"So how much DO you make?"

[Hermosa11]

What I would have done/said

Nice quiet "stare back with a curious look to me (like: "did you really just say that?") that would be for about 4 seconds (that is a nice time frame) and then just say: "not enough, any more questions"?

 

[Sleepy]

Actually, that question comes up quite a bit in the military community whether you are retiring or not. People are just curious about the difference in pay between military and civilian. Never seemed to bother anyone. Usually, the people will be the first to say something like "I make almost twice as much as I did before".

 

[mel]

I don't see what the big deal is. If people want to know it is easy enough to find all of the above info on the internet...if they're like me I'd rather save myself some time and just ask. I never mind telling people stuff like that...I'm 44, 5'11, 145 lbs, last year DH and I made $150,000...our house is 1780 sq ft, paid $167,000 for it 6.5 years ago, now worth $480,000.

Ok, but say you were 56, 5'0, 175 lbs, only make $29,000, bought house for $65,000 now only worth $40,000 and you were filing bankruptcy, would you still throw it out there? I think we don't mind telling people as long as it is positive information. If it is less than what is desired, we aren't as forthcoming. So I feel people should not get so personal and put people in a position they might not want to be in, such as answering questions about money. I agree my girlfriends probaly know more about my sex life than they do our finances, it's just no one's business.

 

[dmslush]

I would never ask anyone how much they make, it is rude IMO. But, I don't mind telling people how much I make if they ask me. Working at the shelter, all of my salary comes from tax payer money and donations. The way I look at it, my salary history is public knowledge, and if someone is asking about it, they may feel sorry for how little we make and give us a HUGE donation

 

[Marseeya]

Ok, but say you were 56, 5'0, 175 lbs, only make $29,000, bought house for $65,000 now only worth $40,000 and you were filing bankruptcy, would you still throw it out there? I think we don't mind telling people as long as it is positive information. If it is less than what is desired, we aren't as forthcoming. So I feel people should not get so personal and put people in a position they might not want to be in, such as answering questions about money. I agree my girlfriends probaly know more about my sex life than they do our finances, it's just no one's business.

I'm just the opposite.

It was easier for me to tell people how much money we made when we were low income.