Men, Money and Ego
Why do men lie about money?
It is simple:
a) they will not admit to the world – even to the wife and kids that they are not earning enough.
b) it is a community thing – some communities like to show off, some do not have the need to show off.
c) men live up to the standards set by their siblings, parents, friends….etc.
d) many businessmen do not KNOW how much money they are making. They get confused between EARNINGS and CASH-FLOW.
e) Men will NEVER admit to be earning less than THEIR PARENTS – even to the parents!!
f) Men like to keep their wives and children in the dark about the real financial situation – till it explodes.
g) Men sit with their CAs and arrive at a number which they ‘show’ to the IT authorities. He believes that figure himself! On a serious note, NOT knowing the difference between personal cash flow, business cash flow and personal cash flow.
h) Car, travel, entertainment, etc. are paid for by the credit card – and the cash flow is NOT visible…
Men feel very low if they are earning less than their fathers – so the inherited house, the vacations paid for by parents, etc. are all kept as a secret.
Ashish
Agreed. Also it is somewhat better if you know that you don’t know. There is still a chance that some day you will try to understand real situation.
Biggest risk is when you don’t know that you don’t know. I.e. believing the IT return yourself as you gave an example.
SAM
Subra,
I always thought the idea was to show as little income as possible on IT returns.
And I always thought men understated their income to their wives and kids.
You article is a revelation to likes of me!
krish
This article is too harsh on Men. I know many of the IT couples do involve spouses in investments, purchases and loans. The salary slip is discussed and the planning part is done.
With a life style pressure on having to own a home, car, kids education, medical needs, vacation and IT, I really wonder whether any savings are seen for investment these days.
subra
krish,
when i say ‘some men’ those to whom this does not apply can exclude themselves, right?
Sreekant
“many businessmen do not KNOW how much money they are making. They get confused between EARNINGS and CASH-FLOW.”…
So true. A friend who runs a mid sized co once told me he doesn’t know if his biz is running on profit or loss. He was serious and he wasn’t really interested in finding out. I did not probe further. Should one sympathize? Not sure.
Ashish Mishra
Many of the IT couples do involve spouses in investments, purchases and loans. The salary slip is discussed and the planning part is done(agree with Krish)….the writer needs to trace back…i guess he belongs to an era of 70’s /80’s n is representing his judgement accordingly…..i guess times have changed a lot n todays generation lead a more stable and planned life….guess its generation gap gulf between his and our times…..