AIBU to be baffled by colleague on same wage living lavishly?

[Cherryred2]

AIBU to think that some people are so unaffected by the COL and to find it strange. A woman at work is just living a life that seems so alien to me and the others. She is just back from a weekend in London (not for any reason), went to a show, had dinners, shopping spree etc. last year bought a new house and a new car!! Is doing a Disney Paris and Paris holiday this summer! Is going on another trip to Budapest with her sister,spa weekend with her mum and sister, a few days to Rome with her DS because “he loves history and would love to see the colleseum and is thinking of where to go with her dd because she has to make it fair. I asked her if she had plans this weekend and they were out for dinner Friday night and Saturday night for two different celebrations. I’m constantly thinking WTF! The crazy thing is we earn the same which is approximately 50k, I mentioned a credit card last year and she said “oh no I don’t do credit cards, never had one, I hate them, I’m so fearful of debt, mortgage is my only debt and I overpay on that!” I’m baffled!

It was a joke. 🙄

Just like several other suggestions such as 'she doesn't eat much'.

Although poster should just ask her her secret rather than everyone guessing on here.

Different spending habits , uses Itison / Groupon , no childcare costs ?
Smaller mortgage , could have inherited items to furnish her home with or got them on Freecycle , could have an inheritance from a relative, her family might gift her small amounts of cash ??
Holidays can be done on a budget too if you have time and energy to search .
She might get hair done as a model for a trainee , shop for clothing on Vinted or always buys on sale

Why is she lying?
I have no debt... if you're not constantly chasing your tail on CC payments she may well have plenty of spare cash.#

Exactly, and I'm the same

She is/was one of the hottest women I've ever known personally - talking 9.5/10 looks and a good personality on top. Think 20% of the ladies at that office were in lust with her. Men would practically kiss the carpet she walked on but she never really played them on it.
An extraordinary lady all-round.

Many do not make anything off only fans. Some make £100,000s off it. One of the first OF stars now owns a huge property portfolio and will never have to work again. And she's not even 27 yet! Was on that programme a few months ago - I'll look up her names.

Quite. Can't believe @Sartre saying obviously about a person she doesn't even know.
As others have said, even close family and friends don't always tell about their good fortune as that in itself brings judgement or requests for money.

DH and I don't have credit cards, cars bought outright after saving first.

Why is it so difficult for some to comprehend that not everyone has debt.

She may have inherited money or have savings or a side job….be lying about credit cards/debt…spend very little on pension or “sensible” items….have aDH who earns a lot or family money backing her….won the lottery….had a big legal payout for some reason….

There are all sorts of reasons why someone has a particular lifestyle that doesn’t match their day job.

Or be lying about some of her spending

She just spends differently from you. I have colleagues who are constantly moaning about money (we earn less than you but still a decent enough amount) but are always spending on unnecessary items - expensive clothes, expensive cars, large houses, gadgets, etc etc.

I don’t think are being unreasonable but I do think you are being a bit thick. I have a much better lifestyle than lots of colleagues - why - my age bought house years before them, have second home rent out, husband and I have a business on top of my job which he now runs.