As the price of gas, groceries and a basic white dress shirt have gone up in recent months, so have the number of incredulous comments at the cash register.

"Wow!"

"Big spender, huh?"

"Must be somebody's birthday."

And that's not the nosy guy standing behind you with the running commentary on all your purchases. That's coming from the store employee ringing up the sale!

Remember when it was considered rude to talk about money? Remember when it was crass to comment on someone's purchases or personal finances?

Who can be blamed for this new code of brazen behavior? MTV Cribs? E-Bay? Drew Carey on "Price is Right"?

It's one thing when the clerk is earnestly trying to help you save a few bucks, as in, "Hey, the other brand of creamed corn is on sale this week. You want me to switch that for you?"

Or the classic old Liberty House line about, "If you come back Sunday, this whole line will be on sale. I can hold it for you if you'd like."

But that's not where these comments are coming from. They're born of flat-out disbelief that things cost so much and some people are willing, able, or unable but still willing to pay just shy of $200 for groceries that won't last four days for an average family. Man cannot live on canned corn beef and cabbage alone. Sometimes you have to buy milk and laundry detergent and other high-ticket items.

The days of running into Ito Market with a five dollar bill and coming out with dinner fixings plus change are over.

So there you are, feeling like you have to defend your purchase (and your disregard for those severely conditional money-saving coupons) to a woman with glitter stickers of Care Bears on her name tag.

It happens in the big department stores, too. Your gift with a $300 purchase: a sassy comment from the sales associate.

"Wow, shopping spree, yeah? You treating yourself to something special?"

No, lady, I just want four shirts to wear to work that don't say Old Navy on the front.

Isn't there some sort of cashier training program, a half-day to teach basic etiquette? Aren't they supposed to be up-selling, not emitting a low whistle and a head shake?

There is a lot of hope being placed at the foot of the new Nordstrom's. Hope for finding things in hard-to-find but common-in-Hawai'i sizes. Hope for finding clothing that doesn't lose its shape after the first laundering. Hope for a place where you can buy kids' shoes the same place they sell kids' clothes.

But most of all, hope for good old-fashioned customer service that doesn't leave you verbally defending yourself for spending your money on their pricey products.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.