Exhausting To Pretend I’m Poor

[Anonymous]

I’m getting really tired of hiding my financial situation at work to avoid making people uncomfortable. It’s perfectly fine for people to talk about how bad their finances are, but people definitely hold it against you if you are doing well. I don’t have a car payments, bought them with cash. No debt other than mortgage and my parents and in-laws regularly give us money. It’s really annoying to pretend like I have a car payment and credit card debt, and struggling to pay my mortgage. Does anyone else have any tips on how I can be more convincing at pretending like I am struggling financially?

[Anonymous]

Develop a fent habit

[Anonymous]

Change your attitude. You don't need to lie, you just need to be discreet. And you need therapy if you believe people are out to get you if you disclose too much. Did you hear some colleagues talk negatively about someone else? If you're a good person and well-liked for your traits at work, they're not going to take you down when they learn you've got a little more money than they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m getting really tired of hiding my financial situation at work to avoid making people uncomfortable. It’s perfectly fine for people to talk about how bad their finances are, but people definitely hold it against you if you are doing well. I don’t have a car payments, bought them with cash. No debt other than mortgage and my parents and in-laws regularly give us money. It’s really annoying to pretend like I have a car payment and credit card debt, and struggling to pay my mortgage. Does anyone else have any tips on how I can be more convincing at pretending like I am struggling financially?

I don’t carry debt either and no one is giving me money. I own my late model Benz outright. I just keep my mouth shut and silently express gratitude for my financial situation. It would be ridiculous to play that you’re struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m getting really tired of hiding my financial situation at work to avoid making people uncomfortable. It’s perfectly fine for people to talk about how bad their finances are, but people definitely hold it against you if you are doing well. I don’t have a car payments, bought them with cash. No debt other than mortgage and my parents and in-laws regularly give us money. It’s really annoying to pretend like I have a car payment and credit card debt, and struggling to pay my mortgage. Does anyone else have any tips on how I can be more convincing at pretending like I am struggling financially?

I don’t carry debt either and no one is giving me money. I own my late model Benz outright. I just keep my mouth shut and silently express gratitude for my financial situation. It would be ridiculous to play that you’re struggling.

PP again. A financial situation that I created for myself by being thoughtful about my money, investing and spending.

[Anonymous]

Oh noooo…it’s so hard…
Get some perspective, for one. This is not a problem.
Second, I have a hard time believing you really need to pretend to be poor. Can’t you choose to not discuss your financial situation like most normal people do?

[Anonymous]

I don't have debt besides mortgage and make enough to be comfortable and travel multiple times a year. I have never pretended that finances are rough. I just don't talk about it or brag. I don't understand the need to pretend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh noooo…it’s so hard…
Get some perspective, for one. This is not a problem.
Second, I have a hard time believing you really need to pretend to be poor. Can’t you choose to not discuss your financial situation like most normal people do?

OP is probably the sort to be mentally rigid and emotionally immature. She must have heard some comments about wealth and now she's gotten it into her head that she'd better lie about her situation. A normal person wouldn't do that, but a hyper anxious or neurodivergent person might.

You need a therapist, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m getting really tired of hiding my financial situation at work to avoid making people uncomfortable. It’s perfectly fine for people to talk about how bad their finances are, but people definitely hold it against you if you are doing well. I don’t have a car payments, bought them with cash. No debt other than mortgage and my parents and in-laws regularly give us money. It’s really annoying to pretend like I have a car payment and credit card debt, and struggling to pay my mortgage. Does anyone else have any tips on how I can be more convincing at pretending like I am struggling financially?

Why are you taking about things at work. I’ve never discussed debt or car payments with anyone i work with.

[Anonymous]

My coworkers have no idea what my financial situation is and I don’t know about theirs (and don’t care). Lots of us don’t have any debt aside from a mortgage and lots of us don’t even have a mortgage. No one cares. Seriously no one.

[Anonymous]

I've never worked anywhere where my coworkers and I regularly discuss our personal finances. Why does this keep coming up? Just don't participate in this.

[Anonymous]

It will be a lot less exhausting if instead of lying you just use discretion.

[Anonymous]

Why does it even come up? I don’t discuss any of that stuff with people, and they don’t discuss it with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be a lot less exhausting if instead of lying you just use discretion.

This you don't make up fictional debt, that's nuts. You can still make sympathetic noises.

Them: My unwise car payment is such a drag on my finances!
You: That's rough. Does the car run well? I just had to replace my (whatever you actually replaced, don't lie).

[Anonymous]

This is stupid. I didn't go to college so have no loans. I don't own a car so have no car payment. I don't talk about money at work. Nobody knows if I am six figures in debt or have six figures in the bank.

You don't have to brag.