A very, very shallow thread.
Over the last couple of years, I had a couple of situations where people, presumably, assumed that I must be in some financial trouble.
Once at a dentist - I registered with a new one for an emergency appointment and everyone (the receptionist, the dental nurse and the dentist) repeated several times that it is not free, not NHS and I will be expected to pay for it (I was puzzled as I already said "yes, I know, I read the form with the fee schedule and I signed it" several times).
Being told in a cafe that the price on the menu is for an "average" size main item (say, a lobster), and the actual one could be more or less expensive depending on the exact weight - would I like them to pick a smaller / cheaper one? The difference was a pound or two at most, probably.
Browsing for a gift for a friend's newborn in one of those boutique baby shops and the attendant saying "you know, we are a bit on the expensive side - you can also try XXX (a high street shop)". Without any prompting from my side, she even did not ask what I was looking for.
Discussing a recent purchase with someone I know distantly (they asked for a recommendation), and they say: "oh, you probably will be paying it off for years now!" It wasn't that expensive, I did not buy it on credit - but for some reason they had an impression that it was the only way I could afford it?
And so it goes, the full list is quite long. Yesterday new neighbours said they bought too many chocolate eggs and whether I/kids would like to share the excess, as no one should go without at Easter - they know how hard it must be. We are not going without... had never said anything like that to them, had never discussed money. Limiting sugar at home, that's true, for newly diagnosed health reasons - the children probably mentioned something at school about not having candy and chocolate, but why the first conclusion is that it is due to the lack of money? I mean, it was very kind of them, but made me feel like a charity case...
Now, I am not rich or wealthy, far from it, there are indeed months where it is paycheck to paycheck. But I have a reasonably comfortable professional income and can usually afford a chocolate egg or a tooth extraction. Something in my appearance/ behaviour must be screaming "she's struggling financially!"
So my extremely shallow question is - what is it that would make you immediately think "oh, she's struggling" pretty much on the first sight? Appearance/ grooming? Weight / visible unhealthiness? Clothes / style? Behaviour?
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Why do people assume I am struggling financially?
552 replies
forinborin · 04/04/2021 10:57
OP posts:
Bul21ia ·
07/04/2021 14:21
@TellerTuesday
There's one school mum that for some reason took it upon herself to think I'm on the bones of my arse. I presume it's because I generally look like I've just been dug up. Work from home & have no intention of grooming myself to sit in my own home all day. We usually walk to school when I had to drive once she saw me getting out of the car and said 'my my Teller is THAT yours, you are a dark horse'. I just laugh now at how utterly shallow she is.
Hahahah people are funny aren’t they!! Speaks more of her than you... didn’t she think to ask you what you do for a living on the school run before assuming
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