by Jen Harley

Created on: September 09, 2008

If you were asked about your income would you be comfortable discussing it? Some people have no problems telling everyone they know how much they make, but for most people the answer may be no. Many of us are taught from a young age that it's not appropriate to discuss how much money we make. This could be due to wanting to avoid any awkwardness if we happen to make more than people we know. Why is it necessary for some to know another person's income? Knowing another person's income seems to be more trouble than it's worth for some people.

My mom used to tell me that if anyone I worked with asked how much I make, I should change the subject or tell them politely that it's none of their business. To be honest, I don't think I've ever worked with anyone who inquired about other people's income. Most paychecks I've received that were not direct deposit were all given to me in a sealed envelope. For example, in various workplaces there are people who do the same job, yet may be paid different amounts of money for whatever reason. If word gets out about the various pay differences for the same job, some may not take kindly to this and start trouble.

For some, it may be awkward to discuss their income with family and friends, especially if they make significantly more or less than you. Talking about income has been known to cause trouble with some families and friends. Some take advantage of people with a high income, while others find ways to make fun of people who make less. I know a man who makes considerably more than his family, and the family is well aware of this, and even though they have jobs of their own, they constantly ask for monetary assistance. The man is fed up but can't find a decent way to tell his family to back off. I've heard of many parents asking their children's fiancs about their income out of curiosity. Yes, they want to make sure their child will be financially set and cared for, but it is an awkward position they put the fianc in, regardless of if they have a high income or not.

Is it truly necessary to know someone else's income? What do we truly gain from knowing how much another person makes? It's understandable that our accountants need the information for tax purposes, but it seems as though revealing our income to others who have no business knowing it is more trouble than what it's worth.

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