I never understood why people do that. Is it to make their numbers look bigger.

When somebody asks, and I'm willing to tell I tell the net amount. They are like oh - how much after tax, I go that is after tax. I could care less what the gross is (well not true but you know what I mean). I only care what I get to keep or put in retirement.

People who have companies or are sole props or have side gigs always do this. I made 30k last month! I say that is fantastic, and try to tell them if they are a real business you should dump 5-8 k of that into retirement, your older self will thank you. Then they go, oh well after this expense and this expense and COGs I got to keep $4k. Then I ask is that with quarterly estimated taxes also taken out - they go no --- so I go ok so you made like $2500.