What makes you think someone is poor?

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What makes you think someone is poor?

I'd really like to know because I've had so many people assume that I'm poor (and not just in the last few years). Not people that really know me but like shop assistents or nurses and such people. I've had plenty of remarks that something like the ronald mcdonalds house would cost me too much money (was 15 euro a night).

I'm not poor. Far from it. I'm a SAHM in a detached house in a nice village. I style my hair every other day, wear minimal make up, always wear some fine gold jewelry. Granted, I don't wear brand names, but I do wear a proper wool coat, real leather handbag and leather loafers. I prefer buying pieces that are good quality and last than just pay for a brand. I don't have a noticable regional accent. DH makes a lot of money. I used to be poor when younger and apparantly I still look it in some way.

I don't have to look like you should rob me, but I would like the concerned poor remarks go away. So tell me, when you see someone, what makes you think that they're poor?

I look as poor as I am tbh. Second hand clothes, muddy boots, polyester top, pot noodle stain. I want people to know what they see is what they get. Oh and I have a strong regional accent!

I'm pretty well off and always a bit scruffy. No jewelry, make up, or particular attention to hair. Clothes clean but scuffed up! (docs falling apart!)

Best not to assume.

For me hair is a dead give away.. Posh girl hair is something I would love

Yes, but there's a big difference between not being immaculately turned out, with posh girl hair, and looking visibly poor to the extent that people comment. I have never been immaculately dressed and have crap, fine, mousy hair. As far as I'm aware, nobody has ever suspected me of being poor. I don't think it's as much about the quality or immaculateness of hair and clothes as people think. It's more about manner, bearing, accent, and maybe to some extent clothing and hair style choices.

But people's financial situation can change dramatically over the course of their lives. These might be an indication of background/social class but that doesn't correlate nearly with finances

I'm poorer now than I ever have been in my life. I look poor. My teeth are looking dirty, I can't afford to get my hair done, can't afford to bathe every day. I'm 68 and look 78. Who the fuck cares?

I dress scruffily and don't care for clothes, make up, hairstyles etc but i'm really not poor at all 😂

I think it's actually hard to tell besides teeth etc.

It's the way you carry yourself

When you're profoundly depressed or have low self esteem you can shuffle, look down at the ground, walk apologetically, get out of people's way, minimise self in public spaces.

People who have more money and feel like they fit into society generally take up space and have their head held higher.

Even if you wear scruffy clothes there's posh scruffy ie. A shirt that is a good brand that's scruffy NOW compared to Primark joggers that are all raggedy around the bottom

Also richer people usually visit the dentist - no one else can afford it !

Maybe something to do with the way you speak? Doesn't need to be a regional accent, I'm thinking more about grammar and pronunciation.

Thinking about Victoria Beckham for example. Plenty of money, but as soon as she opens her mouth she's as common as muck.

Are you British? When I lived in The Netherlands years ago, my landlord told me he thought the UK was a very poor country and asked me whether people ate vegetables. Maybe it is a common stereotype about Brits.

Fake long nails
Fake eyelashes
Too much foundation/contouring

I'm really really scruffy. I'm in my 40s and dress like a student (or the way I did when I was a student) in leggings and hoodies pretty much every day. I never wear heels or a wool coat or anything and never carry a handbag. I've got a shit car and probably actually am quite 'poor' in financial terms and certainly compared to my friends.

And yet, people often think I'm posh. The only think I can put it down to is my accent. I live in Glasgow but am English and have one of those very neutral English accents that people have when they have moved around a lot. I also have quite a 'posh' name.

It can be the randomest things and I would worry too much about it.

I don’t think she’s common. She has excellent posture, excellent taste. She dresses well and minimally. And watching her on interviews, she’s softly spoken, polite, with a sense of humour. I know some people are snobby about her, but I actually think she’s a really nice human being.

PS phrases like “common as muck” betray you

A lot of people aren't really interested in clothes however well off they are and just buy stuff from somewhere like M&S when they need them because it's easy so clothes aren't really a marker of wealth.

Isn’t VB from a well off family?

Yes she is, that is why she was posh spice

She's not 'common as muck' though. She had a very middle class upbringing, very wealthy parents and she also spent time at an independent performing arts school. She just happens to have a regional London accent because she's from Hartfordshire.

But the OP isn't talking above class she's talking about money. And VB clearly has money whether or not you think she has class.

OP, I suspect it's just the effects of having had a baby, particularly one that is poorly. I was definitely talked down to by HCPs more in the immediate post partum period for DD1 than at any other time of my life. And when you feel like you've been (metaphorically) hit by a bus you can't stand up for yourself in the same way as normal.

Also, while €15 a day is cheap in comparison to alternative accomodation it's still an extra €105 a week or €450 a month which at a time when family income is dropping is probably beyond a lot of families (just think of all the threads on here at the moment talking about the increases in CoL and fuel costs).

Honestly it’s hard to say. It depends on what rich people generally look like in your area, and how close to that aesthetic you are.

eg I’m 24 and sometimes people think I look like a student (ie broke) and sometimes people think I’m wealthy. I don’t think I really do anything different, but I do travel across the UK a lot. eg if I go to a student-y area, the people there are probably going to assume I’m a student as I blend in, and assume I’m broke. If I go up north, people might assume I’m wealthy as I‘m from the Home Counties and have an accent. If I’m in the Home Counties, I probably look in the middle.

I am over educated so I wonder if it’s that. Although if you have a neutral accent that can make people assume you’re “posh”.

What is 'over educated?'

A friend used to work in a building society and said that the millionaires came in looking homeless and carrying a plastic carrier bag. Overdrawn customers would come in looking pretty nice!

I went into a travel shop and the assistant selected the cheapest budget book for me and kindly said, these places are really ok. I hadn't even stated a budget! She just judged me on what I look like. I don't wear makeup or jewellery as I don't want to.

Try not to give a fuck if people think you are rich or poor.

Really bad taste thread.

Report it then - MNHQ will delete things that aren't in the spirit of the site

So only poor people go to the post office, don't rich people post anything, I'm having to visit the post office a few times as I'm sorting out DF's probate so have to post some special delivery mail and stuff like that, I haven't noticed the smell of poor in there, I will have a sniff next time