Member-only story
How Do I Maintain Friendships When Incomes And Money Values Differ?
Most of us start our adult lives with lifestyles like those of our friends. The phrase “living like a broke college student” applies to many in young adulthood. At this point, everyone’s trying to keep expenses low — and score free food and entertainment whenever possible.
But, as you grow older, things change. You settle into adult life. Some friends will get married. Some will have children. Others double down on their careers and rise to the top quickly. Still, others blaze their own trail as creative entrepreneurs.
Different life paths lead to different lifestyles, values, and finances. And, sometimes, these differences can cause friends to grow apart.
Financial inequalities, in particular, can make it harder to spend time together. If your friends’ money values and budget don’t line up with yours, it can seem hard to find a way to make the friendship work.
But, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Just because you and your friends’ money values and/or incomes differ, doesn’t mean you can’t remain good friends. And you don’t have to ignore your money values to do it.
