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Facts and feelings play a role

Sophie Paine

You can have various discussions about money. How much should you talk about it?

Information exchange: You can say a fact: 'This mobile phone is HK$200 cheaper in this shop.' Exchange of information makes markets work more efficiently and consumers can make better decisions.

Technical: The facts are exchanged in a jargon that only finance people can fully understand. 'The Hang Seng Index has gone up by 300 points. This market is bullish.'

Show off: You want to convince your friends you are an important person and you think money is a big part of your identity. 'My parents give me HK$200 pocket money every week.' But be careful not to hurt your friends' feelings. The people around you might also consider you a good friend only because of your wallet instead of your personality.

Business focus: You manage your personal money like a company's finance. 'For the next holiday, we have three options. Here are the budgets.' 'We need to save HK$450 every month to buy this new computer.'

Confidential: It's top secret! You can always refuse to talk about it. 'This present has no price ... just the value of friendship.' 'I earn ... as much as I could for this job and this company, don't worry about me.'

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