What are the markers of wealth these days?

What things (salary, job, possessions, holidays, cars, type of house) would make you think a person was well off these days? Myself and friends had this idle chat today and am interested to hear other people’s thoughts.

Army_of_One

The amount of coke and hookers one can purvey for oneself

Ipso

Low debt. You can have nice cars and houses etc but the ability to borrow a million euro doesn't make you a millionaire, I think the misunderstanding of debt was one of the reasons for the septic tiger.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Money readily available from your own resources.

The_Valeyard

Head still above the ground

riffmongous

A three-piece suit, snakeskin boots, a rhinestone smile and an attitude

The Undecided One

Ability to take time off whenever needed or whenever you fancy (or during school breaks because prices in nice spots tend to skyrocket the moment it’s midterm or summer holidays)

Ipso

Ipso wrote: »

Low debt. You can have nice cars and houses etc but the ability to borrow a million euro doesn't make you a millionaire, I think the misunderstanding of debt was one of the reasons for the septic tiger.

This came up today. A lot of PCP 181 cars driving around now rather than people saving up for a car so it means the new cars are bought by the rich and also by regular people happy to get car via PCP which has taken away the prestige of a new car somewhat as people assume you must have got it on PCP if you haven’t a well paid job.

Luxxis

It use to be Sky Digital.

Now its a Dyson cordless.

evolving_doors

Decking...

Oh dear, here we go again

currants

Jesus are we back to this again? Its so depressing that people learned nothing from the crash. If I was religious I'd be expecting a righteous plague or something to wipe us all out. Living your life around ostentatious displays of consumer crap on the never never doesn't make you rich. Or happy. Or even a good person.
Living within your means and enjoying what you can afford is the key to a good and happy life. Simple pleasures.

Luxxis

Luxxis wrote: »

It use to be Sky Digital.

Now its a Dyson cordless.

We have a Dyson cordless but are most definitely not rich

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Deleted User wrote: »

This came up today. A lot of PCP 181 cars driving around now rather than people saving up for a car so it means the new cars are bought by the rich and also by regular people happy to get car via PCP which has taken away the prestige of a new car somewhat as people assume you must have got it on PCP if you haven’t a well paid job.

I've a new one coming next week, paid cash and don't have a job at all. I must be uber rich.

whatnext

Luxxis wrote: »

It use to be Sky Digital.

Now its a Dyson cordless.

I remember when it was a microwave

Squall Leonhart

julie101 wrote:

..which has taken away the prestige of a new car somewhat as people assume you must have got it on PCP if you haven’t a well paid job.

Why does it matter what other people think?

wexie

not having a medical card AND still being able to afford to go to the dr

The Undecided One

Gavin Young Stereo wrote: »

I've a new one coming next week, paid cash and don't have a job at all. I must be uber rich.

Being a drug dealer is a job, you just get to set your own hours

I think wealth comes in different forms but ultimately I see it as Srameen posted, being able to pull from your own resources. So you are not relying on a loan or hire purchase and there is money invested or saved offering you a safety net. That's financial wealth anyway.

Oldtree

It's delightful to have a pot to piss in again

The Undecided One

Luxxis wrote: »

It use to be Sky Digital.

Now its a Dyson cordless.

What if we have a corded Dyson? Where does this put us?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The Undecided One wrote: »

Being a drug dealer is a job, you just get to set your own hours

Sounds like too much work for me.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The Undecided One wrote: »

What if we have a corded Dyson? Where does this put us?

15 years out of date.

Ipso

Squall Leonhart wrote: »

Why does it matter what other people think?

So you're saying you drive a banger?

currants

Deleted User wrote: »

This came up today. A lot of PCP 181 cars driving around now rather than people saving up for a car so it means the new cars are bought by the rich and also by regular people happy to get car via PCP which has taken away the prestige of a new car somewhat as people assume you must have got it on PCP if you haven’t a well paid job.

The answer to this is to make a big sign saying "not bought on pcp" or "bought on pcp" and sticking it on your brand new car. Then you wont have to worry about your peers who may be thinking less or more of you as a human being because you did or didn't buy a car on credit.
Or you could just stop comparing yourself to everyone else and be happier. This happens naturally around middle age, its very liberating

wexandproud

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Head still above the ground

ya got that right . we've all heard the saying your health is your wealth . Im 54 and have been fit all my life but totally out of the blue i had some problems lately . Was actually at a cardio rehab clinic today and boy do we all under appreciate our health

A good credit rating. That's it really. it's not about getting loan/mortgage. Even just to open a bank account, rental agreements, etc internationally, without a decent credit rating you're pretty screwed.

