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.

Also telling someone you have a low income isn't pretending to be poor as such, it's just saying you have a low income. Unless they also stated that they also have no savings / investments / assets to fall back on.

Of course, it is lying.
X we have a really low income. We are only earning £ a month so are under financial strain.
But fails to mention the savings etc they do have - it is a lie.
Wealth is about income, savings, investments and assets.
This thread has surprised me how many people are willing to lie about not having much financially when they do. I only have 1 friend that occasionally slips into the - oh I cant afford it, when she can. I just say of course you can afford it, you might not want to spend that much money, but you can afford it.
But the outright lying the OP describes and many on here think is okay would make me avoid that person. I wonder if some on here who think having money makes people treat you differently is because they were lying to friends, and when the friends find out they treat the differently? Because this would be me. I don't care of you are very wealthy, but if I found out you had lied I would be unhappy and that would be obvious.

But did they actually say they were under financial strain, or was that just assumed?

Only rich people draw a distinction between income and capital, because poor people only have income. Many people never own capital in their entire lives.

@Snog

Only rich people draw a distinction between income and capital, because poor people only have income. Many people never own capital in their entire lives.

This is a really insightful post I agree

Haven't RTFT but surely you'd have a "ball-park" of there earnings based on profession? For example I know my BIL and SIL (banker and very senior NHS role) earn more than my BIL and SIL who are postal worker and part time admin in school.

I've used very polarised examples but it would be very unusual for an investment banker to be on £20k or a postal worker to be on £100k a year.

• their

@Crunchymum

Haven't RTFT but surely you'd have a "ball-park" of there earnings based on profession? For example I know my BIL and SIL (banker and very senior NHS role) earn more than my BIL and SIL who are postal worker and part time admin in school.

I've used very polarised examples but it would be very unusual for an investment banker to be on £20k or a postal worker to be on £100k a year.

And also their lifestyle Of which the Op makes no reference to at all and has not answered So presuming it fit in with the “low income”

It is very odd
I've had similar, not the same - in laws pleading poverty in retirement.

We helped out with some discretionary stuff.

A couple of years later DH was helpful enough to move furniture when they bought a new set. It had pay stubbs and retirement papers on the desk - turned out FIL final salary was a good 20k a year more than DH earned, and in retirement due to the excellent pension at his employer, FIL had more net income than my DH was earning gross at that point. I bitterly regret "helping' (subsidising!) From our income for those 2 years of pleading pension poverty. Especially when I'll never have the luxury of SAH like mil did after being in the workforce for about 5 year'ls then giving up working entirely to focus on kids. We're the idiots.

May I take a guess, as the OP isn't providing details?

These must be family or pretty close friends for the OP to be so concerned at them struggling. OP is not well off. Friends/whoever are planning a large business investment and realise this will look bad to OP, maybe hurt their feelings at being out of the loop, so they drop into conversation the fact that they're not swimming in money at the moment. Both things are actually quite likely to be true - if they're about to take on a big loan they may be being careful with their outgoings.

I work in retail and my dh is a very high earner , I do it to keep busy and pretend to be the same as everyone else because I don't want them to hate me ! 🤷‍♀️.. I mean I don't lie but for example I would never disclose our lifestyle is different to theirs .

Hi all,

Did a reply earlier and lost it when internet dipped briefly.

The funds in question have come from investments. Not a loan. Not a re-mortgage.

Anyway, I’m going to focus on the people I love. Real people. Not actors playing the pity me card!!!🤣🤣

Ho, ho, ho and Merry Xmas to you all! 🎄🎄🍷🍷🍷🎄🎄

@Shiningpath

Income is different from capital.

😂😂Only someone comfortably off could say that. Even a home gives you access to money if you're desperate. And you can get desperate, even in this country. For example, cash to pay for cancer treatment not available here.