For me, dealing with money has always been fairly simple. I didn't have a lot growing up, and as a writer, I don't have a lot now. I tell you that not to make you feel sorry for me but to underscore my next point, which is that when it comes to dealing with friends, I'm honest when I can't afford something. I've never felt the need to "keep up" with friends who make or have more than I do.
Not everyone approaches friendship this way, however. A new study by CouponCabin.com says that "More than one-in-five (21 percent) have felt pressured to keep up with friends in terms of how much they spend on dining out, fashion, homes, and more, while 20 percent said they have had a "friend breakup" over a money dispute."
Breaking up with a friend over money? That's just wrong. The research also revealed that sometimes how much money we spend on friends is unequal. "Nearly one-third (31 percent) of U.S. adults spend more money on their friends than their friends spend on them in a given year. In addition, 19 percent said they spend an average of $500 or more on gifts for friends in a typical year."
I have to wonder at these statistics, specifically, why people are arguing about money with a friend. If your friend says they can't afford it, you find something to do that they can afford.
What do you think? Have you ever got into a huge argument about money with someone?