Why would you pretend to be poor?

[Sndhehjzugwvs]

Someone recently disclosed to us their annual income. This was done very intentionally to make a point that they were struggling financially... This worried and concerned us.

We have been head scratching as to why they told us this because they absolutely know we do not have spare funds given our income.

Fast forward a couple of months and we find out that they have released very high six figure sum towards a business venture.

Why do some people play the poverty card when they are clearly anything but poor? Sadly, I bet we are not alone in knowing people like this.

We cannot fathom the reason for this disclosure. To be honest, we found it a bit sickening given the concern it caused us when in fact they are clearly more than ok financially. It is true: there is nowt so strange as folk!

We have some family members who are genuinely struggling financially and this false plea of poverty is just horrible when we know the reality of people who ARE struggling.

Why on earth do people not think before causing others unnecessary worry!

Wishing all a peaceful Christmas and a lighter, smile-filled 2022.

@oftenbaffled they released a 6 figure amount to put into a business venture. This isn't a cafe owner buying a new fridge. If you cant afford to invest over 100,000 in a NEW not existing, business venture, then scale back your plans.

And if you CHOOSE to manage on a small income to set up a new business, don't moan to people about your choices.
I have lots of sympathy for people who struggle. I don't have any for people who have lots of money, choose to spend it in a certain way, and then moan about it.

I know two people who have lots of money but plead poverty. One was because they didnt want to look out of place at uni as a student

There were lots of people in uni like this, we called them ‘poverty tourists’. I went to an art college in the big smoke though so I guess it was seen as more credible to be a poor struggling artists. You wouldn’t believe the lengths some would go to and lecture other genuinely poor students about poverty.

@RoyalFamilyFan

And if you CHOOSE to manage on a small income to set up a new business, don't moan to people about your choices. I have lots of sympathy for people who struggle. I don't have any for people who have lots of money, choose to spend it in a certain way, and then moan about it.

Fair enough

I’m a lot more open minded about friends and finances

I was a genuinely poor student. Those pleasing poverty were annoyingly obvious and often incredibly patronising.

@oftenbaffled As I said, I don't like liars. I have friends with very varying incomes. Some talk about it, some don't, but peoples wealth or lack of it is still obvious. None of them lies about it.

@Scrabblecrabapple

Jarvis, is that you..?

Fair enough

I do not regard this as a lie so 🤷‍♀️

It also baffles me that well off people don't seem to see a problem about pretending to be poor when you are not. But they would heap scorn on anyone pretending to be well off when they are not.

@oftenbaffled you don't think people saying they are poor when they are not is a lie?

This happened to me too. A mum from the school said she was poor and had to stick to a low budget of £60 per week for groceries, for a family of 4. I passed on second hand clothes for the children, asked continually if she were okay. Fast forward 2 years, I see her tagged into a photograph. Her husband received an obe from the Queen (Prince charles), for his innovative business. I saw him collect the children from school one day, in a brand new car worth £50,000. He was wearing an expensive watch, clothes and Italian leather shoes. We all stood opened mouthed as it was surreal. She still pleads poverty to this day, I've stopped passing on stuff, as they clearly earn more than us! Sometimes I check fb as her husband will tag her, into meals out/new professional cycling bikes etc. It's sickening to think what she tells people, as the reality is completely different.

@Beautiful3 that sounds like there is abuse going on.

@RoyalFamilyFan completely agree with what you say. My background was extremely poor. I know what genuine poverty is so it really, really sticks in my craw for people to bemoan their financial position when they were able to click their fingers and liquidate a vast amount of money from investments. Why they chose to play games with us I don’t know. They have been candid with others about their wealth. Anyway, as I said earlier and not very originally: nowt so strange as folk. This faux acting on their part has definitely changed our relationship with them. Someone else told me they had worked out a long time ago that the poverty pleaders are actually loaded.

I’m a very straight, what you see is what you get person and do not like being taken for a fool. A family member in an extremely low paying job actually asked us whether they ought to help the poverty pleaders. So you can see there was genuine concern on our part and now we feel rather foolish.

We have all been throughout so much with this flaming pandemic. Why cause others unecessary worry as these people did?

@RoyalFamilyFan me and another mum did wonder this, so we took her for a coffee. I broached her finances, as she said she hadn't been to the hairdressers for many years. I asked her how come, because it seems that her husband has a good income. I queried if he was controlling with his money, or did she have access to money. She said that she does have access to the shared account, and can spend money, but she'd rather not. Her husband would not mind if she had her hair done etc. So she is choosing to be frugal, to watch her savings pile up.

I know someone like this. Pleading poverty while drinking over priced wine, won't sell their 2nd car which they don't need and take advantage of people who have less than they do. Really embarrassing and quite sickening.

I have an aunt that pleads poverty, it's all BS. She doesn't realise how ridiculous she looks.

I had a friend who was careful with money. Bought out extra but did her upmost not to break into it. I noticed on several occasions she would insist she did not want a side, when we ate out and would then ask to taste mine. When we needed to pay for our taxi, she would conveniently not have the correct change and so on. The thing that got me is she spent ample money on clothes, hair and beauty products. Far more than I could afford.

Sounds like your being vindictive and judgemental. I work with the homeless daily, and find statements like this vile.
The only intention here to create a pity party for yourself and many have jumped on the bandwagon.
So have they disclosed where the money came from or are you just assuming??

Never assume unless you know. And never put others down unless you know the full facts x

No idea, I don’t think I know anyone who does this.

@kat83enzo I dont care if you work with the homeless, some people do pretend to be poor. You are naive to think otherwise.
I have been thinking about this and I knew a woman who lives in London who pretends to be poor and is always happy for people to sub her. When I first met her I was warned that she was very well off. She owns a large 5 bedroom house in London but scrounges of people who genuinely have little. I still saw her in groups occasionally before the pandemic, but she knew not to try it on with me anymore.
And I know someone on here might say she could be asset rich but cash poor. My answer would be downsize, or take in lodgets. Dont scrounge of people who will never own a house.

@RoyalFamilyFan

* Dont scrounge of people who will never own a house.*

Presumably you don’t think this about the royal family?

My first reaction to this after reading all you’ve written is your crippling ‘worry’ and subsequent post is the oddest thing about all this 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Icenii

Because people hate well off people.

(as this thread in part illustrates)

@oftenbaffled I do actually.

@Icenii nobody hates well off people, that is hyperbole. Society does hate the poor. But if you pretend to be what you are not, don't be surprised if people feel annoyed and duped.

People throwing all at a new business venture - eg mortgaging themselves up to the hilt, taking out business loans backed by a personal guarantee - often have very little cash for themselves. Until they make it. Or go bust

🤷🏼‍♀️