Discussing money

[Heracles 417]

I also think that money gives certain people a feeling of superiority. Not all people with money, but some. It is THIS that causes people to dislike them, rather than the fact that they have money. People who tell those of the "classes" below them "Well why don't you just invest your money and reap the dividends?" obviously have no clue what it's like for 50% of the population who earn just enough to pay their bills, plan for retirement, and send kids to college; if they're even lucky enough to be able to plan for retirement or college. There simply isn't any money to invest. That fact seems to be lost on a lot of people. The number of people with even a savings account in the US is pretty low, really.

Bragging about money is a totally different story. Sharing knowledge and learning from others is the key. How many people in West Virginia realize that you can earn $150K plus if they are in the right field and have the right skills. Instead they feed off each other and live in squalor. How many people here buy new cars every few years but are dirt poor? I have seen people setup their families for life yet drive the same car for 10 years. Do the poor realize that not too many middle class people have kids at a young age or when they simply cannot afford to raise them.

The one thing clear is that the poor can be very stubborn. People who should have moved yesterday prefer to live in dilapidated areas and blame the system. People who refuse to move with the times and prefer to live like it's 1950. If the millions living in poverty actually worked together they would achieve wonders. They need to learn from the Vietnamese community who are great at working together rather than blaming the system or focusing on their circumstances. Once again learning from others is the key. Get together and clean up your street. Help each other painting and repairing their property. Work with police to get the crooks of their streets. The right attitude along with sharing knowledge and working together is the key.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Aficionado

[Brad and Vika 129]

It's very clear not discussing pay with other employees stands to solely benefit the employer.

I think this is a true statement for many jobs. There are some positions that are strictly performance based though, where compensation comparisons between employees are just not productive.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Talking about money in a productive way (how to invest, how to save, how to ask for a raise using the higher salaries of others with similar skills as leverage) is smart.....bragging about money is gauche and tacky.

Aye it is.

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The one thing clear is that the poor can be very stubborn. People who should have moved yesterday prefer to live in dilapidated areas and blame the system. People who refuse to move with the times and prefer to live like it's 1950. If the millions living in poverty actually worked together they would achieve wonders. They need to learn from the Vietnamese community who are great at working together rather than blaming the system or focusing on their circumstances. Once again learning from others is the key. Get together and clean up your street. Help each other painting and repairing their property. Work with police to get the crooks of their streets. The right attitude along with sharing knowledge and working together is the key.

There are some cultural issues here that should be considered. It isn't just stubborness or stupidity. Many cultures around the world value consensus and respect for group discussion/acceptance of ideas much more than American culture does. We tend to regard independence and individual achievement most highly. In addition there is a cultural resistance in many communities here to any sort of "help" or "guidance" from the community or government. These beliefs and cultural biases run strong and deep here. I agree that not accepting knowledge or help doesn't slow the laying of blame much.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Brad and Vika

[chri'stina 190]

I would only discuss salaries openly with my family. If friends want to ask, then we can talk about it, but otherwise we don't really. Well actually among my friends, we all know what each other makes I think. It just happens over time when you hang out with people for years, you are bound to find out. I wouldn't bring it up myself because Sujeet makes a lot more(sometimes double) than most of our married friends. I don't mean that to sound like bragging, but I feel if he went to college for years and got a master's degree and the others didn't finish college, and he picked a very good career field, then he deserves to make a lot of money and they should see why he does, not because he's better than them, but he made some good decisions(wow, longest run on ever). But we don't have a lifestyle much different than our friends, and actually they all live their life better than us in a way with going out to eat all the time, trips to Disney all the time, new technology, vacations, etc. We don't do that or have that stuff. What we do have is savings, and most of them don't. So I guess it's what you decide to spend your money on. It's annoying at times though that they all have all this new stuff all the time and we don't, lol.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Parivar CSK

[Amby 490]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

[KiKi 0]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

Probably compensating

[Amby 490]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

Probably compensating

he has mentioned his ####### is small

[KiKi 0]

[Laura+Tom 2]

In my profession we know how much everyone else earns as we are on spine points. Both me and my boss were promoted last year so we both started on the bottom spine of our respective grades and the exact spine figures are published on our intranet. However in my previous job it was performance related pay and we were told never to talk about it, but of course we did. Doesn't bother me talking about pay, there will always be someone earning more or less than me.

[PlatyPius 5]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

Probably compensating

he has mentioned his ####### is small

Really? You saw Mark this weekend?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

I saw that on vacation a few weeks ago - a guy whipped out a huge wedge of cash in the ship bar after his wife asked him to "tip" the piano guy to play the song she wanted. The guy was in the process of counting out notes when he realized the guy was already playing the song and walked off without bothering with the tip.

Crude and stingy - together at last. Priceless.

[mawilson 2,133]

Talking about money in a productive way (how to invest, how to save, how to ask for a raise using the higher salaries of others with similar skills as leverage) is smart.....bragging about money is gauche and tacky.

Aye it is.

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

And that there are still people out there who use the word "gauche"

[*Robert* 2]

I've just been brought up that it was really tacky. Not sure there's anything that can change my take on it. Only with very close friends and family would I feel comfortable sharing salary info.

I'm the same as you. My father NEVER talked about money, and we certainly never asked him about it. When it came to my father filling out financial forms, you'd think they were asking for a kidney or something from the man.

As for the workplace, as others have mentioned, it just doesn't make for a harmonious workplace, when people find out their co-workers, whom they don't like or feel are not good workers, are making more than them. Even for the good workers, who have been there for a while, are going to be behind the curve as college new-hires come in, starting off even higher than where you are.

I’m certainly not embarrassed with the money I make, but I also don’t feel it’s anyone’s damn business what I make either, and it shouldn’t be a competition. It also has to do with modesty. If you know you are better off than someone else, do you really need to point it out to them even further by giving them exact numbers?

As to whether or not someone shouldn’t be envious or jealous of someone being more successful then themselves; well I’m sure that makes sense if you’re the one who’s successful! For those who aren’t, for what ever reasons, they don’t need to have their noses rubbed in the fact.

[Amby 490]

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

Probably compensating

he has mentioned his ####### is small

Really? You saw Mark this weekend?

It was actually a guy that followed me from LA to London and then to here because he was obsessed with me. He finally gave up and moved to Houston last weekend.

Its cringeworthy to me that there are still people out there who carry around door-step thick wedges of notes when they go out.

I went to breakfast last weekend with my friend and he pulled out this massive wad of cash wrapped in a rubber band to pay the bill. I thought #######? you carry that much cash but you can't afford a wallet or a money clip?

I saw that on vacation a few weeks ago - a guy whipped out a huge wedge of cash in the ship bar after his wife asked him to "tip" the piano guy to play the song she wanted. The guy was in the process of counting out notes when he realized the guy was already playing the song and walked off without bothering with the tip.

Crude and stingy - together at last. Priceless.

I very rarely carry cash since I tend to lose it. I'd be afraid I would drop that rubber band roll of money somewhere on the street and never find it.