What is it like growing up rich?

[coulditbeme2323]

Just that really - what's it like growing up rich?

I grew up in a very normal 3 bed end terrace. We were not poor but by no means rich. Dad had a trade, Mum worked as a receptionist, maybe a week in Spain if Dad had a good year.

My husband on the other hand comes from a super wealthy family.

We have done some incredible things this year already, and I am still in awe of being able to do these things. My husband enjoys them - but its what he has been used to.

Same for our 3 kids - they have grown up wealthy - so I am actually the odd one out in the house!

This isn't new to me, we have been married 19 years so this has been my life for some while.

I suppose I never want to lose the feeling of being in awe at doing amazing things.

I agree. What incredible things?

I mean incredible to me.

We were in Disney from Boxing day until the 4th. Watched NYE fireworks from our hotel room.

One of the nicest hotels I have ever been to in Seville in Easter holidays.

Lovely trip to London last weekend.

I think because I am the only one that didn't grow up wealthy I sort of appreciate it the most.

I think it's really lovely you still appreciate it all. I didn't grow up rich so I can't comment but I'm looking forward to reading the replies!

One of my "guilty pleasures" is watching a YouTuber called Leonora Smee. She is from a wealthy family but they are all lovely and down to earth. Pure escapism to enjoy their day to day luxury life and I often imagine what it would have been like to grow up like that.

Wealthy children can have a confidence that can't be faked. Sadly, I don't have it.

I grew up poor. No holidays ever. Free school meals and free school uniform. Didn't eat out until I was 18. No takeaways ever. But we had a roof over our heads and food on the table. DH was slightly better off. Now we live a comfortable life but nothing extravagant. It's still good to know that our children don't have to worry about money though.

I imagine your children growing up rich must never hear conversations about money worries and bills and knowing they will always have a safety net if something happens. It must be lovely.

Yes 100!! I've noticed this!

I grew up poor, DH and I worked hard in professional jobs to be able to afford a decent standard of living but we are not wealthy.
Our DC have some very wealthy friends and some have married into money. I would say their friends/families do tend to take things for granted and don't get the same enjoyment from say, an expensive lunch, as DH and I would because it's an everyday thing for them.
Honestly I'd rather be as I am, appreciating the simple things, hearing a cuckoo, seeing all the hawthorn out etc.

My DC have a different life to the one I had and a million miles from the one DH had.

they have the enviably relaxed posture of those who have never had to mentally tot up the bill, or steal themselves to ask for new sports equipment/trainers/cash for a school trip.

they have studied subjects that they love, had the opportunity to travel the world, try a million and one hobbies and generally just live their best lives,

You can see what it's like growing up rich by looking at the lives your children have?

I feel a bit of a fraud because I didn't "grow up poor" and was actually quite privileged in lots of ways. Kind of lower middle class where we seemed comfortably off because it was in the days when my parents were able to buy a big house despite having quite ordinary jobs/income. But they did have to watch the pennies, we rarely went on holiday or out for meals etc and we'd get one quite modest present for birthday and Christmas. Had to wait for Tuesday to get an Easter egg when they'd been reduced in the shops, lol.

In contrast I'm comparatively now quite well off, mainly due to my own career (law). I really appreciate it - how lovely it is not to have to be worrying about bills. I'm still naturally quite frugal because that was my life for so many years and I hate the idea of spending money without thinking about it. My husband is from a quite wealthy family and it gave him a taste for the finer things in life which he saw as "normal". He always tended to blow everything he earned and not understand where it had gone because "normal things cost so much"! He's actually better now, we make a good balance.

Our kids have had a much "wealthier" childhood than I did and I'm wary sometimes that it might not always be good for them to take for granted. But on the other hand i don't want to make them live a meagre existence to make a point. My son in particular loves to eat out and get taxis without any sense of occasion or need. It makes me feel anxious because how does anything seem special if you treat yourself all the time? My daughter though is quite good at saving so who knows!

Out of all of us I definitely appreciate it the most because I've known the difference.

One of my children is going to be very wealthy (due to work and what he does). It is interesting to watch him - he has started to invest in art at a price level that I would never have even considered!

I grew up very poor, we lived in a flat share. My husbands family have live in staff at their home and at two of their holiday homes. Sometimes stories of his childhood blow my mind.

We aren’t rich, we are mortgage free which really helps, but nowhere near having live in staff, a cleaner two hours a week is our limit.

Dh and I grew up very poor but we poured everything into our education and careers. Life today is a million miles different. I feel like we say this every other day to each other. Our kids have a very privileged life. Attend the best private schools, have lots of luxury holidays, just have a life so carefree from having to count the pennies. Dh and I are just savers and very grounded because of how we grew up so hopefully it is imparted on our kids too.

I grew up rich but my parents were alcoholics, my dad abusive and my grandad a pedophile so not that great tbh.

(Not looking for any sympathy- just highlighting that money doesn't always mean a good upbringing, and if you don't have much, you're kids will be fine if you love them)

I did not grow up rich. But can imagine it just feels normal for people who are born into it. There will still be family disagreements, parental divorce, untimely deaths, school bullies, worries /concerns, the longing for something more or something different, preferred siblings, pressure to perform / conform, etc. Just in a more luxury setting.

My DF grew up rich. He was brought up by nursery maids and a governess, and was then packed off to school, which he hated, and where he encountered some thoroughly nasty individuals, from the ranks of both staff and students. He always voted for the most lefty candidate on the ballot.

My children aren't growing up "rich" but they have a happy, happy childhood (I think, they may analyse it differently when they're adults 😂). We don't have a big house, have our own pool or live in an expensive area, but we do live in a nice area of a city with lovely schools, great public services, five playgrounds within walking distance, beautiful parks nearby and easy access to anything they want to do. We don't really have any financial worries and have frequent treats and trips out.

When I compare that to growing up in big house in a much more isolated area with two parents suffering from quite a lot of financial stress, I know who I think has the better childhood.

No idea

I grew up with Leonora, and can confirm that her bankrupted father, who is now a tax exile, is not raising a down to earth family. He bankrolls her influencer life, and is the local laughing stock! She has zero education, and zero appreciation for anything in her life. I’m a couple of years older, and we holidayed in the same places growing up, went to similar schools, have similar friends and attend all the same summer social events, and for her it is all about photos and what she can get for free. I went to her birthday in Mallorca last year and it was fun, but also a gross display of begging to brands for stuff for goodie bags. it’s all fake, and she has barely any friends anymore. She used to be fun but not anymore!

I am not sure how people can think she is down to Earth. She looks so stuck up pretending to deeply appreciate the million presents that her rich husband buys her.

Husband also not rich, all orchestrated by her ‘team’ 🤣 it’s honestly hilarious the image she puts out there as we who ACTUALLY know her could die from second hand embarrassment

i had holidays in the Dominican Republic, Florida, etc and how myself and my children live a poor life. I am sad I cannot give my children the life I had. I work hard. My children have free uniform, meals. We don’t eat out. We’ve never been in holiday. Each will have 1 birthday present valued at no more than €45. I sympathise.

I have a relative who grew up rich, whereas I grew up financially comfortable but not rich. The relative got amazing holidays, cool experiences like meeting celebs, and has never had to work a day in his life. However, there’s not been anything to work for, so he’s not actually done anything with his life. Very few actual life experiences or personal growth. Not flashy people so don’t even seem to relish in the wealth or take advantage of it. I’d much rather have worked for what I have, and lived a full life, even if it’s not a lot.