Do you cringe when asked about your finances? I was raised that it's in poor taste to inquire such things from people – unless they are a significant other.

I was once on the phone with one of my co-workers and she just blurted out: "So how much do you make in a week?" I had to pause before answering, that's how serious it is for me. She had 'reasons' for asking, but it just seemed somewhat rude. Oh and get this, when I didn't give her an exact amount for my salary, she was like "Wait? That's an odd number. Is that before or after taxes?"

I know it's probably not really that big a deal to some but I think that if someone isn't paying my bills, then it's not any of their business how much they are, or how much money I make for that matter.

Does anyone else feel this way?

I am the same way, Chris. I despise that question. I always answer something like, "I make enough to afford what I have." Or some blanket reply like that.

I also don't like that people assume that just because we both have our own business we are rolling in the dough and comment as such. Just last weekend, a friend who is in need of cash asked to help my guy on a one day job. The bid was $800, materials were nearly $600 and the friend was disgruntled that he wouldn't make $100 for the day.

Absolutely Chris, its no one's business how much you make and what assets you have. If you want to divulge the information thats your business but I would tell someone right out its not a subject that I want to pursue with them.

I work at a gym and a member asked me how much the starting pay was for what I do. That annoyed me.

When someone asks me personal questions I usually look around to make sure no one can over hear us, lean close and say quietly to them, “Can you keep a secret?” When they assure me that they can, I tell them, “So can I.”

Either that or "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you."

It's nobody's business and it's poor taste to ask.

I knew I wasn't over thinking this. Ever since that incident, I have been slightly put off by this co-worker.

I would have told her that, until she becomes my tax adviser, this wasn't a conversation we were going to have.

I don't even answer it in surveys. Banks, taxes, things like that are the only time it even needs to be discussed.

RobbieFTW wrote:

I work at a gym and a member asked me how much the starting pay was for what I do. That annoyed me.

What's wrong with that question? He/she didn't ask you want you were making, just how much they start off with. If it's a job that you're interested in, there is no qualms in asking how much that particular job pays before you decide to pursue it. Nobody wants to go after a gig and then find out they can't live off of the salary. It's a waste of time.

To answer the question, I don't 'cringe' when asked about my finances. I just don't divulge particular information. It also depends on the way they ask it. Her just straight out asking you what you make in a week was poor taste, but if she were to say...."about how much does a salaried employee make in a week because I would like to be salaried one day" or something like that and you know she was serious about trying to get a similar postion and just in general wanted to know for that reason, then I don't think that's poor taste. You don't have to tell her how much you make, you can just give her a general idea.

It's very impolite to ask about someone's finances. It's bad manners - it's no one's business.

Yeah - I do - unless it's someone I'm REALLY close to, or there's an actual reason, such as they're planning on applying to the same place, or something like that. As soon as that creep I dated a couple of times asked how much I owed on my student loans, I knew what kind of person he was an that we would not be having a 4th date. I only wish now that I'd told him that it was none of his business but that I thank him for revealing is true colours, chauvinist that he is.

The general rule is that you're not supposed to ask someone else how much they earn because it's rude. The only people who know what I bring in a week are my employer and the guy who does my taxes. I'm discreet about it with everyone else.