How people treat you when they think you're poor

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

you can't judge a book.. — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:09:35 GMT

I suppose cars and houses are the biggest subject here because of the price tag. I have a car story. My husband and I had just received a very generous gift from my father in law who had inherited some money from an older relative. We were driving a really beat up old banger and figured that with two young kids it was time to buy a new car. We knew how much we wanted to spend - after all, we had the cash! One dealer after another refused to tell us how much the bottom line would be, all wanting to instead know how much we thought we wanted to pay each month. It didn't matter how many times we asked outright "what will it cost us to buy this car including taxes and everything" we got the same "how much do you want to spend each month". I guess they figured that everyone finances their purchase. We gave our name and phone number to a couple of these guys and told them "if you ever figure out what the price is give me a call". The last dealer we went to took the time to ask us a lot of questions and narrowed our choice down quickly and when we asked what the total price was he never hesitated but gave us a bottom line. The car was perfect for us and we thanked the salesperson and said, we'll take it and wrote him a check. The next day we got a call from one of the other guys asking if we had figured out what we wanted to pay yet -- I told him, yes, we actually bought a car yesterday and then explained that we wanted to pay cash and not finance which was why we wanted to kjnow the actual price. And that we had probably spent more for a bigger car than he had shown us. He was speechless and just hung up. That was 17 years ago and I still get a laugh thinking about it!

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Very interested — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:57:57 GMT

This is very interesting. I don't dress nice when I go shopping including shopping for cars at Acura/volvo/honda dealers. But I was never treated differently. When I look for real estate agents, I usually just wear normal clothes. I never got any rude comments, etc. I am the one who pick the agent not them. I don't tell them I have money. I don't think I act like one either. So I found this article and everyone's comments very interesting. Why do they treat you differently?

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Ungrateful bum! — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:45:14 GMT

"I once had a friend who would invite me to lunch and pay with a two-for-one coupon. What a jerk."

And yet, Aaron still gets a free meal. Who's the real jerk?

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

NS — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:26:00 GMT

A friend and I (a couple of college students) were gifted some pricey concert tickets. The usher was visibly confused. :)

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Valerie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:37:49 GMT

I'm so tired of not having any money!! Worked all my life, ended up disabled. Can't even afford food for my family! Hate the look on my kids faces when they want something simple, and I can't get for them. Life really sucks, right now. If ya know someone with alot of money , tell them to send me some.!!!!!!!!!!

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

andrea in the Bahamas — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:06:30 GMT

Thanks for the sharing it has given me encouragement as I go through a life change having to make adjustments financially, spiritually and socially. what helps me not to spend money on clothing & shoes just because they are so beautiful and make me feel good? I always look at what I am wearing and usually it is the oldest item from the closet, the most weather worn shoes, a hand bag from the ancient time, and a torn wallet but it has a few $$ in it. Then I have a good laugh at my self, and walk away from the tempation to spend $$$$ that I don't have for somthing I do not need. We are all creatures of habit! Try it next time you are about to spend the grocery money on a beautiful suit that the sales person says "is a must have for the season".

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Frugal with a capital 'F' — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:12:05 GMT

Sometimes being frugal can go a long way preparing you for the unexpected like the death of a loved one. My aunt learned this the hard way when my uncle passed away after a short illness and after he was buried,she was back to her old snobby self

in no time. A couple of months later,my grandmother passed on and the whole neighborhood contributed to her burial not because she was rich or anything,but because she was a kind old lady to everyone,young or old,and she always shared whatever she had be it sweets or spare change. We even had enough to celebrate her life with a bang,which made one jealous relative remark: "How is it these people could afford to party when the lady just died?" and a cousin shut him up with the ultimate statement: " Because that's what she would have wanted."

People need to realize that family is more important than money and we're not here to stay in this sorry world forever.

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

lamia — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:36:34 GMT

I love saving money too.Once there was a huge deal at Walgreens in which I was able to get more than $200 in Register Rewards i.e (like cash you can spend at the store).I had to go multiple times in and out and use coupons to get them.One of the managers seemed irritated by this.Only when I came out the 4th time she followed me maybe to tell me to stop it, but when she saw my car a 04 BMW she just sighed and said...."if I had the saving sense like you ,I would be driving a car like that too!

I have always been treated very nicely at that store since!

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Steven — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:22:45 GMT

Great post!

I remember reading this comment about Warren Buffett. A reporter asked him once about his appearance. His reply: "Why should I buy expensive clothes? I just put them on and they look cheap on me."

re: How people treat you when they think you're poor

Tami Novak — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:34:08 GMT

Great article!! I'm a fellow frugal coupon clipper and rebater as well. I agree wholeheartedly with you about dressing down. When I bought my car, I dressed down (okay, to be honest, I'm usually dressed down anyway) and wandered into the car dealership. ONE salesman approached me, and the others completely ignored me. He got an immediate sale with my excelllent credit, down payment, and, my saying, "I'll take that one now, thanks."

I wouldn't be offended in the least if strangers offered me coupons, because I love a good bargain, and I've done the same in grocery stores, too. My husband has paid for his Burger King meal in change just to clean out the change languishing on the floormats of his car, and I truly agree that money is for saving. Good luck to you!

Tami