Making people think you dont have money
By 911Ricki
@911Ricki (13588)
Canada
September 20, 2012 4:21pm CST
I know a few people who use this, and try to make people feel sorry for them and give them things. My Mother being one, and a lady I use to work with.
They both make it sound like everyone is out to get them, or they are poor. Now to me if all your necessities are paid than you arnt poor. Just becatouse you dont get your nails done, or have a brand new car doesn't mean your poor.
I remember a lady I use to work with would repeatedly tell me how poor I am. To me even when I move out, working 4 - 6 jobs Im not poor, my bills are paid up, and I have the necessities. Sometimes a struggle but I still eat, and pay my bills. I use coupons to save me money, to allow me to have more spending money and thats what every syas makes me poor.
I wouldn't go around saying I don't have any money, or I need this but can't afford it. Unless I really knew the person but I would simple say I was looking at shoes but cant afford them right now.
My Mother was just talking to our old neighbours who came to visit, she kept sayiing it. I could hear the conversation through my window, and saying things like we cant afford this or that. I couldnt believe the lies coming out of her mouth, or she will say I never had anything in my life, and I did without. Yet, she can go on a vacation every year, have 3 cars, buy nothing but name brand foods but shes poor and cant afford anything.
I would never dream of lying, and I wouldnt announce I needed money or was poor. I simple try to rebudget, and take the less important things out for example satellite tv, or going out less. It's my own fault if I dont have the money, so I have to fix it not expect the world to do it for me.
When she came inside saying they cant afford this septic issue while she's looking up trips to go to the Dominican or some country beside it. 
She kept talking about this trip, I just walked away as I know if you say anything she will have a screaming fit like a 5 year old.
She kept talking about this trip, I just walked away as I know if you say anything she will have a screaming fit like a 5 year old.2 people like this
10 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Sep 12
I had an aunt, would go to church begging for money to pay for food for her kids. Meanwhile burger king was a regular trip, stuffing her own face first. It was despicable. Even now I think her mom pays for where she stays. One of her kids, wsy over weight like her. It's terrible to lie, basically beg for stuff.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
20 Sep 12
Its ridiculous what some people will do. I just could believe she was saying all this, and trying to get attention. I dont consider myself poor, nor them they have fairly new cars, have their house paid off,go on vacation once or twice a year, not much debt, and pay their bills each month, plus waste a lot on unneccsities but shes poor supposeable. I would flant it around, and make the neighbourhood know about it, I would try to solve the problem I got into.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157865)
• United States
21 Sep 12
She does not want to afford a septic issue. There is nothing glamorous about fixing the sewage situation. I thought your dad was out of work? I know people live on credit a lot. I did not like to hear "we can't afford it" when growing up or " we don't have the money" although honestly we did not. I always use a different phrase when my kids were growing up. I always told them "we choose to spend our money differently" and honestly, that is the same thing you are saying. We chose to pay our bills first. We never have gone hungry and we have a roof over our heads. I choose a different lifestyle and I am not poor.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
21 Sep 12
It changes your attutide about it, I know somethings I cant afford. I may say that such as I cant go shopping because I have other obligations. I simple choose to buy or pay other things. My Dad got a small job cutting grass at a golf course, its over thanksgiving weekend then he will be out of work. But overall they do have money, they could be worse off. I mean their house is paid off, they dont have debt like some, they choose to waste their money on my brother which is why they are in this situation usually they could have this issue paid off immediately or in a few weeks.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
21 Sep 12
Hi,
Your story made me remember the wife of our dictator president who claimed she had no money to buy even a rake. That was when they were just kicked out of the Palace in a non-violent struggle "people power" as they call it. They were deported to Hawaii and put under guard in a military base there. Then, as the story goes, she kept wailing how poor they were, with no money and no nothing.
