To think that people with money really have no idea what life is like for the average person

[Increasinglydisillusionedwithlife]

Especially in the current climate. Those that are wealthy don't tend to be aware or understand?

I am degree education in a good job, which unfortunately doesn't really pay well, but it's a worthwhile occupation. Dh has worked his way up in a manual trade to a managerial role, we both work hard, but are still feeling the pinch and money is carefully accounted for the majority of the time. I am self employed and a few of my clients are very wealthy compared to the average, I don't know if they recognise this, but they are. One client sometimes doesn't pay properly and i'm left short, it's happened this week and now I stress as I have my child's clubs, kids events at the weekend etc to pay for. I'd allocated the money for these things. I feel too embarrassed to ask for the money (even though I shouldn't!) as I don't think it would even cross their mind that families live in this way and that waiting a week can sometimes mean I can't afford what I had planned, not always but sometimes

Is it just me? I feel that no matter how wealthy I became I hope that I would still recognise that we're not all the same and that we rely on our wages!

There is no need to be unpleasant.

Yes, when I was in my late teens and very early twenties after my rent and utilities I had £12 a week left for food. I happened to mention it when we were talking about shopping/food at a restaurant I worked at, I was told by a colleague (who had parents who were very wealthy and bought her a huge penthouse flat) that £12 per meal wasn’t possible for a dog nevermind a human and laughed in my face. She is now an actor/producer and appears to still be both awful and out of touch.

This. I have a friend who he and his wife both have good degrees from excellent unis yet bemoan their lack of money. They work in the charity sector in interesting and worthy jobs where the pay is low. This is common for interesting and worthy jobs though. I work in a fairly meaningless role that’s extremely well paid. I don’t really care what I do for a living, I have fun outside work instead. Some people don’t seem to have hit the message that if they want good pay they need to go into suitable careers.

So could you recognise that someone you were paying for a service could be in financial difficulty if you didn't pay them? Would it cross your mind or would you just think it was no big deal as was a relatively small ish amount and they'd be fine until next week/month? Genuinely asking

Of course I could and would. And fwiw I always pay everything I owe in full and on time: I realise the importance of cash flow !

She did apologise.

Perhaps your late payer isn’t as well off as you think, or also having cash flow issues.

As others have said, you need to lose the embarrassment about asking for money you’re due.

And so the point being made is immediately proven....

I totally agree. People who have come from privilege have no understanding at all what being on the breadline or living paycheck to paycheck is like.

Yanbu op, but yabu to not ask for what you are owed.
The shame is on them for not paying properly, not you for needing the money.

Not the point of the thread but I'd say don't worry about sending a reminder. Can be very factual, x invoice is now overdue. Please pay by return.

Why is it relevant? We both work hard, life is particularly expensive now, we budget according to what we earn

Agree, if people would pay ontime for services/work provided by OP she wouldn't be so worried about making ends meet. A relative of mine is a piano teacher and it's is astonishing how many parents 'forget' to pay for the lessons ontime. This means my relative has to keep sending invoices and seemingly hassle for payment for services already provided. I have been on at her to insist on block payments upfront.

Dickhead

I’m always mindful to pay people within 48hours or sooner. I’m not wealthy by any means - basic tax bracket, but I do have property so look wealthier. But I myself am well aware of the end of the month crunch so pay as soon as. I don’t think it’s a wealth divide - it doesn’t take much intelligence to understand a small business needs prompt payment. I think it’s a self centredness. I have had not well off people not pay up for my work as often as wealthier clients not getting how cash flow works!

I agree with you. However as someone who's also self employed I bill upfront. No payment - no service. That might be easier in some lines of work than others of course.

I wanted to put arsehole but thought I'd be banned or something

Believe me it's definitely not envy, I would not swap for their life in a heartbeat, for various reasons. I don't have a huge desire to be wealthy, I know many unhappy, wealthy people. I do wish to live without stress and with some respectful behaviour from others

OP has already stayed she has a worthwhile occupation.
Why should she change her job to make up for rich people not paying on time.

Define people with money and average person, please

Awful

I think it’s more about being self centred than wealthy. I always pay anyone who’s self employed as soon as I receive the invoice as my parents had their own business and chasing people to pay is/not receiving payment on time can create huge problems.

What a rude person they are.

I would be considered wealthy now, but that was definitely not always the case. I always budgeted with a buffer, even when things were extremely tight. That is just how I was raised to think about money.

I don’t think it’s an issue of how much money you have. There are people who budget long term and people who budget short term. I have never understood how the short term budgets are supposed to actually work. Life is too variable.

I have no idea what you do for a living, the number of chargeable hours you work or how many clients you have. Could you set up a digital booking facility which takes payment in advance? Having worked on a consultancy basis for a number of years, I can tell you companies are far worse at paying their bills and I spent waaay too much time chasing for payments.

What is your job please?