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

ronib

I’d button up if you think you are wealthy because you won’t be wealthy for much longer. The November budget will sort that out ….

I'm skint and I will be more skint.

Past caring.

Charleygirl5

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

So was I Charley. It's the height of bad manners. I know the Americans have a very different attitude to money. It's not uncommon to ask someone you've just met what their salary is for example. I was also brought up not to talk about politics or religion, unless you knew the person very well and they were willing participants.

I think what happened was (and I'm not going to name names as I think this is a storm in a teacup, and I can't remember who said what):

On a thread about the cost of M&S Christmas food, people were saying it was unaffordable, then someone said that they shopped there and didn't even look at the prices.

Someone replied with 'You must be rich', and a third poster endorsed that.

Others pounced on the 'you must be rich' ones, said the comment was unnecessary and called them rude.

This thread was started as a result.

The end.

Popular conceptions of the most expensive supermarkets are not always the case. Sitting at home with a cold, I wasted half an hour or so of my coughing, sniffing life by doing my own survey, and filling online shopping baskets with identical goods, from Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose. To my great surprise the most expensive supermarkt was Tesco, followed by Sainsburys, then Waitrose, and Asda was the least expensive. That said, the difference between the most and least expensive basket was less than three pounds.

I was brought up NEVER to discuss money, it was considered very vulgar and bragging, not to mention how others might feel if they are not well off.

I don’t understand why anyone would ever wish to discuss finances unless it’s with their accountant, bank manager or bankruptcy consultant.

I genuinely couldn’t care less how much or how little money my friends and family have, it’s not about their “wealth”! So long as we all have “enough”, it’s the person I care about about.

Cossy ditto 👍

I wasn't brought up to think anything, I was dragged up. I still think it is terrifically vulgar to talk about wealth and money among friends and even worse to judge people by their perceived wealth.

There are all sorts of indicators that we consciously or even unconsciously take in about how rich people are. Their job, house, car and clothes are pretty basic indicators but can, of course be very misleading.

How rich is rich?

Allira

How rich is rich?

Not asking to be vulgar but objectively and as an abstract concept.

I remember Peter Mandelson saying he was intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes.

So is filthy rich richer than terribly well off?
More than just rich?
And is wealthy better off than rich?

I always thought about £15 million was averagely rich …. Jogging along rich…. Maybe more now with inflation?
So definitely not rich and unlikely to be so.

As far as I’m concerned they can think what they like as to my finances.

I know of a couple who would have been considered very wealthy. But their busin1ess went pear shaped and they became very not rich and struggling. A lot of their good time friends/hangers on fell away.

Wealth can be transitory.

I still dont understand the. "Shared grins" though which the OP seemed to think very important? Or very amusing? Or what?
A very strange thread even when it seems to have been based on a christmas shopping thread.

I don't know. In a group conversation where people are saying how expensive something is (or is perceived to be) if someone said they didn't even need to look at the prices I think there might be a few exchanged glances, don't you?

Much depends on the tone, as with the 'you must be rich' comment, which I took to be light hearted in an 'ooh, get you' sort of way, but was described as 'coming from a place of envy or ignorance'. So much comes down to perspective, tolerance and outlook on life.

I don't think anyone set out to upset anyone else, but umbrage was taken on both 'sides'. As I used to say to my children, 'stop it - this is how wars start'

You're right, Doodledog, yet it was the poster who first made the comment, jokey or not, who then started this new thread about it! 🤣
Who then wasted far too much energy, imo.

Weird topic

Yes weird. I was brought up not to discuss Financial affairs.

If you have your health you are very rich!

A lot of posters on GN like to drop subtle comments about how wealth they are. If you need to mention it you have a problem.

I was taught that you never talk about money or ask someone’s salary as that’s very rude. I was also taught that those who talk about having lots of money themselves or the price of things they own are vulgar and nouveau. Old money families never discuss it!

I think it is just very insensitive and besides this I think richness in life means different things to different people. I feel blessed to have a clean bed to sleep in and food.

fancythat

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.

I did not take the quote as in anyway relating to wealth Surely an old fashioned phrase meaning a tad OTT, someone suddenly having a view point that was a total reversal on their former stance.

fancythat

^ Everyday conversation is gossip^

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

Hard disagree here too.
If I talk to a friend or friends about a recipe, a novel, a play or film, local politics or myriad other topics, none of that is gossip. That is conversation.
If I have a conversation with a friend about a third friend it may be gossip. But not necessarily.

I’ve never been called rich and never likely to be either!

How do you define rich, how much?

ronib

I always thought about £15 million was averagely rich …. Jogging along rich…. Maybe more now with inflation?
So definitely not rich and unlikely to be so.

Good grief!

I keep thinking if only I win a £million on the Premium Bonds ....