AIBU to feel embarrassed after colleague’s comment about payday?

[Malteaser197]

My colleague said ‘’oh my wage slip has come through’’ I said ‘’oh yeah, payday has come round quick I think, thankfully’’ (pay day tomorrow). She said ‘’oh, I never think like that. I don’t even think about it, just stick my wages into an account, save it, spend it if I need too’’ felt embarrassed by this. As I live pay check to pay check, and obviously she was stating that she doesn’t and being paid makes no difference to her.

She sounds like an arsehole. ‘Oh my payslip has come through’ she’s clearly living paycheck check to paycheck or it wouldn’t matter to her whether her wage slip has come through or not!

No need to be embarrassed,.most people work because they need the money to live. I put all my salary in a pension but I don't brag about it to my colleagues

Good ol' Mumsnet.

Predictably the masses are turning up to say there's absolutely no shame in funds running low, not that this applies to them though as THEY most definitely don't live paycheck to paycheck AT ALL. And of course, any talk of money in real life is crass but yet they find every opportunity to shoehorn subtle little comments about their privilege and wealth into their posts 🤭

OP, don't feel bad. Most people have lived paycheck to paycheck at one point in time. In a sense, we all do or we wouldn't be working.

I would think the vast majority of us know exactly when pay day is so not sure why you should be embarrassed. Mine's tomorrow 😃

What an utterly condescending comment from your friend

No need to be embarrassed. Everyone's circumstances are different. Some people live off one person's salary and save the other person's so it wouldn't be as important to know what date the money goes into their account.
She was being a bit stupid to assume that it's normal not to know what date you get paid though.

This. The vast majority of people need each playslip to live on.

Dont feel embarrassed, how you’re living is completely normal.

I think you are overthinking it. She just made a thoughtless remark - move on she’s not responsible for your insecurities and problems.

Love 'make sure your wages don't exceed 100k.' I have done twice as well and kept my salary under 50k.

Why would your colleague believe you are short of money?

Lots of people whimsically say things like “Thank God it’s payday!”

Sometimes a ‘jokey- read the room, dude’ can focus her type.

No need to be embarrassed OP,. I've got the grand total of 35 quid to live on until midnight Monday.....thankfully the freezer is full and the bills are all paid 😁 if anything, your colleague should be embarrassed for being so "smug"!

Tbh id just think lucky her.

There’s a woman at work I used to consider a friend, but lately it’s been tough. Every time we talk, she ends up bragging about her properties, early‑retirement plans, rental income, even though she knows my situation is very different. I have a good job, but I live in social housing and don’t own property, so it feels pretty insensitive.

I’ve started avoiding her because the constant bragging is exhausting. I just don’t understand how someone can be that unaware.

I agree with this. I think you've interpreted it the wrong way.

@Malteaser197 she sounded excited to see her payslip was in! She’s more bothered than she’s letting on.

Well, for whatever reason she is fortunate - maybe she inherited money, maybe someone supports her, maybe she is lucky to have low outgoings because of her housing situation (that's the biggest monthly spend for most of us).

Whatever the reason, she didn't need to rub it in your face.

I am lucky in that I recently managed to buy a home of my own (with a mortgage!) so I know I am better off than many, but I certainly wouldn't go rubbing that in the face of colleagues who are renting currently...

I certainly get excited when pay day comes around. I have my small basket of Temu items I want to get all lined up, and the order will go in as soon as I am paid!

Many of us look forward to payday - please don't worry about her OP! She's a tactless fool!

Maybe she just earned it herself!

It’s your coworker that should be embarrassed and she may be stretching the truth.

The 5 people i work most closely with at work are like this. They all have husbands who pay for everything and all they pay for are gym memberships and hair appointments 🙄 They don't even pay for their own cars.

Some people don’t know exactly what day is payday. I don’t. I just checked the date now because of this thread.

I am different to you and have other spending / saving priorities.

Her phrasing was odd but she’s entitled to manage her money as she does as are you. It’s not personal.

🙄🙄🙄

You must be extremely socially awkward and tactless if you genuinely why it was a snidey, insensitive thing to say.

Bonus payments 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Oh, the irony.