7 signs you're financially offensive

When it comes to good manners, we tend to focus on things like saying please and thank you, elbows off the dinner table, and turning off our phone at the movie theatre. Yet we often lack equal focus on money manners, cultivating poor behaviour that can cause serious offense. Are you guilty of any of these financial faux pas?

Not paying people back

You probably shouldn’t borrow money in the first place, but in the event of a money emergency, make sure you pay back your friend in full and fast. If you’re struggling to give back what you owe, make it a point to pay them back in increments and communicate that you’re making it a priority.

Not saying thank you

Your boss picks up the tab at lunch or your friend buys a round of drinks for the group; if you don’t bother to say thank you, people are going to feel unappreciated and even taken advantage of. A simple thank you goes a long way in showing you appreciate their hard-earned cash being spent on you.

Not reciprocating

Your office mates regularly bring in treats for everyone to share. You love to snack on the goods, but you never bring any in yourself. Or a thoughtful co-worker picked you up a latte on the way into work, but you have yet to return the kind gesture. There’s an old saying: treat others as you’d like to be treated. If you enjoy the generosity of others, giving back once in awhile - it won't go unnoticed.

Being too nosy

How much do you make? How much did your house cost? Those are just two really off-putting financial questions you should never ask. It’s okay to ask about investment strategies or share tips on where to get stuff for a bargain, but flat-out asking questions of a personal nature is pretty rude.

Bragging Avoid the loud talk about your bonus, how much your car cost, or how much you spent on your last big vacation. Bragging about how much you can spend can annoy people off, It’s also insensitive, especially when a lot of Canadians are struggling just to make ends meet.

Being cheap

You haggle over how to split the bill at a restaurant or you show up to dinner parties empty-handed. No one likes to be friends with a cheapskate. Exercise some tact and take a break from being uber stingy.

You act like a diva

You pick the fanciest (read: expensive) restaurant or venue for your birthday dinner or to host a friend's special event. Don't assume that everyone can afford the same as you. Be considerate of people's financial circumstances and pick a budget-friendly place.