I think that people live in their own bubbles and find it difficult to understand that other income levels exist, so while I think some people lie, I think in many cases it’s just that others react in disbelief. I’ve posted my stats before and has them questioned but I’m honest.

Anonymous wrote:I think that people who are rich are prone to post about their wealth. Also, that people who are thin are prone to post about their weight and virtuous diet and exercise habits. That people who spend a lot on extracurriculars for their kids post a lot about the benefits. That people who travel a lot post a lot about that.

I’m willing to post our HHI on this board (double biglaw!) but if there’s a post asking what my weight and dress size is, or how many international trips I took last year, I won’t comment.

+1

It’s selection bias, not lying. I’m bet there’s very little lying. And the lying you do see is a) lying to yourself (the $500 grocery example - you did that ONE TIME pre inflation and have convinced yourself that’s how much you spend when in reality you don’t track it and it’s way more or b) lying to obfuscate, simplify, or focus. If I’m anticipating a future problem, for example, I’ll present it as now. I’ll slightly adjust my kid ages or genders so my friends who read this won’t think of me. I assume others do this too.

But no, I don’t think many people who make $100k are commenting here about making $300k. What would even be the point if that?

I don’t understand the post. First you say how you’re very informed about your financials. Then you accuse many of lying. Are you saying folks aren’t familiar with their own financials so they posting inaccuracy information?

I don't think people lie, it's just selection bias.

Like who goes out of their way to post about how much .kney they have or make if they don't have a lot? Of course only people who have a lot of money or who make a lot will only post. It's sampling bias and does not even come close to what the mean profile looks like in the area in terms of incomes, wealth, and savings. Just go with more reliable results like data from the census bureau.

Anonymous wrote:I think there are people trolling/goofing around/messing with people.

But most people earnest and truthful. I’m sure some fibbing happens…for example some posters don’t want to reveal everything about their situation…but when people talk about the income, I think it’s mostly true? Who knows

I think there are some posts where people are prone to posting fake answers because the posts themselves are kind of pointless - what age were you when you first had net worth of more than a million, how much do you have saved for college, how much do you have saved for retirement? Other people's savings shouldn't matter to you, and if you ask that kind of question, I think you're going to get a bunch of fake answers mixed in with truthful ones.

I don't lie but have accused of lying here. I don't understand why anyone would lie on an anonymous forum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that people who are rich are prone to post about their wealth. Also, that people who are thin are prone to post about their weight and virtuous diet and exercise habits. That people who spend a lot on extracurriculars for their kids post a lot about the benefits. That people who travel a lot post a lot about that.

I’m willing to post our HHI on this board (double biglaw!) but if there’s a post asking what my weight and dress size is, or how many international trips I took last year, I won’t comment.

Why? Because you didn't take any/many international trips and don't have anything to contribute, or because of embarrassment? But it's anonymous? I'm genuinely curious. I post or answer all sorts of questions here, truthfully, because as someone pointed out it's anonymous so no reason not to.

She’s saying she’s not proud of her dress size (on a site where only size 2/4 can be proud) and didn’t take any particularly glamorous/aspirational trips.

The only liars I sense are the ones who claim to make $2M + a year and still feel MC/don’t have enough/worry about retirement, etc.

That’s just ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A significant amount fib imo.

How so? Any why would they? Bored & goofing around? Yes, I believe this happens. But regular posters are likely being honest.

Cause they like making other people feel sh**ty.

There's a lot of people on here who claim they are making a lot of money, not sure how they have time to post if they are making the salaries they all claim

I tend to think people never have any reason to lie on DCUM, but they can:

1. Make mistakes in their assessments. Unlike you, OP, many people have only the vaguest idea of what they're spending. People tend to exaggerate a little when they want to make a point as well, but the gist is true enough.

2. Make jokes. Like when I replied to the "how many cars in your family" thread with "2 cars per driver, one casual, one dressy". Clearly those responses are made in jest.

A lot of people haven't been exposed to a lot, and don't realize people's situations can be so different from theirs. PARTICULARLY in this area, where there are so many transplants from elsewhere in the US and the world. The cultural differences and financial situations are incredibly varied! Like for the thread about how rude it is to bring a sibling to a birthday party - I've known perfectly decent people who were used to bringing siblings because they come from a circle where it's socially acceptable, being called rude because now they're bringing a sibling to a venue that strictly caps the number of guests - except they didn't know.

As an international family with atypical finances, what I notice MOST is how posters reflexively disbelieve or disparage experiences that are far out of their norm, without taking the time to consider it from the other person's point of view.

Anonymous wrote:I’m an early retired Biglaw partner who walked away eight years ago. Man do Biglaw lawyers make a lot of money today - and associate raises in recent years have been huge. My first year as an equity partner in the early 2000s I made $450k. That’s nothing compared to what I’d be making today had I stuck around.

Still, in my experience many big law lawyers fall victim to the golden handcuffs. Their incomes are huge, but so are their expenses, and as others have suggested their incomes are often fleeting because most Biglaw lawyers don’t / can’t stay for the long term or male partner. So, yea, I take all the bragging about really high HHI with a huge grain of salt. What really matters is net worth, not HHI, and how much free time you have in your life. Take it from me, a Biglaw lawyer is, in many ways, not “rich” in the slightest in my book. I wouldn’t go back to where I once was for anything.

100% agree

I’m an early retired Biglaw partner who walked away eight years ago. Man do Biglaw lawyers make a lot of money today - and associate raises in recent years have been huge. My first year as an equity partner in the early 2000s I made $450k. That’s nothing compared to what I’d be making today had I stuck around.

Still, in my experience many big law lawyers fall victim to the golden handcuffs. Their incomes are huge, but so are their expenses, and as others have suggested their incomes are often fleeting because most Biglaw lawyers don’t / can’t stay for the long term or male partner. So, yea, I take all the bragging about really high HHI with a huge grain of salt. What really matters is net worth, not HHI, and how much free time you have in your life. Take it from me, a Biglaw lawyer is, in many ways, not “rich” in the slightest in my book. I wouldn’t go back to where I once was for anything.

Anonymous wrote:I think that people who are rich are prone to post about their wealth. Also, that people who are thin are prone to post about their weight and virtuous diet and exercise habits. That people who spend a lot on extracurriculars for their kids post a lot about the benefits. That people who travel a lot post a lot about that.

I’m willing to post our HHI on this board (double biglaw!) but if there’s a post asking what my weight and dress size is, or how many international trips I took last year, I won’t comment.

Why? Because you didn't take any/many international trips and don't have anything to contribute, or because of embarrassment? But it's anonymous? I'm genuinely curious. I post or answer all sorts of questions here, truthfully, because as someone pointed out it's anonymous so no reason not to.

I lie about identifiers, like sometimes I post about my 4 children, sometimes 3 children, sometimes 2 children, I mix up their genders, my husband/spouse/partner, my location in CC, Bethesda, Potomac, but not about anything else