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The Moneyist

‘We are going on a trip that could include casino visits, but I didn’t want her to know that’

Dear Quentin,

We went to the bank to withdraw a large amount of cash for a forthcoming trip. The teller asked, “Are you going to do something fun with it?” in a conversational tone. I shrugged and mumbled something about not being sure (we are going on a trip that could include casino visits, but I didn’t want her to know that). Still, she kept on, saying, “Or is it just everyday money”?

We left feeling a little unsettled, like Big Brother is watching how we spend our dollars. Or perhaps we should have replied, “Really, it’s none of your business.” I should mention that this is a small-town branch and, while they don’t know all of their customers, the staff is usually friendly, but in this case, I think they were too familiar.