Things I have learnt since becoming rich (a.k.a. fuck you: Nigella and Jamie)

[TheAutumnHere]

1. Having an oven that holds temperature stops cakes falling
2. A stand mixer simplifies baking by a factor of at least 4, and improves the results
3. Branded vacuum cleaners actually remove dirt from the floor
4. Le Creuset pans don't stick, and just wipe clean
5. Baking with children is delightful japes, when timed the morning before the cleaner comes
6. Corn fed chicken is the bomb

Just leaving a note to my past self - who never cut herself any slack and thought she was a slattern and a crap cook.

It’s not about the OPs income bracket- that’s not important. It’s about acknowledging that When you’re time poor being able to go to the school shop and buy in uniform/ baby clothes etc (heck- ordering it and getting it delivered) is far, far easier than sourcing and buying second hand. And money gives you the choice to do either

I don’t really know why the OP is getting such a hard time. I like that she’s being criticised for showing off, whilst simultaneously being criticised for not being rich enough to show off.

It’s not about cakes. It’s about the realisation that if you have money your life can become easier in ways you’d never considered when you didn’t have money. That if you can make each job you have to do easier even by a small increment, then your life overall will be a lot easier. And that if you’ve never been in a position of having no money, you don’t always appreciate how much easier those little increments make your life, because you don’t need a stand mixer to bake the cake, it’ll be just as good by hand, and it’s not much harder to do that way.

Well obviously money gives you choices but I'm time poor as are many of my friends, juggling careers & small dc. We just go to the 2nd hand sale that's on a couple of times a yr at pick up, no need to source anything. I average making a cake for the school about once a yr, I don't feel bad about that.

Obviously a millionaire who doesn't need to work & lives off investments isn't so time poor.

Yes - @passthecherrycoke .

When I need new uniform, I always order it to be delivered - it's no sweat to add random underwear and stuff to the basket to make up the minimum delivery spend.

That's not Lear Jets and nonsense. That's getting my own time and headspace right back.

False humility about "My husband is a surgeon, and I'm the same as the poor people because I buy second hand uniform (when I walk past the stall at the school summer fair)" is rather missing the point that you need to devote approaching zero headspace to the decisions and logistics of it all.

Good for you morningdread but you’re getting awfully specific of your experience of a generalised point

False humility about "My husband is a surgeon,

Why do you assume I'm talking about husbands? I was talking about my friends. My surgeon friend is a female & excellent at her job, as are all my other female friends.

and I'm the same as the poor people because I buy second hand uniform (when I walk past the stall at the school summer fair

Where did I say I was the same as poor people?
Its a hell of a lot easier to go to a jumble sale in the playground then visit the school uniform shop that only opens on Saturday & doesn't allow you to order online.

I think this is another thread where people start to split hairs over meanings of words and miss the point. I know some might find it gloaty, but I think the OP is trying to make a valid point and tell people who were once where she was that they shouldn't beat themselves up over things. Well that's my impression anyway.

I kind of like the misery of trawling gumtree and painting decrepit furniture so it doesn't look like its falling apart. I also like my £5 hand mixer, but I guess if I did go out and buy top of the range stuff (my Dyson was salvaged from a skip, it will be a shock to my system) I might feel compelled to tell people trying to emulate Jamie Oliver and Nigella that it is much harder when you don't have all the kit, so don't worry if it doesn't look the same as the pictures. It's the same with DIY too. You can do something yourself with little experience and it takes time, or you can get someone in if you can afford it, who will (hopefully) do it faster and to a better standard. If it goes wrong either way you either blame yourself if you did it, or blame the tradesperson. Another area where you could be bashing yourself for not having enough cash.

I have kitchen aids, stand mixer and blender.
I actually prefer a sponge that has been hand mixed. I agree that for any fancy recipes the kitchen aid is a dream, whipping sugar and egg would take about 20mins without, same for cream.
Bread, no effort at all.
I also have an Aga, which makes divine cakes, no modern oven can match the way an Aga cooks a cake.
I agree with you, expensive toys and quality ingredients make such a difference.

Monsterinmyshoe that’s a great example. When I moved 5 times in a year people kept asking why I was moving my furniture, it didn’t fit the rented houses, didn’t I know you could pick something up on gumtree and paint it?

And you know what it’s great to pick something to on gumtree and paint it- especially if you just need one little cabinet to finish off the hall, or a book shelf for the spare room. But when you have to trawl for everything, when you don’t have a car, or only have a Ford KA when you don’t have anywhere to store old furniture, when you are exhausted from moving and commuting and house hunting and scrapping together deposits and rent money.... well, that little project isn’t always quite as appealing

I'm just confused by some of the points the op is making & she comes across slightly smug (i'm rich) but also bitter (dd struggling because her parents are not in the medical profession & people in her income bracket usually don't need to support their families but she does).

Yes money makes life easier & I do outsource because I & DH can't do everything.

Because she knows how shite it is to be poor. And she knows how unfair life is, and how life is all framed around wealthy people being able to keep their wealth and gain more.

The fact that she’s now a member of the club doesn’t mean she’s forgotten what it’s like. I feel exactly the same

What a weird thread

And she knows how unfair life is, and how life is all framed around wealthy people being able to keep their wealth and gain more.

The fact that she’s now a member of the club doesn’t mean she’s forgotten what it’s like. I feel exactly the same

So do I assume you feel so bad about this unfair advantage that you're not going to perpetuate it & are in fact a fan of more progressive tax systems when looking at buy to let's, inheritance tax etc?

DIY is an area it makes a huge difference. I used to have a cheapo electric screwdriver thing I thought was the bee's knees (cos it was a shit ton better than doing it by hand) . But a couple of years ago I acquired a much better quality equivalent and it makes everything so much easier. Absolutely massive difference. I'll tackle things I wouldn't have before because of it.

I’ve got all the kit and an expensive kitchen but my baking it still dogshit. Riddle me that.

*is still

Or is a more of a case that yes being poor is terrible but now that I am rich I want to hold onto it but please don't feel bad about your situation & blame yourself because that was once me? 🙄

I completely understand what you’re saying. I’m loving the posters outraged that OP is not rich enough. Talk about missing the point.

No don’t you worry @morningdread I’m as socialist as it goes

So you are in favour then of being affected personally & losing some of your personal wealth?

I tend to find people are supportive when it's targeted at the 0.01% but not them because they aren't rich & simply worked hard unlike the feckless poor.

Sure. I’m already the squeezed middle to be fair I don’t vote Tory even though I’m better off personally under them

So am I, but we are the minority.

Wonder which camp the rich OP is in?

@TheAutumnHere I must massively disagree re Le Creuset pans. I was soooo excited to unbox my new pots and pans and I will concede the pots are pretty good, they have some sort of fast cook option with the lids on, but the pan is rubbish! It is so sticky, despite me re coating it every time I use it, I hardly ever get it out. And the ovenware is as bad - I much prefer Denby for quality and non-stickiness.

Otherwise, pretty much agree

I don’t really know why the OP is getting such a hard time. I like that she’s being criticised for showing off, whilst simultaneously being criticised for not being rich enough to show off.

That was always going to happen! I absolutely knew someone was going to rock up telling OP that while they're considerably richer than yaaaw, they still don't qualify as rich so she certainly isn't. Gotta put people in their place. Et voila, MN does not disappoint.