Why Some People Feel Embarrassed to Reveal How Much They Pay in Rent

More often than not, people lie about how much rent they pay because of how people’s perceptions of their financial status influence them.

Someone living in a modest bedsitter may feel embarrassed to disclose their rent to colleagues who occupy spacious apartments, while a person paying Ksh50,000 monthly may worry that others will consider them financially irresponsible for spending so much on housing.

For some people, discussing rent goes beyond revealing a monthly expense. It is also about how they believe their housing choices reflect their success, lifestyle and financial standing.

Two psychological factors can help explain this behaviour: impression management and social comparison.

Also Read: Why Some People Talk About Their Investments & Savings Openly While Others Don't

Impression management 

Impression management refers to the efforts people make to influence how others perceive them. This can affect how people talk about their income, savings, investments and even their housing expenses.

For instance, someone earning Ksh60,000 a month who lives in a modest bedsitter might feel uncomfortable disclosing their rent to colleagues who live in more expensive apartments.

They may worry that others will interpret their housing choice as a sign that they are not doing well financially. Consequently, they might exaggerate how much they pay or avoid conversations about where they live.

The same behaviour can occur among people paying relatively high rent.

Someone spending Ksh50,000 monthly on housing might hesitate to reveal the amount because friends could question why they spend so much instead of saving or investing.

In both situations, the concern is not necessarily the amount paid. It is the impression that the amount might create.

Also Read: Why People Lie About Money

Social comparison

Social comparison also plays a role in how people perceive their housing choices.

People often evaluate their progress by looking at those around them, including colleagues, friends and relatives. Housing can become one of the visible indicators they use to judge whether they are keeping up.

For example, someone who was previously comfortable paying Ksh12,000 for a bedsitter might begin feeling dissatisfied after discovering that colleagues earning similar salaries live in apartments costing Ksh25,000.

Even if the cheaper house meets their needs, the comparison may make them feel that they are falling behind.

This pressure can influence not only what people disclose but also how much they spend. Some may move into more expensive houses to maintain a particular image, even when doing so leaves little room for savings.

Others may conceal their actual rent to avoid comparisons altogether.

Also Read: 6 Ways to Build a Positive Money Mindset ‍

Dangers of comparing yourself to others

Feeling uncomfortable discussing rent does not automatically mean someone is insecure or financially irresponsible. Some people simply consider their finances private, while others may have legitimate reasons for keeping their housing arrangements confidential.

The problem arises when the desire to impress others begins influencing financial decisions.

Spending more on rent than one can comfortably afford to maintain an image can undermine other financial goals. Equally, feeling ashamed of an affordable home may create unnecessary pressure to upgrade before one's finances are ready.

Ultimately, the value of a house is not determined by how much rent someone pays or how others perceive it.

A more useful measure is whether the housing cost fits one's income, needs and financial priorities. After all, the goal should be to choose a home that supports your life, not one that simply looks impressive to other people.