I am just venting....I hate it when co-workers ask if something is new or how much you spent on it. Maybe it is just my post-shopping guilt kicking, but I think it is very rude to ask someone (unless it is your bestfriend) how much something costs!
I lied about the cost of my new dress pants ($80 from bcbg - and may I add that I thought this was a great deal!) because I know the co-worker who asked for the price has never paid more than ~$20 for a pair of pants.
I just HATE this feeling....feeling that I must lie.....argh!!!!!
Oooooh...I HATE that! I have a 40 year old male coworker that used to ask me that all the time, and there's no other reason for him to ask me than to judge. The past few times he asked, I told him "It doesn't matter" and he hasn't asked me since.
I read somewhere that when someone asks an inappropriate question, you could respond with "Why do you ask?" Maybe this would work. I know someone who volunteers the cost of everything she buys, food, clothes, you name it, I find this annoying too. But , yes, I hate being asked what I paid for something. My money, I will spend as I choose.
I have a friend that used to always ask me how much I paid for stuff. I finally one day asked her why she always asked and her answer was that she wanted to know how much designer stuff cost so that she knew what to aspire to. After that she stopped asking.
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Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds. -Buddha
I think this is so rude. If your co-workers are interested in purchasing something similar for themselves or for a gift, they should just ask where you got it. IMO, this is a much more acceptable question than asking the price. i would not find it insulting if someone approached me and said "I love your pants. Do you mind if I asked where you got them?" and then if they thought the place was expensive, they just kept their mouth shut about it.
However, it seems like your co-workers, like so many people, are asking you so that they can come back with semi-insulting things like, "Wow! I would never spend so much. I have a husband and kids now. I have to spend my money on more important things now" or "I saw pants just like that at Old Navy on sale for $9.99." What the h*ll is with that, anyway? Why would they want to make you feel bad about yourself because you are wearing some nice pants? It's your money.
I think all the solutions offered by the other girls are good. Put the spotlight back on the asker.