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.
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.
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.
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?
