Do you talk to your "less fortunate" friends about money?
 

I went to a movie with a friend the other night and then we went over to Best Buy so he could pick up a couple CDs. On the way back to the car he starts telling me about his current financial situation and that he was shocked because he was actually "on track" even though he's frivolously spent a crapload of money this week. I say this because he really doesn't make a lot of money, so spending $30-40 4 nights in a row is pretty silly for him. I really don't like talking about money so I did the "uh-huh" thing. So he's telling me about bills, eating dinner out, buying new CDs and DVDs, tickets to concerts at a couple local clubs, and then he mentions that he spent $100 the other day on groceries.

This reminded me that I was almost out of food and really needed to buy groceries. So I casually mentioned that the last time I went grocery shopping I lucked out and only had to spend $60 to get everything I need, but this next time it will probably be around $100 like him. I ended up buying groceries last night, and it was about $100. Anyway...

His first immediate response was "yeh but you're like some porn dude and make a shitload more money than I do." What the hell does that have to do with anything? I was simply mentioning I needed to buy groceries and he jumps on me as if I owe him or something.

While we were in Best Buy I wanted to check out the TVs and he pulled the same thing. I was looking at a really nice Sony LCD for about $3k. "Why would you need something like that? You already have a huge TV. Geez you're looking to spend thousands on a TV and that kind of money could put me through school for a year!"

What the hell? I don't get it. This is the kind of crap I get whenever I mention buying a new computer or toy, or going on a trip somewhere. Is that jealousy? Resentment? Envy?

Reactions like that are why I try not to talk about money period with my friends. It's really annoying actually. You know, if I have a really good day it would be nice to share it with someone. But instead I have to keep my lips sealed so XYZ friend doesn't have a jealous fit.

Anyone else experience similar things? It's just bizarre. I've read before that one of the big reasons "rich" aren't friends with "poor" is due to the "poor" becoming jealous. I'm wondering if this really is true, maybe I'm experiencing something similar?

Ive had a few friends like that

no one seems to talk to me about nice TV's and shit

I tell NO ONE how much I make, nor do I talk to anyone about how to work there money.
PERIOD.

There's only one person other than myself that has any clue what I make, and he doesn't have an ounce of jealousy. My dad is proud of me.

Everything else is based on assumptions.

I prefer not to let anyone know my business.

would be nice if we could all just be rich :)

All people are like that. Even if they are your bestest friends, they're jeaslous.

It's best not to have any money relations with friends. Even talk about it.

Money will distance your friends from you no matter what. It's just a matter of time.

While I believe there is a jealousy component I think it has more to do with their ignorance of what its like making that much money. They don't understand why you'd want bigger and better. They don't understand why you might like to eat out at good restaurants every night. They don't get why you might go to Atlanta for the weekend or Chicago or LA or wherever because you feel like it. They don't understand the freedoms that are afforded by the money because they have never experienced it. When you already have something better than they could ever hope to have and you want to upgrade even from that as in your example with the TV, the whole concept is so alien to them.

I never tell anyone how much I really make... of course due to the car I'm driving I get asked often for details and shit but I would never spill any numbers for good reasons. I earn more a day then most of my buddies earn in a month. I would never have money ruin a life time friendship.

talking money with people is always a problem whether you have it or dont

I think that's wrong.
It depends on society and how people are raised.

Maybe it doesn't apply to America, but in many societies, people are raised with the "money doesn't give happiness" "you will never be rich" or "you have to live a typical life just as anyone else" mentality.

This applies especially to me, since I've been raised in Poland, where it's cool to be complainign about everything and calling rich people thieves.

Ok, I am talking about Poland now, but even though he's American, maybe he was raised in a similar way.

I highly recommend the Sony LCD. :winkwink:

may just be me, but me and my friends dont talk about money at all.

when we go out, everyone buys rounds.

we just kick it, the same way we always did.

i never talk money with anyone.

a lot of my friends think I just play on the internet lol

It was almost as big as yours. Yours would never fit right against my wall. I think it was around 52". I practically cried just looking at it.

same for me
only my dad a a very close friend know how much i make
others are clueless :P

Pff...... no one is jealous at me

depends who your friends are and what they make

key is to only talk to people about your money that are on an equal income

if you do that it is fun to talk about money :winkwink:

but I agree if your friend makes $1000 a month at a dead end job, dont start to him about $3k TVs lol

he would probably find it provocative because you know he cant afford it :2 cents:

same here , lol,

eh i dont shop with friends anymore

That's just lame I think. I have friends that talk to me about buying vacation houses in Mexico and flying first class last minute to Europe. That doesn't make me upset or jealous. That inspires me.

... just ring someone at the IRS ... they love hearing your success stories and trust me, they will listen !!!

Tell you friend to stop being a bitch and get off your nuts if it bothers you. For real. My good friends know how much I make, and if they want to stop sitting a the little kids table I invest in a business that they want to do. It works out. But if some asshole told me to stop flashing how much :2 cents: I have I would bitch slap him.

Jealousy is a female trait.

Thats true.

my friends are always like "you dont work, you just sit on a computer and make a shitload of money".

i usually keep my mouth shut, but i mean if its so easy why do you work shitty jobs for crap pay?

They're not mistaken too.

Damn rigth, I ove hearing stuff like that.. I just shake my head, smile - and go back to work :D

Oh i forgot... I don't think this person is a real friend...
real friends are barely that bitchy and envy at the same time..

if you are already making "lots of money" then yes those stories are fun to hear but if you are no where near happy with what you make it is not so much fun :2 cents:

i get that.

when i first started doing well in this biz, i went out to a bar with a few friends from my day job.

it was dollar coors light night at the bar. that's why they all went. well i hate coors, and had a couple extra bucks on me, so i was drinking heineken. i order a pitcher of shots for my friends and i, and we all drink em down.

then, one of my friends proceeds to tell that it makes people very uncomfortable when i do things like buy a round of shots for all my friends. i didn't udnerstand it. the way i see it, if i got a few extra bucks in my pocket, i am more than happy to spread the love to my friends. because i know when i don't have any money, that the favor will be returned.

but i just don't get it. he was very offended and kept talking about how i was "showing off" so fuck him i never bought him another drink again. :haha

i only shop with my family now. my female friends are insane, reminds me how much i hate golddiggers.

I don't surround myself with negitive people. Most of my friends aren't really "rich" yet but they have career goals and you can tell that no matter what they'll get to it.

Well, the is probably some jealousy behind those comments..

lol one of my friends used to do that too. I said ok here ill show you how to submit to tgp's. When i got to the part about making custom galleries he quit.

Most of my freinds have as much if not more money than I do. Rich bastards. It's cool though because after years of spending money frivolously and enjoying it we are all at the point where not many financial things matter. It is still kind of an inside competition about who's going to make the most money but we all work together wherever possible to help each other make more. What is the point of having money if your friends cannot enjoy life as much as you do also? Seeing your closest friends doing bad feels terrible.

The friends I have that are not doing as well as they should I have helped. A couple I have put in this business. Free hosting, domains, content, plenty of my time... whatever they needed to get started I give them.

Have you tried to turn your crybaby friend on to new ways of making money?

i dont have such issues.

No..but you won't stop telling me about how big a broke ass bitch I am.

I've attempted to help 3 different friends make money. I even bought one a computer because he was going to work for me.

Haha, that went over real well. I've done my part. I'm of the opinion that if *I* can make a decent living, any ablebodied person with half a brain can do the same. This isn't rocket science, it simply requires dedication.

I've sacrificed. I've invested. I've worked hard. I don't see why I should have to feel bad because I want a new toy every now and then.