This weekend the New York Times had an article entitled Not-So-Personal Finance. The article looks at the trend of young professionals openly talking about their money and salaries. Obviously as pfbloggers we all share what we make and how we budget with each other. But do you share it with your friends?
When I started my blog I immediately shared it with my bf, but no one else. However, now I have slowly been sharing my blog with some friends. Okay, so only two friends so far. This article got me thinking about who we talk about money with and who we don't. I've always been pretty open about what I make, but there are some people I won't share this kind of information. I'm not exactly sure why, is it their hesitation or mine?
Sometimes the right moment to share this information never comes up. As the article says:
"While salaries may be disclosed casually among friends, that doesn’t mean most young professionals brag about their incomes at a cocktail party. There is still an etiquette to sharing the information — a proper way to divulge. "
My favorite part of the article was a quote from a 28 year old publicity director, Kate Hubin:
“For my generation, salary is one piece of the job satisfaction and self-worth puzzle, but not the only metric we use,” she wrote in an e-mail message. “Status is not just about money any more. Everyone knows you generally have to suffer to make a big income, so high-earners talk about their salary in the course of complaining — is all this worth $180,000? — while low-earners see their paltry salaries as a token of lifestyle freedom.”
This I truly believe. Money is important, but how many of us would scarf ice happiness, freedom and satisfaction in our jobs just for large salaries? As much as I wish I were making more money, I'm happy in my job and I'd rather just learn how to live within my income.
Now if only I could find the happiness, freedom and satisfaction I have in my job AND a large salary...
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7 comments:
I haven't shared my blog with anyone (even my bf of almost 4 years... is that weird?)
I don't like to share salaries with friends. I don't know why. My bf knows the details of my finances, and my parents probably have some idea.
I don't think it's weird. I think money is a very private matter, and it is more strange how many people are comfortable sharing salaries.
asgreen - this is probably my favorite post you've ever written, i love it!
Mrs. Budgetsaresexy is the only one who knows about my blog, although i'm DYING to tell a family member or two ;)
the whole salary thing though is def. an iffy thing to bring up among friends and co-workers, hence my having not done so.
i'm not sure how much longer i'll last keeping my blog a secret, but as long as a few work people don't find it, i'll be happy!
ps: i wrote something similar about this cple months go if you're interested :)
I don't share my salary with a lot of my friends. My boyfriend knows...and some family members...
No one knows about my blog...
I don't typically share my finances with any of my friends...unless they ask (no one ever asks though). My boyfriend and parents know how much I make, but I don't think I've ever gone so far as to show them my budget (not that I wouldn't if they asked).
As far as my blog goes...NO ONE knows about it. Not even my boyfriend of 5 years (and I don't think its weird! kinda.) I don't just write about money and spending, I write about things that are going on in my life and my personal thoughts. I think if I was aware that my friends were reading it (knowing it was my blog) I would be more self-conscious and would possibly hold back. That would defeat the purpose of the blog for me. =]
Thanks Budgets are Sexy!
I haven't told anybody about my blog- not even my husband. In the past I've told friends about my salary and it's come back to bite me recently. My family members know my salary but I think that in the future I'll be keeping any raises and bonuses between my husband and myself. Not that I wouldn't tell a family member if they asked, but I don't feel the need to spread it around.
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