Sometimes wealthy people just don’t have a clue.
You know the type — born with a silver spoon in their mouth, never had to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and completely oblivious to the daily realities of poverty. They might mean well, but their clueless comments can come across as insensitive at best and downright offensive at worst. Here are 15 prime examples of the ignorant stuff wealthy people spew without a second thought.
1. “Why don’t you just buy it? It’s not that expensive.”
Easy for you to say, mate. When you’re living pay cheque to pay cheque, even a small unexpected expense can throw your whole budget off. Just because something seems affordable to you doesn’t mean it’s within reach for everyone. And it’s condescending as hell to minimise someone’s financial struggles like that. Try some perspective and empathy before you go suggesting frivolous purchases.
2. “You should travel more, it’s so good for the soul.”
Right, because taking time off work and jetting off to some exotic locale is totally feasible when you’re barely scraping by. News flash: travel is a luxury, not a necessity. For many people, the only holiday they can afford is a staycation on their couch. Suggesting that someone should prioritise globe-trotting over putting food on the table is the height of privilege and ignorance.
3. “Why don’t you just ask your parents for help?”
Newsflash: not everyone has the benefit of a wealthy family safety net. Lots of people come from low-income backgrounds, and their parents are struggling just as much as they are. Suggesting that someone should just rely on their family for financial support is not only presumptuous, it’s downright insulting. And it completely ignores the pride and independence that many people feel in making their own way in the world.
4. “You should really invest in some nicer clothes for work.”
Source: Unsplash Right, because a new designer wardrobe is totally in the budget when you’re barely making rent each month. Listen, most people understand the importance of dressing professionally for their job. But when you’re living on a shoestring, you have to prioritise the essentials over the extras. Shaming someone for their clothing choices when they’re just trying to get by is classist and cruel.
5. “You should just quit your job if you’re not happy there.”
Source: Unsplash Sure, because walking away from a steady pay cheque is such an easy decision when you have mouths to feed and bills to pay. For many people, their job is their lifeline, even if it’s not their dream gig. Suggesting that someone should just up and quit without a backup plan is the height of financial privilege and recklessness. A good chunk of people don’t have the luxury of job-hopping until they find the perfect fit — they’ve got to make do with what they’ve got.
6. “Why don’t you just move somewhere cheaper?”
Source: Unsplash Oh, why didn’t I think of that? Just uproot my entire life, leave behind my support system, and start over in a new place where the rent is marginally lower. News flash: moving is expensive, even if you’re downsizing. There are deposits, moving costs, and the risk of leaving behind a stable situation for an unknown one. And for many people, their community ties and family responsibilities make relocating a non-starter.
7. “You should really treat yourself more often.”
Source: Unsplash Right, because splurging on a spa day or a fancy dinner out is totally justifiable when you’re one missed shift away from eviction. Listen, everyone deserves a little self-care and indulgence now and then. But when you’re living on the financial edge, those treats have to be carefully rationed and planned for. Encouraging someone to blow their budget on frivolous stuff is irresponsible and out of touch.
8. “Why don’t you just go back to school and get a better job?”
Source: Unsplash Sure, because taking on tens of thousands of pounds in student debt is such a no-brainer when you’re already struggling to keep the lights on. Education is important, but it’s not a magic bullet for financial stability. Lots of people with degrees are still stuck in low-paying jobs or drowning in loan payments. Suggesting that someone should just casually pursue more schooling without considering the financial realities is naive and presumptuous.
9. “You should really buy organic, it’s so much healthier.”
Source: Unsplash Right, because a pound of organic apples is totally worth sacrificing a couple of meals over. Listen, everyone wants to eat healthy and put good food into their bodies. But when you’re on a tight budget, you have to make tough choices about where to spend your grocery money. Shaming someone for not buying posh produce when they’re just trying to keep their family fed is elitist and insensitive.
10. “Why don’t you just start your own business?”
Source: Unsplash Oh sure, let me just whip out my secret stash of startup capital and get right on that. Starting a business takes money, time, and resources that many people simply don’t have access to. It’s not a quick fix for financial struggles, and it’s certainly not a risk-free endeavour. Suggesting that someone should just become an entrepreneur overnight completely ignores the systemic barriers and challenges that low-income people face in pursuing that kind of opportunity.
11. “You’re so lucky you don’t have to pay taxes!”
Source: Unsplash First of all, that’s not even true. Everyone pays taxes in some form or another, whether it’s sales tax, payroll tax, or property tax. And secondly, implying that low-income people are somehow gaming the system or getting a free ride is incredibly offensive. People living in poverty are struggling to survive, not kicking back and living large on the government’s dime.
12. “I wish I could be satisfied with so little like you are.”
Source: Unsplash Wow, way to romanticise poverty and make it sound like some kind of zen spiritual practice. News flash: most people living in poverty aren’t content with “so little” — they’re making the best of extremely challenging circumstances. Implying that they’ve chosen a life of scarcity and simplicity is patronising and dismissive of their daily struggles and aspirations.
13. “Have you thought about manifesting more abundance?”
Source: Unsplash Oh yeah, let me just close my eyes and wish really hard for a million pounds to materialise in my bank account. The concept of “manifesting abundance” is a privileged New Age myth that completely ignores the systemic barriers and inequalities that keep people trapped in poverty. Believing that you can simply think your way into wealth and prosperity is not only delusional, it’s deeply insulting to those who are working their tails off just to survive.
14. “You should be grateful for what you have.”
Source: Unsplash Yes, gratitude is important. But telling someone who is struggling to make ends meet that they should just be happy with their lot in life is dismissive and tone-deaf. It’s possible to be grateful for the good things in your life while still acknowledging the very real challenges and injustices you face. Poverty isn’t a lack of gratitude — it’s a lack of resources and opportunities.
15. “Money doesn’t buy happiness, you know.”
Source: Unsplash Maybe not, but it sure as hell buys food, shelter, healthcare, and education — you know, the basic necessities of life. It’s easy to spout platitudes about the unimportance of money when you’ve never had to worry about where your next meal is coming from. For people living in poverty, money isn’t just a nicety — it’s a matter of survival. Don’t lecture people about happiness when a lack of financial stability means they can’t even secure the foundation of it.
