Is anyone on here fussed about status in life? Like what Car or House they have etc?

[Benny91]

As I live in South Surrey and all I’m seeing and hearing is people driving brand new cars and also being picky what house to live in. (It’s like they’ve got to show off to fit in with their friends and family!)

As with me I’m not fussy about any status in life and I’m happy with what I’ve got!

This is obviously quite common in Surrey. Does anyone else live there and likes to show off their status?

We have a 24 year old nissan micra, use twice a week for shopping and yoga trips....we bought it ove20 years ago second hand....it always works and passes mot each year so we dont want a new thing with computers and gadgets that go wrong and cost lots to fix, but we could afford a nice car....just not interested, in fact our car attracts curiosity as so old and in vgc !

I’m always getting little things for the house - cushions, prints, picture frames, rugs - I love that stuff because it makes me feel happy though it probably all adds up and I wonder if I’m getting a bit obsessive about it at times because there’s always something to sort out. I’ve got a strong sense of what interior styles I like - but it really is to make the house feel cosy and gives me pleasure. It takes years to get a place how you like it. I have literally no desire to live in a big house or have a new car. Though I admit when we moved to our terrace house after years of living in flats I got really excited about having stairs!!! I have a friend who is obsessed with status - of herself and others - I find an evening chatting with her quite hard work because of that and see her less now.

Nope, autistic, we generally don't go for this nonsense. I'm happy with my decades old car and ex council house, If I have any spare money I'll spend it on stuff that matters (holidays & hobbies)

No! I mean, it would be nice to own a house somewhere, but my very nice house comes with my job, and it's cheaper to rent and run than any other accommodation option. It's in a quiet, rural spot and we can leave our houses and cars unlocked without worrying, pets out in the gardens, etc. It's also a five minute walking commute to work, which is fabulous (though sometimes, it does cancel out the option of a snow day...).

I drive big tractors, pick-ups and JCBs at work. People do a double take as a woman driving such machinery, but never mind! In reality, I have a tiny car that is very useful for squeezing into very small, tight spaces... and yet I still sometimes get people watching me to make sure that I don't hit their more expensive cars. They look embarrassed when I stop and stare, or tell them that I drive tractors for a living 😁

Ah we had a Micra around then, it was the most awesome car. We were all gutted when my brother wrote it off!

I think so called Status and Status Symbols are still alive and kicking.

But they been buried and really hide and live beneath a facade of Virtue Signalling, Environmentalism, Wokeism and belonging to the Superior Goody Two Shoes Class.

The Class System still lives on but it has just been redefined and rebranded.

Wake up and smell the expensive coffee.

Gosh, who pissed on your chips? Many of the ‘environmental credentials’ you’re so snippy about involve not acquiring status symbols. I don’t have a car at all, for instance. I cycle, walk or use public transport. I’ve opted out of that particular status symbol. But presumably you’d find that ‘woke’ or ‘virtue signalling’.

Nah, 'twas ever thus. Nouveau riche "buys" status, The established members of the class don't need to.

Nope, we live in a lovely house in a very desirable area, our car is 12 years old and passed its MOT this week…I was over the moon, felt like I’d won the lottery as I had money set aside for repairs with a view to getting a new car next year. I think my Lego collection is worth more than the car 🚗

No I don’t care and never will. We could have bought a much bigger house years ago before children, chose not to and cleared our mortgage about 10 years ago. We’ve never had new or flashy cars or holidays and have no debt. On the other hand I have no concern about what other people drive or what houses they live in. Good for them if they can afford it.

Its all relative, from the outside I probably look a bit well to do, im well spoken, new house, new car, kids get taxis to school everyday. But I really dont care about status

I like comfort and practicality.

I have nice things. A nice car. A nice home in a nice area. But I don't need to upgrade to more salubrious versions. What I have, works for me. I'm in a good place in life.

If a bus/ walking/ cycling works better than driving, I'll take one of those options.

I'd rather spend money on having fun than a bigger mortgage for a bigger house/ aspirational area/ car finance that still cover the same functions as what I already have.

