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!

Depends what you mean by average people and people with money really. Some very wealthy people are out of touch of course.
Maybe people worse off than you think the same about you though.

Yes

There’s always some clever arse on Mumsnet who suggests this. It’s so patronising.

I've never been wealthy, but I've also never worried about running out of money to cover basic bills or counting down until when I get paid. However, I always pay what I owe when I owe it. That's just common courtesy, in my opinion. If I'm ever late paying something, it's definitely unintentional, and if someone were to remind me, I'd pay immediately (and be embarrassed that I forgot).

I'm sure that some wealthy people understand, can imagine, or even remember what it's like to live on average pay. I'd find a way you're comfortable with to ask people to pay what they owe you. Tbh, I always want my money when it's due, whether I strictly need it right away or not. It's a perfectly reasonable ask and normal people shouldn't think twice about paying up when reminded.

This is not about wanting higher pay, but rather being paid on time for the service you have provided.
how much you charge is irrelevant if the invoice is not paid.

It's both really. Higher pay = more of a buffer.

Exactly. Just as if you are employed you expect your salary every month without having to send a reminder to your employer.

I don't know what line of work you're in OP, but could you ask for payment upfront? Lots of places do this now. I have to pay in advance to see my dental hygienist and any dental treatment has a £50 upfront deposit.

I always think that restaurants should take payment first to avoid 'dine and dash'.

Obviously this is difficult to be so specific about...perhaps average house-2/3 bedroom, average car-not flashy, not a banger versus, expensive cars, huge homes, pool, lots of space, regular travel and so on

OP I feel your pain.

I've been a consultant for years and I gave it up last December as I was sick of not being paid.
I have been unwell so it was really needed.

I'm going back to corporate life and a proper HR department so I make sure I get paid.

And this response Illustrates the OP's point perfectly 🙄

Yes, this is probably true

Don’t be embarrassed, just text and say please can you pay x invoice as I need invoices paid on time for my bills. They will not realise….. and they need to realise.

This.

I've been on threads on here where posters on a salary of £45k have been treated as though they couldn't possibly understand financial strain due to earning so well...and threads where those on £200k household incomes plead poverty.

I pay immediately or I’d forget. Where I would struggle is if I haven’t been there when the service has been carried out - if I was texted I would pay immediately and really appreciate the memory jog.

Everything is relative isn't it OP? People in 1 bed flats, who can't afford a car at all might well think you haven't clue what life is really like.

Sometimes you have no choice

This is such a stupid comment. Nurses get paid fuck all, teachers get paid fuck all. Not everyone can just go and get a job managing a hedge fund.

Yeah. A friend has suggested ways I can extend my house (surprise baby...). All good ideas and I was polite at first and said thanks etc. Now she keeps asking when I am going to get the ball rolling and my response is just to laugh and say "I don't have the money". In fact, last time it was mentioned I said "we don't have a pot to piss in".

I hope you're not some kind of therapist/counsellor, a few of your posts are quite sneery about your clients

Don't worry. Thanks to Labour, there will soon be no wealth left in this country whatsoever, so everyone can curse the rich together.

Not everyone with money always had money.
In my 20s I had nothing and had to budget and do without in a lot of cases.
Things gradually got better as the years went on, with some blips, took till late 40s for things to become quite comfortable.
But I still remember what it was like not to be able to afford things and to struggle.

I have always paid on time. In the past I had a cleaner and babysitter, there was no question they would be paid the full, requested amount on the day they asked. I'd rather pay them first over a bill to an electricity company or mortgage if it came down to it.

Why should they worry. There's people out there with alot more money than them. There's always been varying degrees of wealth .

Even the average or poor person in England is far better off than people in third works and poor countries.
We don't have to walk miles for water and we have an abundance of food and access to medicine .

Do we think about them every day. Pointless post.

Very few people just end up wealthy by wave of a magic wand . Usually it’s years of hard graft , chasing openings and moving to where the opportunities lie . It rarely just happens .