How to appear rich?

[happyasharry]

I know this is crazy and it's a million miles away from how I normally think but I have a reunion coming up soon and I don't want to be the 'poor' one.
We have a 3 bed semi, a 3 year old Volvo and we're really strapped at the moment. I have a college reunion soon and most of my friends have travelled the globe, found rich spouses and live the dream.
Anyway, for one night only I want to appear like them. I love my life and I am proud of what we have achieved as a family but this is playing on my mind. Any idea how I can achieve this and just fit in a bit?

Wear head to toe navy or black and then wear a shawl from One Hundred Stars.

If you love your life, and are proud of what you have going on in it, then why the collywobbles about fitting in with these people for one night. Just put on your best frock, and rock it.

They go to evening events that suit them, so yes they wear whatever they feel comfortable in. They’re in their 70s they don’t want/need to impress anyone.

My dad drives a white van still and my mum drives an old mini. So yes they are the richest people I know and are exactly like I explained!

https://onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/kimonos-one-hundred-stars/products/grande-kimono-moorish-indigo

But she has to talk. You can tell money when it talks. Schooling, holidays, housing,it’s not just clothes and shoes. Nearly all of us can tell money when we see it.

Be proud and happy with what you have and try not to over enthuse with what they have

Talk about your three bed semi with pride ( what is wrong with a 3 bed semi anyway? Or a 6 year old small car for that matter )

So this could be me - Oh your house is lovely - I am so lucky with my home - it's just the Perfect location for us. Trouble with neighbours? Why no they are lovely people, what are yours like?

I love my life and I am proud of what we have achieved as a family

So own what you've achieved.

Do you honestly, in your heart, believe that the college friends who have managed to find themselves rich spouses to marry have actually achieved something worth your envy?

So what if they've travelled the globe? So what if they've married rich people. Surely you know that marrying a rich person is not actually a personal achievement?

You can’t be that proud of your family and loving your life if you want to appear as someone entirely different!

3 bed house and a 3 year old car and a healthy happy family is rich OP You are blessed.

Are these people really going to ask you if you live in a semi or detached or how old your car is? 😅

MN loves the old trope about how really rich people wear tattered clothes and drive an old beater. I’m sure it happens sometimes but it’s not the norm. While it is true that a lot of wealthy people aren’t going to care about “status symbol” luxury items like flashy handbags with a recognizable brand logo that doesn’t mean they don’t have conspicuously expensive things. If you have money why wouldn’t you use it to make your life more comfortable?

Volvos are not cheap. You can't be that poor with a 3 year old Volvo!

Just be yourself.

A three-year-old car is virtually new!

I earn 'the fabled MN six figures' and drive a 14-year-old Mazda. It's got four wheels and it goes, it's fine.

But yeah, OP, don't try to be something you're not. It'll show and you'll be uncomfortable. Live your happy life proudly.

Surely that depends on what age she is.

Say you invented Post-its.

Yes I see your point, I’m 56 and this works for me and is my style. Just trying to be helpful.

Just don't. Pretending to be something you aren't is the worst thing you could do. If you get rumbled, you'll get laughed at and people will think you're fake.

@happyasharry I know a few truly wealthy people, and you would never know if you bumped into them in the street. One of them I knew for several years before I discovered the true extent. He and his family are lovely, generous and obviously successful, but he'd rather drive around in the battered Mercedes van than his Ferrari.

Also, it depends on how you judge wealth. Personally, I have fantastic friends and the best wife in the world, and that alone is worth all the tea in China.

I like this jacket, though £100 is a hell of a lot.
[[
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165178279223?itmmeta=01HTAR60P19BXVN932SPKAYQK4&hash=item2675648537:g:kNcAAOSwTDVhjUTK&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwE0Zbx1TspuBeCfLCYlP5IUmJC9VnfHtnZrxxRsICoIPXaxedT3jpDVnTJTnlbvpHq4i5dV5%2B7uiaQ%2Bh0jm3mtKvaDz7qhUhIuaNoThLAbq1iaoBW3ZeD3ZAKYAhcrTdhxlnAK9%2Be1bVTXjnRKkbj%2FDRAc47cpZHtDUkD1xo7AnTybaxqBs%2FpqKD80Ms2EouIiI4yc67l4LvyvzrkZiz%2FCNNruGNayow3YS%2FvuW639XG3EFp3gamV7AEL%2BTlagn0SQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7SLmNjSYw

Your friends probably married rich people as opposed to posh people so they won’t give a fuck about where you live etc or they’ll be too busy showing off/comparing their Bulgari bangles, Gucci camera bags and LouBous and comparing (but not saying) which has the best ones.

Honestly, if you can't go as yourself then don't go at all.

Yep truly wealthy buy clothes which are to me boring (some horrible old cords, jacket etc but all from Aquascutum or somewhere) and they save their money, are quite tight, or they’re the other extreme very generous and you know they’re wealthy but they like to share their wealth. Most truly wealthy women (older) rarely spend money on clothes or clothing or its on investment pieces.

Have a good haircut and look happy!

That sounds frightful, doesn't it.

If that's the sort of thing OP is up against I'd give it a miss for sure.

They might be rich but it doesn’t mean they are happy!

I know a younger wealthy woman (40) who to outward appearances seems wealthy (her shoe collection alone is staggering!) and I think she’s from an academic wealthy family. However as she had to resign from her job (they weren’t paying anyone) she’s had to move to live with her parents, I don’t think her London flat is rented out. So she’s wealthy-ish on paper.