Have you ever been told that? Drives me crazy. Especially coming from a person who makes about twice as much.
What unattainable luxury was it in responce to? 3 extra month leave without pay to stay with my baby when he was a newborn.
I responded "no, we just planned for it". But that not understood. It was still insisted that I was "rich". I have heard this phrase before. It always drives me crazy. Because a lot of careful planning goes into getting those things (carefull managing of rewards programmes, tonn or research and price comparisons on big-ticket items, plain old saving for them, etc...) that are being dismissed by this phrase.
And I think I could understand if it was coming from a person who made a lot less money, but it usually is not the case, it comes from people who make more!
Do you ever hear that phrase?
You must be rich!
December 5th, 2011 at 03:59 pm
December 5th, 2011 at 04:18 pm 1323101884
December 5th, 2011 at 04:53 pm 1323104005
December 5th, 2011 at 05:04 pm 1323104667
It's become clear to me over the years that where we live, it is usually guessed that we make over $100k per year. (My income was $50k when we had our first child). I also hear a LOT that this is also impossible when both people earn the same amount. My impression is that if most people guessed, I make $100k and my spouse maked $40k, or something. Truth is we both made $50k when we first had children. No one seems to understand savings, whatsoever. I think our savings was more beneficial than our income at that point in our lives. Well, I think both were quite nice.
I think the irony is that most of my really low income friends all stay home, anyway. They simply can't afford the childcare. Some of them might have been jealous at some point or other, but I don't mind that. The general feeling I got from higher income people was that I was extraordinarily lucky to be able to take any maternity leave whatsoever, and that was in a state where state disability is rather mandatory. So then it becomes, "um, I have disability benefits that the state mandated - not like I Was well prepared or had much choice." But second wage earners couldn't possibly live off that? I received about $3500/month - in what world is that not enough of a second income to take a couple of weeks off work? Frankly, neither of us were working for months, and I barely touched out savings with that kind of money coming in from the state. I just find it sad, really, that the average person is that financially strapped. & I happen to know for a fact that everyone that said those things to me had far bigger incomes. They also had a lot more debt and other financial issues.
Compared to them, we are rich! It's just the notion that this fell out of the sky and was all luck that is so ridiculous. & it is amazing how off base some of the guesses of our income are. If you tell them your income, they won't get it. I can assure you that. Then it's just someone *must have* gave you help or money at some point. 8 years later I don't even bother challenging the ridiculous assumptions that people speak to my face. Maybe the first time - but if my response leads to 10 more wrong assumptions, then I know to quit because the person will never get it. (& then I can vent at savingadvice. Phew!!!!)
December 5th, 2011 at 05:19 pm 1323105573
Meanwhile, we don't have a car, have three cheapie prepaid phones that cost about $15 per month each, and hardly ever go out to restaurants or bars any more. Yet somehow, a house cleaner is a big extravagance. It's just the perception of different things, I guess. Most people wouldn't choose house cleaner above those other things, or they wouldn't consider those other things to be optional; more like an automatic part of life.
December 5th, 2011 at 06:37 pm 1323110236
Life is about choices, including how one chooses to spend their monthly allocation of money. If you choose to lease or buy new cars on an ongoing basis, eat out frequently, or maintain/buy an iPad, iPhone or iWhatever, don't judge me for electing to drive an older car, carry a dumb phone, and instead enjoy taking trip after trip. Or in your case Nika, three months extra time with your baby.
Just smile and say "We think we are, thank you" next time. My guess is that will stop them dead in their tracks and have them puzzling over what exactly you meant the rest of the day!
December 5th, 2011 at 07:08 pm 1323112139
December 6th, 2011 at 01:27 am 1323134854
December 14th, 2011 at 01:53 am 1323827609