over my head for a long time. So I don't mind talking about it in general terms, especially if it's a healthy conversation about how to achieve goals, but I don't like talking about the "cost of things".

ETA: Like many others, I do love a bargain and will sometimes mention what a great deal I got if it pops up.

 

[Dancing Fire]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

 

[Haven]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

 

[Imdanny]

I talk about it with my SO, my best friend, and my closest relatives. I don't necessarily think it's a polite topic at a dinner party.

 

[soocool]

Topic never comes up with anyone other than DH. We have other people, ah, things to talk about.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I have different levels with different people.

My father is my financial advisor and he knows my savings and investments. He has a pretty good idea of my former salary, but I never told him outright.

I might discuss budgets, the cost of things and the value/benefit of a purchase with closer friends and tell them about a great deal or rip-off.

I hate when people are obcessed with deals though. I have a friend that, if you praise, anything she is wearing, will answer saying what a great deal it was, it cost only $X even though it is Fancy-Schmancy designer and she got it in a fabulous little discount boutique that is such a pain to get to and on and on and on. I love hearing about a good bargain, but if it is every single time we see each other and a long spiel, it gets very tiring. Oh, and don't tell her about a purchase either, since it will set off the same spiel.

 

[Dancing Fire]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

this may sound crazy,but i don't even know my wife's annual income...

 

[elrohwen]

I hate when people are obcessed with deals though. I have a friend that, if you praise, anything she is wearing, will answer saying what a great deal it was, it cost only $X even though it is Fancy-Schmancy designer and she got it in a fabulous little discount boutique that is such a pain to get to and on and on and on. I love hearing about a good bargain, but if it is every single time we see each other and a long spiel, it gets very tiring. Oh, and don't tell her about a purchase either, since it will set off the same spiel.

I feel the same way! I'm all for a discount, but bragging about every single item you purchase and how cheap it was is just as annoying as bragging about how expensive it was.

 

[katamari]

I study social class and teach courses on inequality and consumption, so, yeah, like 24-7.

 

[pennquaker09]

I was raised not to.

I might talk about what something costs here and there, but for the most part, I don't like doing that at all.

 

[ForteKitty]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

this may sound crazy,but i don't even know my wife's annual income...

Your wife works for the state, right? It's public records now. you can search by name.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

My husband does NOT like to discuss money. He likes that I'm SAHM and that he works. He likes to bring home the paycheck, give it to me and leave me to figure it all out from there. lol! Okay -> top ramen for kids, new jeans for mommy

 

[Dancing Fire]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

this may sound crazy,but i don't even know my wife's annual income...

Your wife works for the state, right? It's public records now. you can search by name.

yes,but i don't know her job title,besides,i don't really care... all i know is something to do with IT.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

yes,sometime with close friends,but never talk about money with my wife.

My husband is the only person with whom I DO discuss money!

this may sound crazy,but i don't even know my wife's annual income...

Your wife works for the state, right? It's public records now. you can search by name.

yes,but i don't know her job title,besides,i don't really care... all i know is something to do with IT.

Really? Your wife isn't offended that you don't care enough what she spends 40 hours a week doing? I see listening to my DH talk about his job as part of being a supportive spouse.