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What do you think when someone calls you rich (when you are rich)?

(180 Posts)
fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 09:57:35

This subject has popped up on another thread.

Round these parts, in real life, if someone calls another person rich, we all grin at each other.

I never knew it was was a problem to some.
Cant see how it can be.
I dont get the problem.

I am wondering if it is different in different areas.
I live in a small rural area.
Fairly surrounded by second or fourth property owners.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 15-Oct-25 11:35:13

Often the people who brag about it most.....have the least. What a very strange place you must live in fancythat.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 15-Oct-25 11:38:40

One of our more peculiar threads😄😄

Caleo Wed 15-Oct-25 11:40:31

I take it you are not referring to a sociological discussion, but to gossip.

62Granny Wed 15-Oct-25 11:47:59

I don't know anyone on a personal level who I would consider rich, most people in my friendship group are on the same level as ourselves, I know some who were on a higher income during their working lives but we have about the same current living standards these days. Perhaps it's the area you live in ?, is it said a half mocking way as if a joke?

Tizliz Wed 15-Oct-25 11:54:23

reminds me of Harry Enfield's character 'Loads of Money'

fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 12:04:01

Caleo

I take it you are not referring to a sociological discussion, but to gossip.

Neither. Everyday conversation. As I said upthread.

fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 12:05:46

I really really really do not see the issue.

Our area talks about politics, religion, the lot.
No taboos as far as I am aware.

crazyH Wed 15-Oct-25 12:10:07

My dear, dear friend, long since gone, always said - never talk about a man’s money and a woman’s age…

fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 12:13:28

fancythat

I really really really do not see the issue.

Our area talks about politics, religion, the lot.
No taboos as far as I am aware.

Not if you know they are wealthy, and you are all friends together.

Charleygirl5 Wed 15-Oct-25 12:13:55

I was also brought up to learn that it was vulgar to speak about money.

kittylester Wed 15-Oct-25 12:31:41

But, what defines rich?

This relates to ordering M&S Christmas food - does doing that mean one is rich or does it mean that you like to push the boat out at Christmas having saved up all year.

Would one be classed as super rich if one ordered everything from Fortnum and Mason?

We don't have a second home but I may order M&S Christmas food. My brother has a second home but doesn't order M&S.

Stansgran Wed 15-Oct-25 12:41:26

Waitrose Xmas pud to give away. Otherwise I don’t know where I do Xmas shop. Mainly on line. I prefer normal shopping at M&S because the shop is much smaller than the local Sainsburys ,my alternative ,and I can get round it without wearing myself out. I need a lie down if I go to Sainsburys.

Allira Wed 15-Oct-25 12:47:07

Aldom

Well I never!! What a strange thing to write about. hmmconfused

Isn't it!

Are you frightfully rich, fancythat? I wouldn't normally ask but presumably, you are inviting the question?

Sorry to be so terribly vulgar!

Caleo Wed 15-Oct-25 12:47:34

fancythat

Caleo

I take it you are not referring to a sociological discussion, but to gossip.

Neither. Everyday conversation. As I said upthread.

You mistake my meaning. Everyday conversation is gossip; Gossip is a necessary part of social life and a remarkably small proportion of gossip is slanderous or harmful.

If, during an "everyday conversation" the topic of how rich someone is comes up, the intention of the speaker will be clear from the context and body language.

fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 12:50:07

^ Everyday conversation is gossip^

Very much disagree with you there.
Everything else you wrote, I agree with.

fancythat Wed 15-Oct-25 12:53:20

Allira

Aldom

Well I never!! What a strange thing to write about. hmmconfused

Isn't it!

Are you frightfully rich, fancythat? I wouldn't normally ask but presumably, you are inviting the question?

Sorry to be so terribly vulgar!

No.
As I have written elsewhere on the forum, our income is flexible. Very flexible sometimes.
We have two businesses.
A bit more stable income lately than previously, sort of, but I wouldnt buy, well anything I dont think, without looking at the price first.

Usedtobeblonde Wed 15-Oct-25 12:56:08

I know that I could never be so rich as to not look at prices.
However it is never going to be a choice!!

keepingquiet Wed 15-Oct-25 12:59:04

I have only known three people in my life I would consider rich. Two of them owned more than one property (including ones overseas) and the other no longer needed to work to support herself or her family.

They were really no different to any of my other friends but they were pretty miserable most of the time; one a hypochondriac, one having expensive cosmetic surgery which didn't work and the other who suffered from acute anxiety. Seems the money they had wasn't appreciated and didn't make them any happier than my other friends.

Ashcombe Wed 15-Oct-25 13:05:04

crazyH

My neighbour, a police inspector’s widow, is constantly telling me, she has so much money, she doesn’t know what to do with it. And I keep constantly replying , give it to your children now, so that they can avoid a huge inheritance tax bill. She talks as if she’s a millionaire 😫

I believe the widows of police officers receive the full pension that their late husbands had accrued but this is reduced to half if they remarry.

Norah Wed 15-Oct-25 13:07:13

kittylester

But, what defines rich?

This relates to ordering M&S Christmas food - does doing that mean one is rich or does it mean that you like to push the boat out at Christmas having saved up all year.

Would one be classed as super rich if one ordered everything from Fortnum and Mason?

We don't have a second home but I may order M&S Christmas food. My brother has a second home but doesn't order M&S.

Indeed.

Who defines rich? When is enough enough?

StripeyGran Wed 15-Oct-25 13:26:42

I don't understand the opening post. You live in an area where people have 4 houses and they say they are rich and you give a wry smile?

petra Wed 15-Oct-25 13:35:18

I’m trying to imagine this scenario where if someone calls another person rich we all grin at each other
I’m assuming these scenarios are a social setting 🤷‍♀️ You are in the pub/restaurant/ a get together in each others homes🤷‍♀️
When you say we I’m assuming that includes yourself 🤷‍♀️
If you could explain why you grin maybe your post wouldn’t come across so odd.

I was once accused of flaunting my wealth on this very site.
It was in those merry times in the lead up to the Brexit vote.
I posted that I was concerned that the Eastern Europeans who cleaned my pool would go home.
Obviously that day one member had had a sense of humour bypass 😂

Lathyrus3 Wed 15-Oct-25 13:47:10

A while ago was disagreeing ( quelle suprise😬) with someone about gender and biological sex.

He called me a rich , privileged, white woman.

I think every one of those terms was meant as an insult 🤣🤣

RosesandLilac Wed 15-Oct-25 13:56:44

Having never been anywhere near ‘rich’ in my whole life , I would probably laugh 😆

ViceVersa Wed 15-Oct-25 13:57:15

nanna8

Only the nouveau riche talk about it. Vulgar, darling,vulgar.b

Yes, exactly. Old money doesn't shout about it.