Uranium

Having the latest product from Apple

NickNickleby

whatnext wrote: »

I remember when it was a microwave

In all seriousness here, I remember when it was stair carpet. I remember when certain neighbours got it, the would open the hall door for any old reason, with the hall and landing lights on. God be with the good old days,eh?

A few years ago it became fashionable to rip out the carpets . So, that's how fickle we are.

suicide_circus

Gavin Young Stereo wrote: »

I've a new one coming next week, paid cash and don't have a job at all. I must be uber rich.

Ah you do love talking about your wealth don't you

Squall Leonhart

Ipso wrote:

So you're saying you drive a banger?

No, I don't. I drive a fairly well maintained 10 year old car.

But that's irrelevant, you're missing the point.

Mrcaramelchoc

you're health.

Spoiler on your car, souped-up engine, baseball cap, shiny tracksuit, go to soccer matches abroad, holiday in Spain, spend a fortune on the latest phone and latest everything else every year, and a really big tv with a massive Sky subscription.

Oozes wealth and cultural capital, right there.

Ten of Swords

When there's so much gold in the treasure room that the servants have a pain in their bollix counting it all...

Skylinehead

Deleted User wrote: »

We have a Dyson cordless but are most definitely not rich

Yeah right, moneybags

wexandproud

Oldtree wrote: »

It's delightful to have a pot to piss in again

but its no good unless you have a window to throw it out through

PandaPoo

My sister in law and her husband are wealthy, she doesnt work and he retired at 38, they live in an enormous 4 storey house in a posh part of dublin, own 2 other houses abroad, 1 other in Ireland, 4 kids go to private schools, they all do violin and piano, they have an au pair, travel abroad for 2 months at least during the summer. Definitely wealthy.

We're ok, no debts, nice house, ok car, holiday once a year... definitely not wealthy but not struggling either, so that feels wealthy to us!!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Deleted User wrote: »

A good credit rating. That's it really. it's not about getting loan/mortgage. Even just to open a bank account, rental agreements, etc internationally, without a decent credit rating you're pretty screwed.

I never had a credit rating. Never needed one.

Squall Leonhart

Squall Leonhart wrote: »

Why does it matter what other people think?

I didn’t say it did.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

suicide_circus wrote: »

Ah you do love talking about your wealth don't you

Well, she asked.

currants

currants wrote: »

The answer to this is to make a big sign saying "not bought on pcp" or "bought on pcp" and sticking it on your brand new car. Then you wont have to worry about your peers who may be thinking less or more of you as a human being because you did or didn't buy a car on credit.
Or you could just stop comparing yourself to everyone else and be happier. This happens naturally around middle age, its very liberating

Haha great idea!

Zonda999

Agree with everything said already regarding debt.

It reminds me of an ad on one of the radio stations in Grand Theft Auto back in the day advertising fencing, the caption was "we'll help you look richer and be poorer". I think you can apply that to a lot of things these times.

suicide_circus

Gavin Young Stereo wrote: »

Well, she asked.

Youre dead right, Never miss an opportunity to show off.

Westernyelp

Deleted User wrote:

We have a Dyson cordless but are most definitely not rich

I have the cord, but no Dyson

Skylinehead

Skylinehead wrote: »

Yeah right, moneybags

Well now that you mention it I am debt free so that along with the Dyson might push me in to the moneybags club

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

suicide_circus wrote: »

Youre dead right, Never miss an opportunity to show off.

Get over it and I'll buy you an ice lolly.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gavin Young Stereo wrote: »

I never had a credit rating. Never needed one.

You do so like to brag.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

You do so like to brag.

Hi again!

If you've got it flaunt it.

What do you want when the subject comes up? Plead poverty? Lie?


Begrugery becomes you.

Los Lobos

Double door fridge with an ice maker built in has always been the sign of wealth and success, and always will be.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Los Lobos wrote: »

Double door fridge with an ice maker built in has always been the sign of wealth and success, and always will be.

Provided it's paid for.

johnnyskeleton

The true marker of wealth is being able to not think about money. Whether that means stamping into a casino and throwing 10k on black or even just being able to go for a few pints of a tuesday without having to check your bank balance, being freed from the shackles of constantly having to budget is the ultimate in luxury no matter what your situation and circumstances are.

As an aside though, I often find it funny when people look down on something as being cheap when they cant afford it, like the person who has had to move home with their parents but scoff at the idea of buying an apartment or a house outside the M50, or people who dont run a car treating everything other than a BMW/Audi/Merc as being a banger. I suppose part of that is an attempt to project wealth more than any real consideration of it being inferior.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gavin Young Stereo wrote: »

Hi again!

If you've got it flaunt it.

What do you want when the subject comes up? Plead poverty? Lie?


Begrugery becomes you.

Well the question is a general one about markers of wealth.