As much as I would like to think otherwise, I probably do care a bit. Its not everything to me at all. Im not "houseproud" or materialistic.

I live in Surrey but the SW London side. We're more bohemian in style than smart or wealthy. 🤣 But - I feel satisfied with my lot. I'm not reaching for anything else.

As in - I kind of like our house but I see it as "just about okay". I LOVE my car, and I have to admit, again, that I feel its probably given me a bit more status, theoretically.

But they are both very modest by Surrey standards. 🤣

I spotted a few old BMWs in Asda yesterday and, funnily enough they didn’t look classy. But when someone with old money drives one it’s perceived as classy, the car is a minor distraction - the driver of the classy old BMW has slready got known status - the car is minor window dressing. Having old money really counts to one people - inheritance is more impressive than hard graft and earning your own money - they’ve been clever to convince a few of you of that!😂

Are you envious, it is very odd to focus on what others have to such an extent you’d start a thread and also assume people want a nice house or car just for status, it tells us you think it gives them status. So you do care. You care deeply, otherwise you’d not give it a second thought.

Sounds like a real American thing, where your job “what do you do” and your house and car prove how worthy you are.

Load of bollox

Surrey is a wealthy county - loads of people have good jobs in London earning good money...quite a lot of money and I'm guessing they like to spend it and even bigger shock, with that money, they would like to buy a particular type of house and enjoy driving a nice car.

If you don't have a lot of money and you are living amongst people who do have a lot of money, I can see why this would bother you.

There are pockets of wealth all over the country where the same thing is played out - nice houses, nice cars - sadly, there's plenty of deprived areas too - where people don't have enough to care what their house or their car looks like - they are just glad to have a house over their heads and a car that runs.

You can't change Surrey but if you are unhappy with your neighbours' and friends' lifestyle choices, maybe you should consider living in a deprived area, there's plenty to choose from - life will seem so much better.

Agree

Yes I’m picky about my house because I live here, not because I want to impress. We buy nice things we like. Because we work hard and like those things. Not for status - I have a friend from school who could tell me the price of everything she owns, she is influenced by statistics and what her neighbours think. It’s exhausting.

Maybe you don't mean to, but you seem to be saying that you can't judge someone's worth based on their car because they probably have it on finance. So someone with a car bought outright has more value as a human being.

Someone with a 1m house is a valuable human being (presumably but it's not quite clear) but we don't know whether they can afford a more expensive house and so we just don't know how valuable they are and how much respect they deserve.

Very odd thought process.

I live in beautiful big house because I like a sense of space, I love design and love sitting in my lovely garden in nature.
I drive a nice car because I enjoy driving a nice, well built, convenient, comfortable car.
I can afford these things.
It is nothing to do with status.

Live in an ex council house and drive a very basic boring car that transports the family. Don't care about status.

Own both outright.

I am a little bit judgy if someone has a really flash car. There’s a few mums that drive Porsches and Bentleys in my area but send their children to state school. I know I shouldn’t but I do think ‘twat’ when I see them (mine also go to state school). I believe they’re probably trying to prove something by driving a car like that. I do have some genuinely wealthy friends and they drive quite modest understated cars.

My sister, who is always fond of a putdown, told me that if I hadn't paid off my mortgage by the time I was 40 I was a failure in life - it was a stealth boast on her part, clearly to say she had paid off her mortgage - I couldn't care less.
Then last week a friend expressed horror at one of our other friends still having a mortgage whilst they continued to holiday and buy new cars - I said snap - we intentionally have a mortgage which we comfortably pay, we go on holidays and we drive a nice car (not on HP😎), life is for living, not scrimping your way through, there will be plenty left for the kids when we've gone but while we're here, dh and I are going to enjoy the fruits of our labour. For status no, for pleasure of course!

Agreed. Other than people who live in urban areas, drive polluting SUVs and park them on pavements (and leave the engines running to boot). I'd happily crush their cars and make them drive 24 year old Nissan Micras!