Gransnet forums

Chat

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.

AshleysGran Thu 16-Oct-25 14:24:32

"Round these parts"

Are we talking about somewhere in the UK?

mabon2 Thu 16-Oct-25 14:28:16

Always vulgar to talk about money and more so to brag about it. Two people with whom I am acquainted are "old money" but you would never know as they never mention money at all.

DancingDuck Thu 16-Oct-25 14:35:03

How do you define rich?
What it means will differ from person to person.
Why do you think you are rich - that in itself seems a bit egotistical?

Barbadosbelle Thu 16-Oct-25 14:35:34

.

Only 'new money" would call themselves 'rich' - but that is never a term used by 'old money'.

They would only ever use the term 'wealthy' - but never about themselves or their family and friends!

We were always taught to NEVER talk about Politics, Money, Religion or Sex!!

And yes, there are many other subjects available for discussion!!
.

Barbadosbelle Thu 16-Oct-25 14:39:40

.
mabon2

Quite right too.

'Old money' would never talk on a personal level about Money, Religion, Sex or Politics.
.

Barbadosbelle Thu 16-Oct-25 14:41:43

.
Usedtobeblonde

They're obviously 'new money'
.

Barbadosbelle Thu 16-Oct-25 14:46:13

.

One's finances are purely a personal matter - which us why our financial institutions spend so much money on security.

Do you all blabber about the ins and outs of your sex lives too?!
.

Barbadosbelle Thu 16-Oct-25 14:50:24

Fancy that

..... and no privacy either judging by your your comments.
.

BrandyGran Thu 16-Oct-25 14:52:51

It’s very unkind to talk about money when most people don’t have enough and live from one pay cheque to another. It’s as bad as the round robin circular Xmas letters which boast about family achievements. I think it’s downright horrid.

Usedtobeblonde Thu 16-Oct-25 14:53:21

Barbadosbelle
You are quite right they are.
Both grew up in very different circumstances and lifestyle to the one they enjoy today.
I think they like to see and show how far they have come from those days.
One couple used to talk about their early life but as they have “ gone up in the world “ they don’t mention it at all.

winterwhite Thu 16-Oct-25 15:18:02

There's surely some context here that we're missing.

Shel1951 Thu 16-Oct-25 15:26:53

Sounds very shallow, is that why you come on here? To talk to real genuine people with depth to their personality

ronib Thu 16-Oct-25 15:27:22

Slight diversion but a bottle of TCP is being sold on EBay uk for £108….. am feeling very confused.

BlueBelle Thu 16-Oct-25 15:37:12

I have absolutely no idea what this thread is about or meant to mean or why it was started can you enlighten us fancythat

knspol Thu 16-Oct-25 15:52:26

Oreo

The only rich thing in our household is a pack of rich tea biscuits.

Oh dear I haven't even got the biscuits!

HowNowBrownCow Thu 16-Oct-25 15:52:34

We’re all rich, it depends where you place your priorities and your outlook on life. We’re piss poor financially but we have so much that enriches our lives. That’s good enough for me.

Doodledog Thu 16-Oct-25 15:54:53

This is going from bad to worse 😂. Rich? Old and new money? I'm waiting for the Dowager Duchess of Grantham to pop up and ask 'what is a weekend??'

There is an explanation upthread of how the thread came to pass, but really, it's doing nobody any favours.

sazz1 Thu 16-Oct-25 16:05:21

My friend told me about her grandmother when she was a child. Grandmother lived like a very poor person but owned 5 properties all rented out and her own house. Friend said everything was shabby and well worn so neighbours didn't know she was wealthy and she wouldn't have a burglary.

AN41 Thu 16-Oct-25 16:07:38

Some people just get born rich.
Some work hard and long and pay their taxes and their lives are enhanced, others pay legal experts to find loopholes to avoid paying their taxes. Many are plain corrupt.

Some will soon be finding out how much the Chancellor will be increasing their taxes as it seems we've reached the point where no more can be squeezed out of the less well off.
I hope the rich people accept it with grace.

AN41 Thu 16-Oct-25 16:11:29

P.S to the above. I don't understand why people would laugh about others being rich. The rich are always with us after all.
I've found that being rich or poor makes little difference to how likeable people can be.

win Thu 16-Oct-25 16:13:12

fancythat

So do people talk about it behind closed doors?

People say, do not talk about religion and politics.
Wealth is never mentioned as a taboo.

Money and wealth is definitely a subject never discussed in my circles, we all came with nothing and go out with nothing, what happens in between in no one's business.
I was definitely brought up to never discuss money, politics and religion, I still don't to this day. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we treasure our friendships without these discussions.

SiobhanSharpe Thu 16-Oct-25 16:14:32

People’s definitions of ‘rich’ vary widely.
Someone you might consider to be rich may well not feel that they are. And the inverse is probably true too.

win Thu 16-Oct-25 16:15:07

HowNowBrownCow

We’re all rich, it depends where you place your priorities and your outlook on life. We’re piss poor financially but we have so much that enriches our lives. That’s good enough for me.

This is how everyone should be looking at their life. smile

lizzypopbottle Thu 16-Oct-25 16:26:49

•The basic salary of an MP is £93,904pa plus expenses. Ministers get more on top of the basic salary. PM £172,153pa
•The average UK wage is approximately £35,000 Many working people will earn less than this.
•The new state pension for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week or £11,973pa.
I think 'rich' is a comparitive term. It very much depends on which income bracket you fall into.
•Info from Google search

It reminds me of the TWTWTW sketch (That was the week that was) where John Clees, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbet stood in a row and spoke about looking down on the others in John Clees's case, down and up in Ronnie Barker's case and only up in Ronnie Corbet's case 😂

Romola Thu 16-Oct-25 16:45:03

Someone I know who is very well-off and also worried about theft of ID, they won't have a Nectar card or any other loyalty card. They don't care that their groceries cost a lot more that way. They only drink fine wines and Pellegrino and always fly business class. They didn't have to sell their old house in order to move to the new one. They drive a scruffy Ford Fiesta by the way.