Then, as the time goes by, news of her bank accounts began to trickle down to us common people, she even made it back to Congress with her son in the Senate. Now, if "poor" people could make it there, knowing how expensive running for an office can get in this Republic, then why do some can't even get a barangay position for that matter?
Personally, the only time that I have to claim no money (and to look like one) is when I shall win in the grand lottery to stay away from would-be solicitors and pundits. For now, I have to make a front as if I have all the money in the world even if it shall cost me an arm and a leg to do it.
@mrswhitfield (2044)
• Indonesia
21 Sep 12
One of my mother's sister also act like that. Actually she has many sources of income, she has a lot of land and houses for rent but she herself did not seem to have anything. She and her husband often got sick but did not want to spend money to go to a doctor for treatment. sHe loved money more than her health. sHe often complained that he did not have proper clothes to go to a family wedding. He complained all the shortcomings to everyone as if we do not know that she has more than what she told us. I never worried if people know I have money, if I had more money I would be willing to help a family in distress. I would never expect people to pity on me.
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
21 Sep 12
I usually make it sound as if I am just getting by usually to people who are borrowing money from me who have long history of not paying back what they owe. But I don't think I will be able to lie and actually announce that I am poor when I can have 3 meals a day (or more), a roof over my head, my bills are paid, I can go to a doctor when I'm sick, and I have all the electronic gadgets that I want and need. If they only know what the true meaning of poor is, they wouldn't be able to easily say this nonchalantly about themselves. I may not be rich, but I'm definitely not poor and I am working hard to make sure that I will not be.
I have some "friends" who selectively tell to some people that they are poor, but to other people, they brag left and right about what they have, their trips, and even what they eat. I can never fully understand why they have to do that, aren't they afraid that by always claiming that they are poor they might just be one for real.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
21 Sep 12
I think poverty is a state of mind. Some people just couldn't get enough of anything and even when they have the whole world in their hands, they still think they're poor because they do not own the universe. I think this type of thinking really make them poor and pathetic for they will never find happiness in simple things. Personally, I do not care if I have no money left in my pocket so long as I am happy and my family are also happy. Money is meant to be spent and not to be kept. You will be rich when you have amassed so much money in your bank. Sadly, you can't bring this to your grave.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
20 Sep 12
I feel for you, 911Ricki. It seems like we are both in the same predicament. And with your discussion it has somehow enlightened me to think more of where I am at. I don't have thousands of dollars in my account, but my family gets by everyday, could afford to buy certain things if needed. I am not rich, that's a fact, but neither am I poor coz I still got a house over my head that I do not need to pay for.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
21 Sep 12
I know some people who chose to have a low profile. They won't make people think that they are rich and would often say that they aren't but you can actually tell that they are. I guess that this is alright as long as you don't use it to take advantage of others.
When I read about your post, I thought of this guy who is very close to me. He has a niece who used to drink this expensive brand of milk but later on, due to financial constraints, have to buy another brand which is less expensive about 20% cheaper than the old brand which I still think is quite expensive because I too have a niece and my brother can only afford to buy a different brand of milk which is only half the price of this 'less expensive milk brand' he mentioned. This guy would often say that his niece is so unfortunate because he has to drink this less expensive milk. I used to pay attention to that and would offer money to buy this expensive brand. But later on realized that his niece is much fortunate than any other kids and the one who needs my help is my own niece. I also noticed that he is only kind and care about his niece but won't really mind about other children. He won't even bother to give a slice of burger or a single penny to poor street children and would say that he is also hungry. I always thought that he is so mean.
@enjoythejourney (524)
• United States
20 Sep 12
I think it all has to do with their upbringing. The values of their parents, etc. To the older generation talking about money or prosperity seems like bragging and this was wrong. So people were taught to downplay their lifestyle. I also think it has something to do where if you feel you are "rich" you will then lose it so it is better to act if you are poor. Maybe too they might think someone will want something from them if they know how much they have.
All of these values and fears come into play. It is hard to say what causes it but I know it is prevalent, especially in older people.
