“We’re doing okay” and other lies we tell others about money

A look at other people’s perceptions of our financial status

Recently, I had a conversation with my husband.

He had talked to his dad earlier that day. He gave me a brief rundown of their conversation, which involved them talking about his sister and what her family was doing.

His dad told him that one of his nieces had broken her wrist, and that the family didn’t have health insurance for her, so they were struggling to pay for all the costs up front.

Then his dad went onto say that this upcoming summer will be a tough one.

“Why?” my husband asked.

“Because they always spend summers with me,” he replied, which prompted my husband to ask why.

His dad told him that it’s because their parents couldn’t afford summer camps or any activities for the girls.

This is airing out too much dirty laundry, I know, but what was surprising about my husband’s conversation with his father was what he said after my husband asked him why don’t they have health insurance for their kids and why they don’t have money saved up for summer activities.

My father-in-law basically told his son that he’s a lot stronger than his sister is, which is his way of offering a compliment, we think. My husband told him that despite making less money than everyone else we know (a big shocker, I know)…