Why we should never mention the price again after a compliment

Yes, don't lie, you are also guilty of this. Everyone is guilty of this. And I can't stop it. It's really too deeply programmed in me, well, in us. That we can't react normally. to compliments.

A girlfriend of mine, the best psychologist there is (besides the fact that she listens to all my tirades about life and men, she has actually studied it with all the specializations you can think of), told me the other week: ‘We Dutch cannot accept compliments.’ And that's true. We accept them and immediately nuance the compliment by mentioning the price. Because that nice sweater, it was only 35 euros in the sale.

A BARGAIN.

Why do we actually do that, always saying what the price is (especially when someone has made a good purchase)? And bonus points if you also mention the store or the brand. New scarf? Well, it was only 15 euros at Zara, crazy right? It's so soft and warm. Yes, I knew it was soft and warm, but it would be that way with a different price from another store. But I can't help it. When I've emptied the entire sample sale of Tommy Hilfiger, I HAVE to announce to everyone that it's from there, including that it was at the sample sale. WHY? Why can't I just say thank you when someone compliments me on that new bag?

And I don't just have this with clothes, you know. I had eyelash extensions for a while (could recommend it to everyone until my lashes became stubs), and every time someone complimented me on my lashes, I blurted out within a second and a half that they were fake. Uh... Okay? Why. Do. I. This. As if they are less beautiful because they are fake? I tested this on a friend of mine – unconsciously, back then – when I complimented her on her beautiful hair. 'Yeah thanks, they're extensions.' Everyone suffers from this disease where we can't accept compliments normally. Because what exactly is the added value? Does it really matter if your new jacket is 50 or 100 euros or from which brand? I don't think your newest item becomes necessarily nicer or less nice because of that. So with this, I launch project ‘thank-you-silence’, where after a compliment you thank the person, followed by a silence. 'Okay it was on sale.' NO. Just: 'thank you.' A smile with it and done. I already find it a terrible project.

2 girls sitting at a table and laughing at each other.