8 Things to Remember When You Hang Out with Rich Friends
Being friends with someone who’s richer, more successful and influential than you is a hard choice. Indeed, it’s a choice since you choose whether you are ready to get along with the person or not. During the college years you were nearly equal financially with your friends and fellow students. But when meeting your old acquaintance some years later you can discover that their financial situation is far much better than yours. A big gap in income can create a big gap in your relationship. Here are a few things to remember when you hang out with rich friends.
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1 Be honest and keep a distance
Whether you’re trying to save up for a big purchase or you’re just on a tight budget, your friends should be aware of it. When people make a lot of money they can hardly say No or take control over their spending. If your wealthy friends have no idea how much you can afford, they can easily splurge. Feel okay to set certain financial boundaries and stick to them.
If your fellows are planning costly entertainments, don’t be afraid to suggest a cheaper alternative. When your financial situation is clear to your friends, they will stop pressing you to squander.
2 Don’t pretend and don’t compare
It’s just a lose-lose game to compare your achievements or makings with those of other people. Try to realize that you will meet someone smarter and wealthier, but you should not pretend to be the same. Comparison nearly always arouses the feeling of diffidence and embarrassment.
Don’t concentrate your attention on the gap between you; it will only cause more separation. Instead, focus on your own achievements and wins. Develop a thankful attitude to what you have and strive for the better.
3 Accept their liberality
Don’t think that you friends are so generous out of pity for you. Try to put yourself in your friends’ shoes and you’ll understand that being rich feels uncomfortable as well. Most well-off people try not to parade their makings. When your fellow offers to pay for dinner, take it easy.
It’s not a window-dressing; your friend just wants to show that your relationship is more important than dollars. I always felt uncomfortable each time my pal intended to pick up the check. It made me feel indebted and ashamed. But the only right way out is to accept the gesture graciously and move on.
4 Don’t play tit-for-tat
Your friendship is not about keeping score. Perhaps your rich fellows are used to haute cuisine, but the true friends won’t mind if you treat them to hamburgers and cola.
Each time your friends host a party with exquisite dainties and costly drinks, you don’t have to reciprocate by serving a lavish dinner with truffles or caviar. Their kindness and generosity are deliberate and gratuitous.
Read also – 4 Reasons I Respect Everyone, Even My Enemies
5 Follow your friends’ example
Friendship with rich people is very useful if you want to learn some efficient strategies and become a rich person yourself. By surrounding yourself with well-off friends you will get rid of negative money stereotypes, you’ll view big money as a normal thing and you will come up with new ideas how to grow your finance.
It’s an undeniable fact that poor and rich people have utterly different habits. I’m speaking about rich people who make their own fortune, of course. Try to adopt a couple of your friends’ habits and chances are your financial situation will improve.
6 Tame your jealousy
Being jealous of your friends’ money is a sure way to poison your friendship and break off. If you cannot be happy for your pals, you are not true friends; you’re rather frenemies who get stuck in a wasting rivalry.
It’s awfully hard to stay nonenvious when you hang out with rich company and see what they can afford. However, you cannot know if that money makes them happy. When people earn more, they usually work harder and face more stresses and challenges.
7 Be proud and confident
As it often happens, wealthier people have different outlook, opinions and conversation topics. While chatting with your rich friends you may be afraid to sound naive or boring. However, as long as your friends take interest in what you’re talking about, your friendship is in safety.
Another poor feeling that occurs while communicating with rich people is the feeling of shame for your earnings or unprestigious job. But if you do your best to support your family or push forward, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Stay confident and never think that you’re worse just because you earn less.
8 It’s okay to end your relationship
If nothing else works, it’s okay to limit your time with your friends. If your friends are aware of your financial status, but they still stir you up to spend more, you should reconsider your relationship.
Lack of understanding and tension are signals of a breakdown in your friendship. Do you really need people in your life who pressure or overextend you?
Being friends with someone rich is a good way to realize whether you’re satisfied with your earnings or not. If you cannot combat jealousy, use it to achieve your own goals. If your friendship is still affected by the number of zeros in your friend’s bank account, you should consider finding new friends who are not richer than you. Do you have rich friends?
