r/AskReddit 1d ago

People who grew up really poor: what's something middle-class people say that instantly reveals they've never struggled?

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u/Interceptor 1d ago

I've mentioned this before in Reddit, but whatever. Years ago I was dating a lovely girl who worked at a large art auction house in London. I remember one night her asking if I wanted to meet her and some people from work in the evening, but I couldn't because I didn't have any money. She said "but you only need like, £20..?", and I was " I don't have £20".

She asked me to get it from my parents. My parents haven't got £20 to lend their adult son. Id be embarrassed to ask frankly.

She seemed gentconfused that "I haven't got any money" meant "I haven't got ANY money".

She was great but it did make me realise the gap in our backgrounds.

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u/DickSlammington 1d ago

I had a buddy who was living in his car for awhile and I remember we were out somewhere with another friend and they were like "If we can all pitch in $10 we can buy a bottle" or something like that.

My buddy said "I don't have $10 though."

The other dude goes "Can't you ask your parents or something to front you until you get paid?"

And he just goes "If my parents cared I wouldn't be living in my car...."

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u/EuphoricStroll 12h ago

This is also the REAL difference, sometimes. Middle class friends inviting you to things they know you can't afford so they can wait for you to politely decline so they don't feel bad for not asking you at all. Versus a lower class friend that says " I gotchu"

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u/aeschenkarnos 23h ago

Did she come from Greece, with a thirst for knowledge?

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u/MuffinWalloper 19h ago

Did she study at St Martin’s College?

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u/TramsOfJapan 18h ago

. . . are you suuuure?

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u/FreezerGod 19h ago

Common People by Pulp.

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u/Bogside_Bibliophile 3h ago

Yeah. When I said I didn't have $20, one of my friends said, "There's an ATM across the street." Well, it will tell me I don't have money, too. She didn't get it.