Do you feel financially inferior to you friends?
By raghavrao89
@raghavrao89 (189)
India
February 16, 2007 8:07am CST
Ever goe out roaming with your friends and ended up in a posh cafe where the price for a glass juice is more than you are used to paying for an entire meal, but your friend insists on eating there. what did you do then? order a 'simple salad and water' while your friend tried to empty their larder or whip out your credit card so as not to be outdone or even let your friend pay for both of you. Do you have friends who are financially better off? How do you deal with this when out with them? how do the two of you come to an understanding?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@mdzafaruddin (879)
• India
16 Feb 07
Its no like feeling inferior to friends if you are clear to them about your financial details, but still at times i feel inferior but it dosent makes me feel bad, i am from a financialy sound family but still there are few friends of mine who go for very costly watches, perfumes, and hangout areas which i can also do but to a limited extent not to the max as what they do, and also other side of mine i have friends who cant even spend for a icecream at a good icecream parlour, but i make them feel always comfortable when they are with me, in this way i avoid the inferior feeling of them, if your friends are coperative and uinderstanding then there will be no rpoblem like this, and you can easily come out of this situation. If mistakenly you wont take care of this then i am sure your friend will feel inferior and will never join you again for any treat or party, but he will invite you to his way of parties.
@raghavrao89 (189)
• India
16 Feb 07
You're right there.. there are those among my friends who have a different financial capacity.. I definitely try my best to make them feel as comfortable as possible.
@raghavrao89 (189)
• India
16 Feb 07
Yeah.. my mom experiences that at times, but she doesn't care coz she became a doctor to help people, not mint money. And in the end.. she's not doing badly.. she recently almost got confirmation for a better job.. so hope 4 best...
@kegski (20)
• United States
16 Feb 07
I have found that usually people who appear to be better off simply have higher credit card limits! Here in the US, debt has become as normal as "applie pie" and people think you are strange if you actually live below your means.
I listen to a radio show about finances and he is so good about making uncomfortable situations like you mentioned seem trivial and provides great advice for how to deal with the day-to-day of living within your means.
His site is www.daveramsey.com.
Personally, I would just part company for lunch and do your own thing and meet up later if your friend doesn't want to just go somewhere more reasonable. Or, if they are truly "better off" and not just showing off, accept their offer to pay for it if they do, but don't expect them to. If they offer because you tell them you can't swing it, and you're sure they can afford it, then enjoy it. Just be sure to thank them later!
1 person likes this
@raghavrao89 (189)
• India
16 Feb 07
Thanks... that's really useful.. and that link you provided for the financial advisor's seems useful too.. I'll join up.. and in India.. it's not got to do with debt..lol at least not with me.. here it's how much your father earns that matters. My mom's a single mom.. so I find it loath to squander her money at expensive places, so if a place is too expensive, I find some other excuse to eat elsewhere so my friends on't feel uncomfortable either.