Is it weird to be curious about how much money people make?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m always curious. When I meet someone professionally or personally, one of the first things I do is check online to see how much their house is worth. (Also looking to see what neighborhood, whether it’s cute, but mainly price.)

For people in my professional space, I’m curious about salary as a means of benchmarking.

I do the same, check where they live and what property they have.

That's petty. You must be so envious. Why do that to yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

That’s all debt.

This could be me. Just bought a 1.55M house, 31, recently married, honeymoon to Maldives, etc.

I make good money 500k+, DW makes 130k+

We bought the house with 20% down, and sold my starter home that I bought prior to being married. No one helped me with the first home, in laws paid for our entire wedding (90-100k), I paid for wedding rings, engagement rings, and honeymoon. Got some money for our wedding (under 25k) and received a gift from my parents for $120k to use towards our new home (furnishing, down payment, renovation, etc)

We have no debt other than the mortgage.

Not bragging but showing you how a similar person did this at our age. If it weren’t for the paid for wedding, wedding gifts and $120k, would we have bought a home at that price point? Most likely yes, just wouldn’t be as updated or furnished nicely and I’d be much more stressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

There is surely family money, even if it doesn't look like it. At least the house purchase would require some level of outside verification of income/assets, even if the other things could be purchased with debt. Or if not family money, maybe they were early crypto adopters cashing in.

yeah, even if it does not look like it, a lot of boomer parents have significant wealth to help their kids buy a house with, especially if said boomer parents sold their home in an area where real estate prices have grown (California, NY, DC suburbs etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in HR for public traded multinational company. I know how much everyone makes, their salary their stock, their sign on bonus. and I know the market data for jobs for all other companies in our vertical as well as companies our size. So no I’m not curious. If you tell me your job title in my dice I know your total comp within a range of 10-15%

Start a AMA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

I don't wonder about everyone, but situations like this do make me wonder--geez, what does this person make???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

I don't wonder about everyone, but situations like this do make me wonder--geez, what does this person make???

They could do this with a 400k+ HHI.

[Anonymous]

See the PP who outlined a similar scenario. There most likely is some family help involved

[Anonymous]

Yes because it means nothing. A ton of people have family $$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

You have no idea. My dad is so cheap, he hates anything flashy, and he bought me a beach house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care what people earn. I hate it when people pry into our business. If people knew how much money we have they would be jealous or ask for money or both.

I don't want to know how much sex they have either.

It’s human nature to be curious. When it comes to money, it’s makes sense to be curious for those who want to move up socioeconomically. The poor can’t wait for losing. To move up in this country you have to think about money. Money means access to resources and access to resources can men life or death.

I’m so grateful for those that helped me along the way and gave me answers to my curiosity regarding money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care what people earn. I hate it when people pry into our business. If people knew how much money we have they would be jealous or ask for money or both.

I don't want to know how much sex they have either.

It’s human nature to be curious. When it comes to money, it’s makes sense to be curious for those who want to move up socioeconomically. The poor can’t wait for losing. To move up in this country you have to think about money. Money means access to resources and access to resources can men life or death.

I’m so grateful for those that helped me along the way and gave me answers to my curiosity regarding money.

I meant the poor can’t win for losing. The poor seem to not be able to win at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For context, a friend just bought in a 1.5 mil house in a desirable zip code, got engaged with what looked like an expensive ring, got married earlier this year in a 70k-80k ceremony and is planning an international honeymoon all the while furnishing the house with expensive furniture. I’m just curious what 30 year old can afford back to back expenses like that. The spouse is not a high earner. And there doesn’t appear to be family money on either side. So I obviously wonder what income bracket he must be in to be living like that at only 30.

That’s all debt.

This could be me. Just bought a 1.55M house, 31, recently married, honeymoon to Maldives, etc.

I make good money 500k+, DW makes 130k+

We bought the house with 20% down, and sold my starter home that I bought prior to being married. No one helped me with the first home, in laws paid for our entire wedding (90-100k), I paid for wedding rings, engagement rings, and honeymoon. Got some money for our wedding (under 25k) and received a gift from my parents for $120k to use towards our new home (furnishing, down payment, renovation, etc)

We have no debt other than the mortgage.

Not bragging but showing you how a similar person did this at our age. If it weren’t for the paid for wedding, wedding gifts and $120k, would we have bought a home at that price point? Most likely yes, just wouldn’t be as updated or furnished nicely and I’d be much more stressed.

This is called family money. Another poster already suggested it. Yes, we believe this does happen, especially with the great wealth transfer happening between the boomers and Millennials right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care what people earn. I hate it when people pry into our business. If people knew how much money we have they would be jealous or ask for money or both.

I don't want to know how much sex they have either.

They'll start asking for that too

[Anonymous]

I’m curious about how can I increase my income pursuing my passion. Nosing around other people’s income is weird.

[Anonymous]

It is strange but I don't want to know hhi of any of my friends/neighbors and would not want them to know ours. Zero desire there, maybe because I feel close and see them daily.
I am curious about the families involved in my kids' extracurricular activity and some familiar strangers I see in busy areas often. I don't speak with them much but they seem to flaunt wealth more via fashion.