What are the main differences between traditional middle class & new money?

[Firebird65]

Following on from the recent thread about normal things we consider posh. Most were arguing things were "new money" not posh.. So what exactly are the differences between new money & traditional middle /lower upper class?
I am neither & would love money new or old!

Old money cares more about rules and traditions; dressing for dinner, table settings, the right glass for you drink...etc. New money cares more about the 'insta' worthy stuff like brand, wholesomeness and stealth brags

These threads always read like the majority of posters don't know anyone from either demographic, instead forming their impressions of NM from TOWIE and MC from Jilly Cooper.

Oh, they do sometimes buy new 4x4s, but these tend to be shortly covered in mud as they are used on the farm or getting down the half mile track to the former farmhouse that the family money plus business acumen bought for them or their parents.

My opinion on this is influenced by the fact that I know nothing about urban old money, only the rural kind, and most of them not the fabulously wealthy, just the very comfortably off.

I know what sort of cars they drive as I've been in some of them.

That being said, I do know a few petrolheads in the Old Money category, and they have smart new cars.

Across all health fields the middle class are more likely to get diagnosed and treated than lower class. This is not unique to ND and is a combination of snobbery from doctors (DS has a chronic health condition and I've seen consultants talk down to a WC parent who is clearly getting upset because their concerns are not being listened to then the consultant come to me and be as nice as pie because of my accent and the way I present myself. Guess who gers listened to? It's shocking this still happens really) and the ability of the middle class to really push for what they want and need. For ND kids there's always the temptation to label them as troublemakers or stupid if they don't have educated parents who can argue their corner. So I can quite believe more MC kids are diagnosed with ND but it's not because the parents want it, it's because they have the ability to fight for their child.

Probably not, but I'm just saying it's not THAT wild that someone might want their child to be ND.

I think the PP was probably referring more to parents who fail to set any boundaries or discipline their DCs and then try to get them diagnosed with a disorder to excuse their bad behaviour. I don't know whether that's nouveau-riche but it's a thing I've seen many times and it causes more stress on people who are actually ND.

Yes but there are a huge number paying for private diagnosis- some of which are questionable. I personally know of two adhd diagnosis rejected by NHS, and where I am in the UK schools are often unwilling to accept a private diagnosis for adjustments for exams as it is such an issue (NI).

Essentially the middle classes play the system to get advantages in the education system,

Absolutely this

And yes, I paid for a private diagnoses (after I was sent a letter to say CAMHS were only seeing kids who were at immediate danger of suicide). And hopefully by doing so I freed up a place on the waiting list for a child whose parents couldn't afford to pay.

Different priorities for spending money.

Old money - period property, traditional furnishings (often antique rather than new), education, horses.
New money - designer labels, flash cars, modern homes, brand new furniture, holidays, personal grooming.

Can someone tell me how to classify someone who drives an old Kia Picanto in bad need of a wash?

Asking for a friend!

I agree with this.

Also, have you noticed how many SILs allegedly represent new money, which gives posters a chance to stick the knife into the SIL they secretly despise on here 😂

Someone from the lower middle upper class, newly old moneyed, possibly married to someone middle upper lower oldly new moneyed, unfortunately had to rehome the lab so they could get a teacup yorkie to fit in the car.

I'm pretty sure John Crichton-Stuart had a flashy new car or six.

I don't think anyone is sitting around hoping their child has Autism and will require huge amounts of support. What a pig ignorant comment.

Grey carpets.

Old money have holes in their shoes,clothes, roofs, barns and stables.

New money get called chavs because they dare to spend their hard earned cash on what ever the fuck they want.

How do you know this?! This is a massive generalisation…

Yes, but it’s part of that weirdly unconscious trend on here (as, presumably, in the world at large?) where the person who marries in gets blamed for the blood relative’s behaviour, eg ‘Nouveau riche, horrible SIL doesn’t invite us to her blingy pool parties because she’s ashamed of our serviceable school swimming costumes, RP, viola lessons, and dog-hair-clad Volvo — wah!’ The SIL’s DH, presumably, being some kind of human turnip who can’t issue invitations on his own behalf because he’s busy being a class traitor by getting veneers and dropping his hs…

😂

This doesn’t make sense as a question to me as the opposite of new money is old money - inherited wealth, ie landed gentry, nobility etc. Nouveau riche is a term, probably invented by old money people, and is pejorative. It is an expression I personally associate with the past, particularly, the eighties.

Middle class is pretty much anyone with a certain income bracket however they came about it. You can be middle class with a relatively low, average or high salary and no inherited wealth. (It really depends whether you camp in France and shop in Waitrose).

You can’t be ‘new money’ without having acquired a lot of it within your generation somehow - for example through owning a successful business or winning the lottery.

So true

Ancestry and attitude.

My family have been teachers for over a century. At one point very MC. A bit more money in the family coffers might have been nice though.

I don’t know any old money types. The rich people I know have earned their money through intelligence and business wizardry and can buy what they want and go where they want without caring about sneering or jealous people

Old money have always had money so it's just normal. Slightly boring/embarrassing even. Just a fact like having brown eyes is a fact. They know their "tribe" and its people like us. They are slightly nonplussed about people that need to demonstrate their wealth.

New money has never had money so it's exciting and something to show off about. They need to fit into a tribe so copy/try to outdo each other.

Absolutely this.