To think people with money would never understand

[Canfeelamozzieflyingaround]

I live in an affluent area, we have a nice, but average house, I’m from a middle class background (I think!) but one parent from a working class background, all very down to earth.
I have a good job, degree educated, but it’s not a well paying job. In the holidays I supplement by doing some childcare/babysitting. I often babysit for wealthy people. Just being in their homes and everything about the way they are and the things they have is so different.
They would have no idea, for example that we live basically month to month and these little nights working for them pay some small bills or afford a small treat for my dc…to them it would be nothing.
Even the things they fill their fridges with and the sun creams and toiletries used (not snooping! Some on tbe coffee table, on the toilet etc)
I don’t know..I always feel less of an adult when I leave and wonder why my life didn’t go like this and theirs did

Money absolutely is the be all and end all if you can’t afford food.

She made the transfer on the Friday night, it didn’t come in until the Monday (next working day)

If she wants the cash then she can ask ahead of time for a cash payment instead of hoping it will be there

Or how about OP's client take their head out of their own arse for long enough to pay in a timely manner as already agreed?

But that's why you've got a voice?!

They're not psychic.

Mortgage has shot right up, as for lots of people, food & petrol costs etc, see generally just about make it to the end of the month

I have a well paid job, a nice house etc etc.
you have no idea what I did to get where I am, of the sacrifices I made.

My mother kicked me out at 17, I lived in shitty bedsits and put myself through night school whilst working full time.

People look at me and think I have no clue. But I absolutely do. Don't judge. You don't know someone.

I get what you're saying. I've grew up in a wealthy house and an comfortably off now but spent a period as a single mum paying mortgage and 2x nursery on my own with ex refusing to pay maintenance and I was literally skipping meals and counting pennies. Without that period of time maybe I would have been less aware how tight things can be

It's why I get cross when my children's school gives just a few days notice of something you have to pay for. And it's in a very mixed catchment with very deprived areas. The idea that everyone can easily find £10 (or whatever) on next to no notice astounds me.

@NewPinkJacket What could I say? Could I really stand there at 11.30 at night and demand she get cash from somewhere? It’s humiliating, this is the thing that I don’t think they’d ever understand or think would cross their mind

I think we all get very used to our own circumstances, and it can cause us to forget / not realise some things about other people’s situations.

I’m far worse off financially than some of my friends, and there’s times I think we’re living on different planets. But I also work in an area of significant deprivation with families who have far less than I do, so I must remember how lucky I am. I try to be aware of things they struggle with, but there are bound to be somethings that I don’t always realise or consider. For those who have no need to really think about the day to day implications of poverty I imagine they’re closer to oblivious.

Yes of course food is important, we all need to eat...I was more meaning some of us have our health shot to pieces and in comparison worrying about the have and have nots just doesn't really feel as significant.

I know exactly what you mean.
I am not ‘rich’ and I always make sure I pay for jobs/bills/trades ASAP. I understand that people may really be relying on that money. A lot of people don’t get that and think it’s okay to wait or forget to pay.
I remember my cleaner saying I was one of her only clients that carried on paying her through lockdown. She has some very affluent clients too….

You tell them that on this one occasion you'll accept it and after that, they'll have to stick to the contract/agreement but you're not happy.

If you came to plumb in a new toilet they couldn't get away with it.

What does the contract say about payment?

Faster payments are 24 hours and work all weekend and bank holidays
Does your bank not support faster payments?
Or maybe the issue was with their bank?

I always think that the only thing rich people have is better stuff. That’s all. But, yeah… Financial freedom would be nice! I think everyone would like not to be stressed about money. Especially poor people. But, life’s not fair.

I’m freelance & have to work hard to keep the wolf from the door. So, I know what you’re saying. My mum is a wealthy retired housewife, who will point at hiring signs in McDonalds or the local Spar & suggest that I apply…

Of course they might understand. We had our first child at Uni, weren't from overly wealthy backgrounds and I used to babysit in the evenings and take our baby with me to supplement our income as DH was doing his professional exams. Fast forward (quite) a few years and our careers took off, we have a few more kids and we no longer have to worry about money, have a lovely home and a great life. Both DH and I love to reminisce about that first tiny weeny little flat we started in and the first actual house we ever bought. You don't forget where you came from if you want to be happy.

That’s very unusual. Most bank payments go through within minutes and up to 2 hours maximum.

Are you in the UK? I ask because all transfers from person to person in the UK are faster payments and clear within two hours maximum, unless she'd scheduled it for Monday. So you should have had the money pretty much instantaneously.

I've genuinely never known a bank payment not to go through immediately.

Very strange.

My lovely MIL often offers to buy things for the children to help us out. But what she actually means is that she wants me to buy something and then she’ll give me the cash at an undefined later date. It’s incredibly kind of her to help at all (and very appreciated), but is another example of people with money not necessarily being aware of the cash flow challenges for people with less.

And it's 100% bad form not to have cash for your babysitter.

I’m not in the U.K., a bank transfer can take a few days

That’s odd-all the transfers I’ve done/had between friends and family have come through virtually instantly?

what could you even buy with that money?! the mind boggles...

Why? I've always pinged the money to their phone and it's gone in immediately.