To wonder why people care so much about others’ finances?

[ThatGoldBeaker]

I’ve been noticing this a lot on here. There seem to be thread after thread debating what other people should or shouldn’t be doing with their money. I understand discussing general principles but sometimes it feels like there’s quite a strong focus on other people’s financial choices.

AIBU?

Which threads? I only ever come across discussions about another OP’s finances when the OP has specifically asked about it.

I don’t necessarily mean advice threads where someone has directly asked. More the wider tendency for discussions about what people “should” spend, whether certain lifestyles are irresponsible, how much people “ought” to earn/save and judging financial priorities/choices etc

It just sometimes surprises me how emotionally invested people can become in other people’s money decisions.

I think people become understandably vocal when someone asks for financial advice because they’re struggling to feed their seven ponies on a mere £250k, or similar 😂.

I haven't noticed this OP.

I have noticed how a lot of posters mention astronomical ( to me) salaries that they and/ or their spouses or partners earn.I must admit I find that quite disconcerting because I find it hard to imagine living with such a large income. It's a different world to the one I inhabit.

They don't in real life its only on here

You mean the ones where tax paying public is questioning the choices of people spending their money on benefits?

Yeah, it’s perfectly reasonable to question that.

I wasn’t specifically talking about benefits discussions. I meant more broadly the level of interest/opinion people often have around strangers’ salaries, spending habits, savings, lifestyle choices, debt, houses, cars, holidays etc generally.

I was surprised how irritated I got when the op of a thread asking whether her astronomically to me huge savings were average made a passive agressive remark at a poster who hadn’t said anything wrong. I was reevaluating a lot at the time in terms of money and lack of savings. Id guess if you get as irritated as I did that day regularly then you might start scrutinising and evaluating others’ life choices

They're not real! The finance threads always provoke a load of answers so MN write them for clicks. Ironically threads about money are mostly about making money (for MN!).

Agree

If it is in their account, it is their money. I don' care what they spend it on.

It is a bit different when someone posts wanting advice about their money though. On the whole, I think MN tends to be helpful for that.

250k wouldn't go far for 7 ponies tho tbh

I think because there is so much angst pumped into the zeitgeist regarding finances - it is everywhere. And because there is so much uncertainty, some subconsciously seek validation of their own approach. It makes people vocally judgemental about others spending habits.

The really wealthy (billionaires etc) are happy to stoke the divisive narrative on every front (pensions/tax/welfare spending) so we normal people can bicker about it amongst ourselves.