Looking back on childhood, most kids seemed to be on a fairly even playing field — well, sort of.
In every school, there was always that one kid whose life was clearly on a different level. At the time, you might not have thought too much about it, but as an adult, it’s obvious who came from money. Whether it was their fancy packed lunches, their endless holidays, or the things they just took for granted, there were always clear signs that some kids had more than the rest of us. These are just some of the things that made it painfully obvious who the rich kid in the class was.
1. Their packed lunch looked like something from a restaurant.
Most kids had the same kind of packed lunch: a ham or cheese sandwich, a bag of crisps, and maybe a Penguin bar if they were lucky. But the rich kid? Their lunch looked like something from a posh café. Instead of a basic sandwich, they had fresh baguettes filled with smoked salmon or expensive deli meats. Instead of a cheap yoghurt, they had fancy imported fruit pots and organic snacks. They always had name-brand items, while the rest of us had whatever was on offer at Asda. Their drinks weren’t a basic carton of squash but bottled mineral water or a branded smoothie that made everyone else’s look boring. And somehow, their lunchbox never looked battered, while most of us were still using the same one from three years ago with a broken zip.
2. They went on proper foreign holidays every year.
Most kids’ summer holidays involved a week in a caravan park, a trip to the seaside, or maybe visiting family for a few days. However, the rich kid was always off to Spain, skiing in the Alps, or spending two weeks at a private villa in Italy. While the rest of us were collecting seashells at the beach, they were snorkelling in crystal-clear waters or talking about how hot it was in Dubai. They never had to deal with long car journeys packed in the back seat with siblings arguing over who got the window seat. They were flying, usually with priority boarding, staying in hotels where staff actually carried their bags, and coming back to school with a tan in the middle of winter. Meanwhile, the rest of us were just hoping for a few days of decent weather at the local campsite.
3. Their uniform was always brand new.
Most kids had school jumpers that had faded in the wash, shoes that had seen better days, and blazers that had been passed down from older siblings. However, the rich kid’s uniform always looked immaculate. Their school shoes were spotless, and if they ever got a scuff, they magically had a new pair within a week. Even their PE kit was next level. While the rest of us had whatever trainers our parents could find on sale, they had the latest branded sports shoes, perfectly coordinated gym clothes, and a sports bag that wasn’t just a supermarket carrier bag. They never had to deal with too-small shirts or trousers being let down to last another year — they just got a whole new set at the start of every term.
4. Their birthday parties were actual events.
Most birthday parties involved a handful of friends, a homemade cake, and maybe a trip to the bowling alley or a sleepover with a few games of truth or dare. Rich kid birthday parties, on the other hand, were on another level. They had hired entertainers, balloon arches, and goody bags that could have passed as actual presents. Some had their parties at expensive venues like private cinemas or trampoline parks, and others had magicians, face painters, or an actual DJ. While the rest of us were grateful for a supermarket cake with our name iced on top, they had custom-made cakes with multiple tiers and edible gold decorations. If you ever got invited to one of these parties, it was a glimpse into a completely different world.
5. They had a holiday home.
Going on holiday once a year was a big deal for most families, but the rich kid wasn’t just going on holiday — they had a second home. Whether it was a beach house, a countryside retreat, or a villa abroad, they had somewhere they could escape to whenever they wanted. They never had to worry about booking accommodation or saving up for a trip. If they wanted a break, their family just packed up and went. And when summer came around, they weren’t choosing where to go on holiday — they were just deciding how long they’d stay at their second home.
6. They were never worried about school trip costs.
When a school trip was announced, most kids had to go home and check if their parents could afford it. The rich kid? They had their permission slip handed in the same day. Whether it was a visit to the local museum or a week in another country, money was never a problem. Some kids had to do fundraising just to go on a residential trip, while the rich kid was casually deciding whether to go on the ski trip or the one to New York. They never had to experience the disappointment of missing out on a trip because it was too expensive because it was just a given that they’d be going.
7. Their family car was always new and expensive.
Most families drove around in cars that were a few years old and had seen better days. The rich kid’s parents, though, always had something new and shiny parked in the driveway. It was never a basic model; it was a Mercedes, a BMW, or something with heated seats and a sunroof. If their parents ever got a new car, it wasn’t because the old one had broken down; it was just time for an upgrade. And if you ever got a lift home from them, you got to experience what a smooth ride in a luxury car felt like, complete with a dashboard that looked like something from a spaceship.
8. Their house had multiple bathrooms.
Source: Unsplash Most of us grew up in houses where the bathroom was a shared space, and if someone was in there too long, it became a family-wide issue. The rich kid, however, casually mentioned the downstairs bathroom, which was already a sign that their house was bigger than most. If you ever went ’round to their place and realised they had an en-suite bathroom as well as a second or third toilet, it was obvious they were living in a completely different world. Meanwhile, the rest of us were queuing in the mornings, knocking on the door and begging whoever was inside to hurry up.
9. They never had to share a bedroom.
Lots of kids had to share bedrooms with their siblings, squeezing into bunk beds or negotiating over whose side of the room was whose. Having their own spacious room was par for the course for the rich kid, and it was always decorated exactly how they wanted, with a bed big enough to fit half the class for a sleepover. Some even had their own study area and a separate playroom, while the rest of us had to do our homework at the kitchen table in between dinner prep and family conversations. If their bedroom had a TV, a desk, and shelves filled with expensive-looking ornaments, you knew their family had money.
10. Their Christmas presents were ridiculous.
Most kids got a few decent presents at Christmas — a board game, a new jumper, maybe a bike that had to last for years. The rich kid? They came back after the holidays talking about getting everything they asked for, casually listing gifts that could have filled an entire toy shop. They had the latest gadgets, designer clothes, and high-end toys that most of us had only seen in catalogues. While the rest of us were just happy with a few good presents, they were the ones saying, “I got two new games, but I wanted more,” like it was a disappointment. That was when you really knew their family had money.
