Where does this notion come from that wealthy people don't drive nice cars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its almost like none of you have driven through the hood.

This. I'm going to leave this right here:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/05/02/usda-secretary-brooke-rollins-says-14000-on-snap-were-driving-luxury-vehicles-this-ends-now/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

100 percent this. We have a $2000/month mortgage and no car payment and are able to fuel that extra money into the market and just see it grow, which gives us room to fund things that we actually want and to feel a deep sense of security.

Years of reading "FIRE" blogs like Mr. Money Mustache also really sunk in after a while, though we are not FIRE people necessarily. But the main points he makes -- using money to buy freedom rather than things, and only spend your money and objects that actually increase your happiness or make your life easier. And, live somewhere where you are not car dependent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

You could save enough more if you lived in an urban black neighborhood. Why don’t you move to Anacostia to really kick your savings into high gear?

And since when does driving a new car cost 5K a month more than a crummy car? It’s more like 500. You miser strivers who posture as old money wasps on here are such a laugh riot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

100 percent this. We have a $2000/month mortgage and no car payment and are able to fuel that extra money into the market and just see it grow, which gives us room to fund things that we actually want and to feel a deep sense of security.

Years of reading "FIRE" blogs like Mr. Money Mustache also really sunk in after a while, though we are not FIRE people necessarily. But the main points he makes -- using money to buy freedom rather than things, and only spend your money and objects that actually increase your happiness or make your life easier. And, live somewhere where you are not car dependent.

Money Mustache bought his home for 200k or so in a burb that's not especially walkable and he works from home which is why he's not car dependent. Now his burb home costs 800k+. I think that's important to note that his set up is not doable for young people starting now. It would be very hard to replicate anything like him in Colorado at this point, or really most states aside from some midwest areas. He did not have to make very hard choices since he could afford a very safe burb at a low cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

You could save enough more if you lived in an urban black neighborhood. Why don’t you move to Anacostia to really kick your savings into high gear?

And since when does driving a new car cost 5K a month more than a crummy car? It’s more like 500. You miser strivers who posture as old money wasps on here are such a laugh riot.

DP here. To your first question, because the schools aren’t as good. To your second question, it’s obvious PP was saying that is the combined savings on housing expenses, 2 sensible cars, no private schools, etc. You get to $5K/month quite easily. Here is the sentence - “If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you even read the millionaire next door? Most drive honda's. The poorest people I know drive "nicer" cars, the multimillionaires myself included drive honda's, toyota's, nissan's. Poorer people tend to fake the funk and think that they're fooling people.

This is definitely not my experience. The multimillionaires I know don’t drive Ferraris, but they do drive a lot of BMW, Mercedes, Audi and nice three row SUVs.

Same here. My rich relative has never driven a beater, they DO buy a luxury car and drive it forever, but in all my 56 years they have never driven a beater or a not nice car. And they are not in debt as I have insight into their finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is exploiting tax loopholes to write off their cars. They’re essentially driving them for free. Middle class are the only suckers driving used and out of warranty cars.

This simply isn't true. Not everyone, in fact, I don't believe that many people are exploiting tax loopholes for car. Again, cite your data.

A lot of the influencers are

[Anonymous]

There are zero non new cars in the car lineup at my kids' primary and high schools. Rich teenagers don't even drive used cars anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on where you live. In the LA area everyone is superficial and showy. In the DC area looking important and rich matters to a lot of people. In the Boston area most aren’t showy. It’s an area of intellect with the best colleges and medical care. Dallas is a place where people like big displays of wealth. Midwest not as showoffy.

I disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is exploiting tax loopholes to write off their cars. They’re essentially driving them for free. Middle class are the only suckers driving used and out of warranty cars.

This simply isn't true. Not everyone, in fact, I don't believe that many people are exploiting tax loopholes for car. Again, cite your data.

