A friend and her husband were recently invited over for a dinner party at his co-worker’s home. When I asked how the evening went, the husband rolled his eyes and said it was a nightmare. Why? “Because I now know what every single item in his home cost.”
Apparently his co-worker’s husband has a taste for bragging and collecting material objects. As he gave my friend and her husband a tour of their home, he would point out certain items (his big-screen TV, car, new couch, etc.) and quote what he had paid for them. My friends could do nothing but smile, raise their eyebrows, and pretend to be impressed. They felt awkward and uncomfortable talking about money so much, and kept trying to steer the conversation to other topics.
I find that money is a topic best avoided unless you’re with a spouse or extremely close friend. I do not know what salary my friends make, and I would not dare dream of asking. If a friend was having financial difficulties I would of course be there to provide a listening ear and moral support, but otherwise I feel that it is none of my business.
What’s more, bragging about your possessions and big salary makes you seem insecure, like you need to prove your worth. It’s fine to spend your money on whatever you like, but it’s far classier to keep mum about the subject of money. Besides, surely you must have something more interesting to talk about than what your watch cost!
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