I'm American, parents are American, etc., and yeah. I didn't know what either of my parents were making before they retired, nor do I know what my brothers are making at their own workplaces. I don't think it's a case of it being embarrassing lack-of-money-wise, since I'm middle class and know we're well enough off; it was just never came up. I might have asked a couple times when I was a kid, but I think it was brushed off; and I learned the amounts when I had to fill out applications for college, but didn't remember them, because it didn't seem important by that point.

*shrug* I guess it's just one of those things, like telling your kids if they don't behave you'll sell them to gypsies. I've only ever heard people talk about money in that they personally don't have it, but rarely mentioning how the situation stands with their parents.

Heh. The funny thing is, for me, because I never have a really clear idea of what we have saved, I'm actually a much thriftier person than either of my parents. (Well, except in the case of books. Everyone needs one weakness.)

But yeah, I think it might be the location--and the economic situation while growing up?--that probably had an influence on it.