Sucker!

Exact financial status is just not something that should be discussed amongst friends. There are exceptions, but very few. I use my friends help when trying to negotiate better salaries for other jobs and vice versa. We’ll talk percentages when bonus checks are cut but savings accounts, portfolios' status, trust funds, etc are not discussed. The reason it shouldn’t be shared is everyone has a different concept of what “financially okay” means. Some more warped than others...

My group of friends (if you’d to join, please submit a resume, list of interests, and headshot) has the general understanding that dinner checks are split evenly and the “you buy then I buy” concept is applied to rounds at bars. If it’s your birthday or going away party, you usually don’t pay, and if you showed up after dinner, it’s nice to throw in a couple bucks for drinks consumed. We all understand that it evens out somewhere along the line.

There have been instances in large groups where aquaintances have complained about the bill because they only had 1 drink and the rest of us had more than 2. In those cases, we let them pay what they want, talk about them behind their backs, and never invite them out again.

When Cash came to town, I warned her about the unspoken arrangement that would apply to her if she expected to be invited back. She debated how it was generally unfair but agreed to comply for the night. Because she doesn’t have a steady job and only has to pay rent (since everything else is funded by whatever man of the moment she relies upon), I’m usually more generous with the portion I pay. Well not any more.

At some point during her visit, she asked if I was planning to buy a place in Manhattan. I was like “Oh sure, as soon as I get my next pay check.” Ha! Given that my shoebox of an apartment is at least half a million, I’m not interested in considering it an option. I’ll continue to pay rent and complain about it, thank you very much. (I’m not moving out of the city so I can own a place, so keep the suggestion to yourself.) She advised me how buying a place is such a good idea because rent is a waste of money. Really? This is BRAND new information. She then described the condo she plans to purchase a condo in South Beach by the end of the year because she will have $100K in savings and that was her financial goal.

WHAT?

The bitch has $100K in savings (yes, savings/cash account, this doesn’t count her investments because I asked) and won’t pay for movies, brunch, and drinks? I guess she thinks, why pay for those when you have sucker friend Dubs picking up the tab?

I don’t care if everyone else I know has that much or more in their accounts, that isn’t the issue. The issue is acting like you have NO money when you have six figures sitting at the bank.

What is a person like this called? Cheap? Spoiled? I can’t put my finger on it…