Things which show you are wealthy

Good teeth? That’s news to me. Some of the (quieter) wealthiest people I have known have a mouthful of tombstone teeth. Queen Mother for example?
Nouveau is a different matter.

Joseanne

Fleurpepper

Jewellery is 'de rigueur' - but never too much and it has to be 'the right kind'!

Pearls! Or are they passé?

Ok if they are inherited.

hollysteers

Good teeth? That’s news to me. Some of the (quieter) wealthiest people I have known have a mouthful of tombstone teeth. Queen Mother for example?
Nouveau is a different matter.

Very true.

It’s the ones of my son’s generation who have the good teeth!

GrannySomerset

Since this house is furnished with a mix of inherited, local auction finds and IKEA we are plainly just confused!

Lol....or maybe just very sophisticated......

hollysteers

Good teeth? That’s news to me. Some of the (quieter) wealthiest people I have known have a mouthful of tombstone teeth. Queen Mother for example?
Nouveau is a different matter.

Yes I think old school "old Money" didn't care about teeth. I think it's the younger generations, influenced by Hollywood, who place a premium on nice teeth.

"Old money" was "new money" at some point in the past!

I think there is a huge difference between American ideas about what constitutes "old money" and British ideas about "old money".

In America you need to be wealthy in order to be a member of their version of the upper class whereas in the U.K. you can be as poor as a church mouse but still be seen as old money or even landed gentry. There are plenty of impoverished aristos around.

I love the old saying "clogs to clogs" in three generations. The first generation make the money, their children spend it all and the grandchildren are left with nothing.

The problem with many nouveau riche is they don't value the principles of stewardship, something that Old Money have drilled into them from childhood.

Aristos inherit land, property, investment portfolios, jewellery, art, fine furniture etc but they don't usually view it as "theirs", they don't cash in on its value, they see it as family wealth to be preserved and increased and passed down to the next generations.

It's the same as someone planting a tree which they will never see mature or sit in its shade. When I visit stately homes and see those wonderful avenues of trees I'm always reminded that the person who planted them probably never saw them reach maturity, they knew they wouldn't but they planted them anyway. For posterity, it was part of their legacy. Legacy is important to Old Money.

A bit of a generalisation here but on balance the big difference is Old Money tends to plan for the future, husbanding resources with care whereas the nouveau riche live only in the present, spending freely but not necessarily wisely.

It's a fascinating subject. And really it all boils down to class systems. I have seen loads of these American lists about how to dress and act like "Old Money" but they don't really get it right. Especially with the teeth.....?. They concentrate on how to fake the look and maybe even the speech and certain behaviours but it goes much deeper than that. It's a whole ethos and way of being. Not something you can easily transition into.

There are plenty of real life Hyacinth Bouquets out there who get disastrously wrong. .

foxie48

"Old money" was "new money" at some point in the past!

Yes, and they are the ones who had the good sense to hang on to it.

Australia is more like America I think. Class is defined differently, more on what school you went to where I live but different in different parts. We don’t have Hyacinth Bouquets, thank goodness.

Nouveau riche can afford a team of attractive young staff to run the home. Old money has ancient retainers they treat as one of the family, especially Nanny who still offers Daddy a shoulder to cry on when the going gets tough. ( Well that's my theory.)

nanna8

Australia is more like America I think. Class is defined differently, more on what school you went to where I live but different in different parts. We don’t have Hyacinth Bouquets, thank goodness.

Oh yes, you do. I’ve known the occasional Australian Hyacinth.

I was looking at the photo of the Queen at Balmoral with Liz Truss. She (the Queen) is wealthy. She is wearing a very pale grey cardigan, undoubtedly cashmere, and a pleated skirt in Balmoral tartan, which is also grey. I can’t quite see what her earrings are like, but I think they are pearl. Her black shoes are probably hand made for her. Having your own tartan is a sign of wealth, I imagine, as is living in a castle.

Joseanne

I assume it's when you don't have to look at the price ticket on anything. I have perfected the art of not flinching when someone gives me a quote, but afterwards I have to go and sit down to recover.

I have gun dogs and a smelly Barbour too.

The 'old money' people I know are the best hagglers in the world - anything from door knobs to a new roof is researched and then 'discussed with a view to achieving a realistic price'.

They don't give money to charity but are very generous with their time and with the huge space they have (garden and house both used to host events during the year).

I don't have a Barbour anymore since the DD ran off with it, so I guess she has inherited wealth.

Yes lixy, people with old money tend to have it because they rarely spend any.

Your not worried about the electric and gas bill coming ?

I would certainly start with a lack of tattoos!

Hahaha Prentice ditto

If the cost of living crisis continues, signs that someone is wealthy will be them able to put their heating on this winter...

The richest person I met was on a cruise ship. He told me his companies in America were all doing well so he was on back to back cruises around the world. He wore faded brown cords, an old check shirt, and trainers. All unbranded and had seen better days. He was smoking a roll up.
I've worked for a few millionaires too as a PA carer. Their houses all had classic furniture ie Indian rugs, Aga cooker, brocade sofas, small TV, oil paintings on walls, velvet curtains etc. Classic furnishings made to last, with antique sideboards and old pine large dining tables. All very similar in style.
By contrast when I did market research around council flats you found huge TVs, new leather sofas, latest gadgets in the kitchen, very ultra modern. No faded wallpaper there.
I think those with old money buy once, buy v expensive and make it last. They don't need to put on a show or keep up with the latest trends.

So true those with it don't flaunt it. There is the cohort who have money and just keep on and on about the cost of everything. How do I deal with a neighbour who has money, (she and DH both inherited) but everytime she sees me collars me and questions me on the latest - energy costs. Tells me about standing charge, energy costs, how much her direct debit is, it's driving me mad. Last night she told me her standing charge had been reduced by nearly 50%. Tobgue in cheek I commented with all the money she will be saving it's a meal at the local 5 star hotel next week. Oh no, that will cost too much. Perhaps she could donate her savings to a food bank. Thought I'd asked her to stop breathing! Give me born and bred really rich everytime.

She might have money, but not what I would call wealthy.

I have all bar minimal jewellery ( unless counting hugeness of stones?) And piano! Wealthy? Me? Not really just really really good at " putting it together" and looking the part , I also have a non descript vaguely northern accent so not pinned to an area. It's style not class that comes across .I always say wealthy/ posh types can't dress properly or dance?!

Don’t qualify on any of the above criteria but am lucky to have no debt and can just about manage day to day. From my experience, and in my mum’s words, a lot of wealthy people are ‘all fur coat and no knickers’

??? DerbyshireLass.
I always say wealthy/posh types can’t dress properly or dance ? We could go to town on this - Boris, Theresa May, JRM…excluding the Queen of course.

Come autumn…it will probably be a well lighted and heated house. Lol