How do you avoid answering specific personal questions?

[fuzzkin]

I'm quite an open person - I probably over-share - but I never know how to answer certain questions.
Eg I had a good friend ask how much my house was. Also an acquaintance ask how much we are selling for (in middle of a house move) and what the new house cost. Without wanting to stealth brag we have ended up with what I consider a very expensive house so i hate telling people as we are otherwise just normal and probably don't come across as particularly well-off (I always look a mess with crap old clothes, don't go on fancy holidays etc).

My friend was asking sincerely as she had a similar job to mine and wanted to get on the property ladder. The acquaintance is lovely but quite young and naive and wouldn't know not to ask (this was in an enclosed public place). Both times I answered honestly and sort of wished I hadn't.
That's not the only example, when I was pregnant it always seemed to come up that I was having a planned c- section so people would often ask why - I didn't want to go into my previous 3rd degree tear but I didn't really know what else to say. I guess 'due to complications from my first labour' would have done but I can never think of something to say for fear of sounding rude! Also with houses I know they can just go and look on Rightmove anyway if they are that bothered!

Anyone else have this issue?

I love that innocent, 'why do you ask?' reply, definitely will add that to my reply repertoire .

If they're an acquaintance then the , 'why do you ask?' would be perfect..

It seems to me that often, the person asking is rude, insensitive and will share your private information around.

Spot on!

This is a really interesting thread for me because I'm like you OP, I tend to feel pressured and put on the spot when direct questions like that are asked. The responses show there's obviously a broad spectrum of what people consider to be private and public information. Regardless you shouldn't share anything you're not comfortable with, so I think one tip I've noticed from politicians is that they often answer with a filler/holding statement (e.g. thanks for asking, how interesting etc.) to give themselves time - that way you buy yourself a moment to think whether you really do want to share or not, because obviously part of the problem is just being expected to answer then and there!

Hoping some others will have good suggestions as I tend to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind

Re the c section I'd probably go into incredible detail if they persisted, mention bowels and urethras and people seem to shut up.

I have to admit w/r financial stuff I do say 'oh DH handles all that stuff '. We have the same thing with out house too, it was expensive and I feel guilty about the price sometimes so I just say that DH did all the negotiations

I've used 'why do you ask?' for a few years (when I remember!) and it works very, very well. If the questioner follows up with 'I just wondered' I come back with something random along the lines of 'I know the feeling, I often wonder how Donald Trump's hairdresser keeps a straight face, incredible salary I guess. I bet they had to sign a non-disclosure.' to take the conversation in another direction.

Other random standby topics:
How do they get the non stick coating to stick to frying pans?

When did we start calling continental quilts duvets? (need to be a certain age for this one!)

What would happen if the whole world took a day off social media and telly?

How did giraffes get through the design stage? They've got a valve in their neck to stop their heads exploding when they graze at ground level - how many prototypes did God get through to get to that realisation? (Disclaimer: I have only used this once to try and shake off a colleague who was desperate to convert me to his Evangelical Christian Fellowship. I'd been courteous for weeks and then got cornered in the canteen).

weezol

lifebeginner glad it's not just me!

MIL has a nasty habit of asking how much things cost. Well she used to have .

Are those trousers new? How much did they cost? "As much as I was prepared to pay from my bank account, not ds's so don't worry". She has never ever asked DH how much he has paid for his trousers.

Nobody has ever asked how much our house is worth. I avoid saying where we live at work.

I once asked a friend how much their private school cost (I was in the market at the time). He said (in the nicest way) "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". It put me in my place and I learnt not to ask again.

I hate that phrase! Department store beauty counters never have prices on, which winds me up no end, but I can afford the stuff there. It's whether I choose to spend it...

Moth I work on the basis that if they don't display the price, they don't want my money.

I'd cringe for anybody who said that @twohandstwokids,
The information is probably available in a few clicks.

@nobodysmot - i’m Not proud of it. Learnt my lesson.

No I mean the person who said it to you!
Fees the same for every pupil and that information public information.
She could have said "ring the office" or "ill forward you a link".
What she said made you feel awkward and that's why Id have been cringing on her behalf if Id heard.