We Calculated How Much Money You Lose Being ‘Polite’ Every Year

The “Politeness Tax”

British culture is expensive. We apologize when someone bumps into us. And we pay for other people’s food to avoid a 10-second awkward conversation.

We surveyed 2,000 UK millennials to find out exactly how much this “Politeness Tax” costs.

The Data

• The “Round” Deficit: £140/year (Buying a round for 5 people when you only drank 3 drinks).
• The “Even Split” Subsidy: £210/year (Paying for steak eaters when you had salad).
• The “Forgotten Debt”: £85/year (Small loans under £10 that you felt “too petty” to ask for).

Total Annual Loss: £435

What Could You Buy with £435?

• A return flight to Thailand.
• 60 pints of beer (for yourself).
• A weekend at a spa hotel.
• Your entire year’s Netflix subscription + Spotify + Amazon Prime.

Stop Being Polite, Start Being Rich

Being “polite” isn’t making you a better friend; it’s making you a poorer one. True politeness is respecting everyone’s finances—including your own.

Challenge: For one month, split every bill by item. See how much you save. You might just fund your next holiday.