The Fear of Looking Poor
posted in conversation, fathers |Blunt Money ( catchy name ) has an interesting post on the fear of looking poor. Why we don’t order “just water” when we’re out with friends, or why we sign up for multiple potluck items.
Actually I don’t have a problem ordering water. But I do hate feeling like “I look poor.” Why do I hate to take bottles and cans back to the supermarket? Because that’s what poor people do. Why do I hate to sell my books back to Powell’s? Because it’s a sign that I’m broke. And to me, if you have more money, you have more books; they go hand in hand. So selling the books shows that I’m broke and then having fewer books in the house shows that I’m more poor ( relative to before I sold the books ).
Actually I’m working on that last one; I’m trying to treat the books in my life less as a sign of wealth and more as “clutter.” If I’m not going to read it again, or if it’s going to be many years before one of my kids needs it, then it can go. Although some of the books are still here. The David Eddings Belgariad, for instance.
I hate people coming over because the house is a mess and I feel that it looks like we don’t have the time to clean it. ( Why don’t I just clean it? Good question.) I mentioned before how I hated having people over when I lived in Anchorage.
Yeah, I have a strange phobia of looking like I’m broke. But I’m working against it. However, that doesn’t mean I’m about to stop paying for the DQ to have hot school lunch, or keep her out of band; I don’t want her to appear poor either. Struggles. All the time. Anyway, it’s an interesting post, and y’all should read it and consider what appearances you try to avoid too.
