S/O of "Class" Thread- Why don't we say how much money we make? - Page 3

[PajamaMama]

My father is retired from the military, so everyone knew what everyone else's salary was...it's public information. We didn't really discuss it as a family, but once I was old enough to be curious, I was old enough to figure out how to look it up (and this was in the days before the internet! LOL)

Now we still don't discuss money. As an adult I have a lot of respect for the way we lived on what I now know was a pretty meager income...my parents bought and completely paid for their home before my father retired, all of us children were able to do any kind of sports or lessons we were interested in, we ate very healthfully, etc. My parents live on a fixed income now that they are retired and never seem to be scrimping on anything. They are both just naturally frugal. A line from a song from The Music Man comes to mind... "If they ain't got it, they don't need it!" (and yes, they do live in Iowa )

I know they are curious about how much money my husband makes but they've never come right out and asked. I mentioned once years ago when his company switched hands in the middle of the year that there was a mistake and we were paying into social security again (there is a point at which you stop paying ss tax) and now they think we are fabulously wealthy, even though we live pretty modestly.

[triscuitsmom]

I generally don't talk about how much we make, although it's pretty common knowledge that we don't make a lot because people know our situation Probably the only person who I would talk actual numbers with is one of my closest friends.

I know how much my Mom makes, I also know how much my Dad makes, and pretty much always did growing up. They never hid it (FWIW they were separated the whole time I can remember, so it wasn't combined income, they each individually were open about talking about it). I'd tell my kids if it came up what we made as well, that doesn't seem odd to me.

As for the judging, I can't imagine making as much as I know some of my family members make, not at all judging that they do or what they do with it, but I have commented that I can't imagine what it would be like. The only person who I really judge when it comes to money is my mother... but she makes enough to live off of, or could at least and yet she never has money, always needs to borrow large sums, and then spends tons of money on truly frivolous things (game systems etc).

[philomom]

Originally Posted by mom0810

In the circles in which I grew up, it was considered crass to talk about money.

Yes, to that.