How to respond to being told you are rich

[Walkingaline]

I have a good friend who is very presumptuous about what I have or haven’t. I asked their opinion on buying something today and they told me to buy the bigger model because I am “rich” . I have had this comment before and tbh they know nothing about what I have or have not but I work hard I am definitely not Rich. I am comfortable but I will probably need to work for many more years if I lost my job tomorrow I would be in strife quickly enough . I don’t want to have to explain myself to them and not should I have to but I would love to say something but don’t know what .

[Muddydoor]

Respond “ you be more rude”, a la friends?

[shinynewapple21]

'I'm not that rich! Ha ha'
Or something like that ?

I can't see that it was meant as an offensive comment , or that you have to explain yourself to anyone .

[purpleme12]

Just say you're not rich

But perhaps to her you are because you've got a lot more money than her?

[Skengman]

Would you prefer people think you're poor?

[GreyhoundG1rl]

Was it just the one comment, op? Forget about it...

[sweetkitty]

I usually say I would be rich if I didn’t have four children and loads of pets

[roobicoobi]

Stop asking their opinion?

[KingAlex]

I think it's odd to ask a friend which (expensive?) item you should buy and then complain that they are commenting on your finances.

[PracticingPerson]

@KingAlex

I think it's odd to ask a friend which (expensive?) item you should buy and then complain that they are commenting on your finances.

Agree. Maybe you talk about money more than you are aware of?

[Rainbows89]

I would just say ‘I’m not rich’ and if they persisted then maybe discuss it a bit further.

Or, just ignore!

[Kendodd]

Would you prefer people think you're poor?

What wrong with people thinking you're poor? It's not shameful to be poor.

[Keepitcleanplease]

Your asked their opinion and they gave it. You could disagree with it but I don't think you would need to say anything that implies they were insulting you.

[idontlikealdi]

Why do you have to explain yourself, totally bonkers.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

Maybe she was being sarky.
Do you usually ask opinions on things before you buy? Do you value her opinion, or are you just flaunting your spending power? She could be sick of listening to you.

[youkiddingme]

Wealth is relative. To someone who is homeless and doesn't know where their next meal is coming from, most people are rich.
Why did you need their opinion, anyway?

[HareofEasttown]

Is this a stealth boast? I don't see a problem that needs to be answered.

[CliftonGreenYork]

I think that no matter how much money people have, they never generally think they are rich. You just end up buying more expensive things, bigger houses, fancier cars, luxury holidays etc.

[RosesAndHellebores]

It isn't that difficult to analyse a friend's worth even if they look like wurzel gummidge. It isn't hard to know their occupation, the part of town or road they live on, where they went to school, etc., where their children went to school.

[Gwenhwyfar]

@Muddydoor

Respond “ you be more rude”, a la friends?

It's not rude to say that someone is rich so that would be a silly answer.

[RandomUsernameHere]

"Rich" and "poor" are entirely relative. To her you appear to be rich. It doesn't really require a response, although it's a bit of an odd comment for her to make.

[Gwenhwyfar]

@CliftonGreenYork

I think that no matter how much money people have, they never generally think they are rich. You just end up buying more expensive things, bigger houses, fancier cars, luxury holidays etc.

Exactly. Someone is rich and it's not just the 1% is it? When people say 'well off' or 'comfortable' I usually take that to mean rich, but they don't want to say it as rich is always someone more rich.

[SisterAgatha]

Maybe you are rich. Maybe I’m rich. Maybe she’s rich. Who knows, you don’t know her finances either.

[Mymycherrypie]

Yeah same, I hear “comfortable” and think - yeah, rich. Because the standard for a lot of people is “struggling”.

I’d just not ask a friend who maybe isn’t in a good financial position, about your purchases.

[PixieDust28]

With this.

[BackforGood]

@CliftonGreenYork

I think that no matter how much money people have, they never generally think they are rich. You just end up buying more expensive things, bigger houses, fancier cars, luxury holidays etc.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

You don't have to be on MN very long to realise that people on MASSIVE salaries on here have no concept of how fortunate they are, compared with the overwhelming majority of society.

Also

I think it's odd to ask a friend which (expensive?) item you should buy and then complain that they are commenting on your finances.

This ^.