AITAH boasting about my crna salary to my date?

Picture a cozy restaurant, candlelight flickering, and two strangers sizing each other up over wine and small talk. She’s a 28-year-old nurse anesthetist, sharp and self-assured; he’s a marketing guy, charm dialed up, but with a glint of bravado. Things are smooth until he revs into high gear—boasting about his $150k salary, flashy car, and fears of gold-digging women. Her polite smile fades fast when he jabs at her “lowly” healthcare job, assuming she’s pocket change compared to him.

Cue the plot twist: she lays down her cards, revealing an income that dwarfs his, a paid-off house, and a life built on her terms. The air crackles as egos collide, and she seals the night by footing the bill. Was it a mic-drop moment or a step too far? Readers, can you taste the tension in this dating showdown?

‘AITAH boasting about my crna salary to my date?’

I am 28f. He is around same age too. My friends set me up with this guy in marketing. All was going good and out of no where he started boasting about his car and other things. He also mentioned that his salary is around around 150k. And he is scared that women will take advantage of his income.

I was least interested and he got offended about the fact that I was not interested to know all this To get back at me, he mentioned I am just a little health provider with low salary. Then I brought up my hourly wage and gave him reciepts of my last year annual income which was well over 250k.

And the fact that I can easily make over 300k by picking extra shifts. I told him that I own my house. I drive a simple car by my own choice. When I can easily afford better. So we ended the date and I paid the full bill to set an example. Now I am thinking to buy some good luxury car. I wanna award myself He complained to my friends about my boasting. And they said it wasn't needed. But I don't think i did anything wrong to put him at his place.

First dates are like tightrope walks—one wrong step, and it’s a tumble. This CRNA’s clash with her boastful date shows how fast egos can derail a night. He flaunted his $150k salary to impress, but his jab at her career lit a fuse. Her comeback, flashing an income over $250k, wasn’t just a flex—it was a shield, reclaiming her worth after his insult. The date’s meltdown and his whining to friends suggest he couldn’t handle the tables turning.

This spat points to a bigger picture: money talk on dates is a minefield, often tied to power and gender. A 2022 Pew Research study found 41% of Americans see financial differences as a major dating hurdle, especially when men feel outearned (pewresearch.org/dating).

Relationship coach Susan Winter notes, “Money boasts can mask insecurity, but mutual respect builds connection” (susanwinter.net/articles). Here, the guy’s bravado backfired when met with her confidence, exposing his need for control rather than chemistry.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Reddit jumped into this dating debacle like it was a reality TV finale—popcorn ready, opinions flying. From cheers for her clapback to skeptical side-eyes calling it fiction, the comments are a wild mix of support and shade. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the online peanut gallery:

Brennerkonto − NTA. He wanted to flex his income. Got showed up - intentional or not - and whined.

muffinbbyx − NTA. Funny how it’s “boasting” when you talk money, but not when he does. Double standards much?

Salt_Inspection4317 − He complained about you boasting when he boasted first? Got a taste of his own medicine, even if it was only low-key boasting on his part. If he's so worried about women taking advantage, he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut about his salary.

dragon-queen − This is such a fake story.  You’re thinking of buying a luxury car because you had a bad date? You showed him paperwork with your salary on it? Your friends agree you were boasting by telling him your salary?. All ridiculous, karma-farming lies. 

ETA:  People are fixating on the paperwork part of what I said above. I understand that OP may have shown digital receipts.  I meant physical or digital paperwork.  I don’t really care how OP showed her salary to her date - I still find it unbelievable that she would do so.  Who shares paystubs (digital or otherwise) with a first date?

AnyBioMedGeek − NTA. He was negging you to prove a point about women only being after his money when clearly he wanted you to be immediately into the salary. You simply proved the point that you aren’t after his money which he supposedly wants. Sounds like you dodged a bullet there.

UnusualPotato1515 − NTA. He started it, you finished it & he couldn’t handle it!

OutofWarrantyAudi − Nta. My neighbor is a crna and he’s loaded. He works hard too, minimum 50 hours a week plus more. Deserves every penny. It’s hard and important work.

Ok-Memory9085 − I think he's a jerk

Background-Key-1088 − Good for you. He sounds like a real a**hole. Ghost him.

Vegetable-Pain-3079 − This sounds so fuckin made up 😭

This CRNA’s date didn’t just crash—it burned bright enough to light up Reddit. She turned a guy’s smug flex into a lesson, proving her worth with dollars and defiance. But it leaves a question dangling: when does standing your ground tip into one-upping? Her story’s a spark for anyone who’s faced a bragger and felt the itch to bite back. What would you do—match their energy or walk away cool? Hit the comments with your take—any epic date fails or wins to share?

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