What’s something that screams ‘I’m broke, but trying to look rich’

[Booyakashaa]

Saw thing on Instagram threads, mostly Americans, would love to see what MN’ers think

Just for fun

I think…anything Michael Kors

Yes that's a fair point.

I find it really odd that being wealthy is worshipped or seen as "better" by so many, when people are often wealthy due to chance (lottery win, inheritance/family wealth), or highly dubious and exploitative business practices (Bezos and chums, but also at a lower /smaller level ), or machiavellian or deceitful behaviour to climb the career ladder (I did manage to climb the career ladder to board level,. largely by good luck I expect, and was shocked to realise that only a small percentage of people at that level were highly skilled/had integrity) , or hoarding (eg my step kids mum who never let them have a birthday party or a holiday despite a mortgage free large house and a well paid job)

It's very weird that wealth is seen as a virtue

it was right though!

I have money and I’d happily spend it anywhere as long as I liked the item I was buying. 🤷‍♀️ I also have an indestructible Michael Kors bag which I love for travelling as it doesn’t scuff.

I find the idea of "looking" rich a peculiar one... but that's probably because I grew up in a village full of very wealthy people, and most of them looked anything but (and wouldn't actually want to go out of their way to look rich).

Nowadays I occasionally socialise with some, for lack of a better word, aspirational people... and they do seem to tend to want to flash the cash and go for branded/designer everything.

This reads like a middle class fantasy of what wealth should be 🤣

The man in your scenario rocking a £30k outfit on the Bolton train is rich. He likely didn’t earn his money in investment banking or at the bar (but maybe crypto and clubs) or in other “appropriate” middle class pursuits but he is objectively rich if he can afford those clothes. Oh and he doesn’t want to sit in first because he doesn’t want to surround himself with the sneery twats who are so clueless they don’t understand Saville Row suits have been replaced by a whole different set of wealth signifiers.

Meanwhile your “wealthy” lady who “could” afford £20k on a VC (but only if they cashed in this years options) isn’t actually wealthy at all, she’s an imaginary figure that the obsessively middle class of mumsnet like to imagine exists as some sort of beacon of hope for those who are shopping in Lidl and banging on about holidays in Cornwall because once they’ve scrimped for the mortgage on their naice house in a good catchment area the chances of them affording to get in a plane for some decent sun are zero

@mumsnet why on earth has my post been hidden?!

I don't think I'd be able to tell if a bag was fake. I don't know much about high end brands though.

What is it you fund peculiar here? That not everyone you know dresses the same?

I suspect PP knows that too. Hence the little flurry of aggression and attack on the way I expressed myself in place of coherent counter argument.

OMG.

I cannot with this thread anymore.

What started out as slightly pathetic and a bit humorous, is turning vile.

I am very glad I live in another country right now. We might have some problems yes, but we as people, I see we show so much more kindness and grace to our fellows.

It was the squid comment that you found vile?

"Designer" bags, trainers etc.......when you're on the bus.......

You honestly cannot see an issue with that post??

I rest my case.

Did you quote the wrong post?!

the squid comment was the one ray of light on this thread

Please could you explain it to me? Maybe it's too early in the morning and I need more coffee before my brain kicks into gear but I can't understand it?

Since the advent of cheap credit, there is very little regarding possessions to indicate whether someone is rich or poor. People have different tastes.

Generally social status is gleaned from an overall impression; manners, the way a person speaks, the way they hold themselves, conversation topics. We just know. We have been brought up from birth to instinctively recognise these things. It’s a cultural/tribal thing. Stand a load of people next to each other naked we would prob still have a fairly good hit rate identifying rich/posh people. It’s important in a tribal system to recognise those who hold power/have social standing.

Sometimes possessions jar with this fundamental perception, it looks fake, in a way threatening, we feel uneasy at the incongruous nature of it.

A rich person wearing a large logo designer top will look remarkably different to a poor person wearing the same top. The aristocrat wearing 25 year old clothes driving a 15 year old car will still look rich, a poor person doing this with usually look poor.

If you want to look rich (for what ever reason) you need to start on the inside not designer outlets.

Me too!

I fear if you don’t break this down it might become one of MNs great unsolved mysteries. Like why was he on the church steps…..?!

This thread is about ‘taste’ surely. Nothing to do with money.

Was is that Marie Kondo woman who said it’s ok to buy/keep stuff that brings you joy? I guess that’s all everyone is doing.

Sure. The poster refers to the fact they do not eat food, but others in the household do.

Unless this is a joke, could it not be that this particular poster doesn't consume food due to a medical issue, perhaps has a feeding tube?

And if this is the case, being referred to as a squid is hardly humorous.

The quote function didn't work for some reason.

See above.

I have a pretty comfortable/borderline wealthy social circle. Everyone is generous but there is one person who is relentlessly and unpleasantly stingy. Never buys rounds, turns up empty-handed etc yet happy to take the champagne that others have bought. For someone’s fiftieth she gave them unbranded mini eggs (it was around Easter) in a Harrods gift bag. I judged that.

Ill fitting, mainly too tight or too short clothes. Went to a wedding last year. Lovely people but not much money at all. Let’s just say the bride in her late 50s was poured into a dress and there was very little left to the imagination. The groom was wearing one of those tweedy suits with waist coat, akin to something worn at a shoot. Not judging them at all but why dress for a night club at your wedding..

That poster's name had Squid in it. That's all.
I must admit I raised my eyebrows at the not eating food comment too.

No you're certainly not judging them at all 🤣

I bought a Radley bag and removed the dog tag. I don’t want dangly things hanging off my handbags!