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Comment by cdrini | Hacker News Reader

I think an element most of the comments are missing is the element of salary. Whether you "worry" about an item is related not to its absolute price, but to its price relative to your salary. So whereas the writer would be wary of swimming with a smartwatch "because it costs a fortune", someone else would not because it didn't cost a fortune relative to their bank account.

I think software developers (especially US-based ones) are kind of the secret "nouveau riche". They make a lot more than people realize, and I think they themselves don't often realize how much more money they make than most people.

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I think of Agatha Christie’s remark that she never imagined she would be so rich as to own a motor car, nor so poor as not to have any servants.

I never imagined how much I would be earning in relation to consumer products and travel, nor how little in relation to housing.

As a software engineer in the US (and I don't make whole lot of money compared to other software engineer), I make more money than two of my closest friends(one has PhD) and my gf combined. I realized this fact few months ago and made me almost depressed.

You see this in effect in threads about the price of Apple products. People complain about people complaining about a new smartphone being 1200$, saying it's so reasonably priced and they don't understand the complaints. You would see fewer comments like that in a forum not dominated by software developers.

I have the opposite problem where I'm terrified to invite regular income people to activities because of the cost. If I invite someone to an event/activity and their response is "That's kind of expensive," I feel embarrassed that I put them in a position to have to say that.

*See my prev. comment in a same comment branch. I have similar experience being with my close friends who don't make a lot of money. We never go to expensive restaurants or expensive places. If we get together and I think the bill will be high, I just cover for myself, my gf and person in the group who makes the least. That pretty much covers 75% of the bill. My friends are OK with that, because they know, I always there for them and never will use it as point of leverage or being show off.

Been there. But what I try to do is just invite them.

Like literally tell them before hand the food is on me. Or find some stupid reason to pay for them.

Even if it's just two pizzas, but it's at my place, I'll just pay and say it's our home and its on us. But if I bring the pizzas to someone's place I'll say it's their place so it's on me, lol.

I used to be poor, and always saw people pay for my stuff without second thought. I really love being able to do that now.

Also a good way to accidentally self isolate yourself.

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