A lot of the influencers are

Influencers? Really? I can't imagine influencers are a significant % of tax-paying citizens. To further the argument, of the insignificant % of influences out there, what % do you think are driving SUVs that qualify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

100 percent this. We have a $2000/month mortgage and no car payment and are able to fuel that extra money into the market and just see it grow, which gives us room to fund things that we actually want and to feel a deep sense of security.

Years of reading "FIRE" blogs like Mr. Money Mustache also really sunk in after a while, though we are not FIRE people necessarily. But the main points he makes -- using money to buy freedom rather than things, and only spend your money and objects that actually increase your happiness or make your life easier. And, live somewhere where you are not car dependent.

What year did you buy your home in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are zero non new cars in the car lineup at my kids' primary and high schools. Rich teenagers don't even drive used cars anymore.

Big hat, no cattle. Our neighbor drives a RR, the bigger longer one, and was SHOCKED and dismayed at the cost of UVA instate when we told him. He put his kids in parochial K-8 and is also stressing at the cost of private HS because it’s not $9k a year like the current school. Like, dude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

100 percent this. We have a $2000/month mortgage and no car payment and are able to fuel that extra money into the market and just see it grow, which gives us room to fund things that we actually want and to feel a deep sense of security.

Years of reading "FIRE" blogs like Mr. Money Mustache also really sunk in after a while, though we are not FIRE people necessarily. But the main points he makes -- using money to buy freedom rather than things, and only spend your money and objects that actually increase your happiness or make your life easier. And, live somewhere where you are not car dependent.

What year did you buy your home in?

Here we go again. “I have to be broke! I had no choice but to take out an $8k/month mortgage! It’s all someone else’s fault, of course never mine.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are zero non new cars in the car lineup at my kids' primary and high schools. Rich teenagers don't even drive used cars anymore.

Big hat, no cattle. Our neighbor drives a RR, the bigger longer one, and was SHOCKED and dismayed at the cost of UVA instate when we told him. He put his kids in parochial K-8 and is also stressing at the cost of private HS because it’s not $9k a year like the current school. Like, dude.

So he's a neighbor, not your friend, and you think he's going to disclose his personal finances to some creepy neighbor? He drives a nicer car than you and has his kids are in private...he's actually broke though because he feigned ignorance about UVA in-state tuition. Be sure to circle back when he actually yanks his kids from private. You envious and insecure public school parents are so freakin batshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it’s a lie the class obsessed tell themselves to soothe their feelings of inadequacy.

Well, it's how UMC can become wealthy. For those who truly make a ton of money or inherited it, they don't need to do this.

We make $400k in the DC suburbs. We have a smaller SFH in a good neighborhood with excellent public schools. We drive our cars for 10+ years and buy a standard Toyota/Honda. If we had upgraded the house, cars, and/or paid for private schools, we would not be saving nearly as much and would just be working each month to pay for our expenses. Being frugal has been a game changer - you can't make it up on Starbucks and homemade lunches. It's because our monthly expenses are $5000+ lower than they could be, and we are investing all of that and have been for years.

100 percent this. We have a $2000/month mortgage and no car payment and are able to fuel that extra money into the market and just see it grow, which gives us room to fund things that we actually want and to feel a deep sense of security.

Years of reading "FIRE" blogs like Mr. Money Mustache also really sunk in after a while, though we are not FIRE people necessarily. But the main points he makes -- using money to buy freedom rather than things, and only spend your money and objects that actually increase your happiness or make your life easier. And, live somewhere where you are not car dependent.

What year did you buy your home in?

Here we go again. “I have to be broke! I had no choice but to take out an $8k/month mortgage! It’s all someone else’s fault, of course never mine.”

NP-It's a valid question. I personally bought my home when I could pay a low cost for it, so I have a low mortgage. The same home (boring 90s home in a burb with good public schools) and similar homes are now going for over twice what we paid. Timing plays a huge part and it's not about "having to be broke" but just the sorts of reasonable, frugal choices you can make. Your choices and mine were really easy.