Does anyone else feel like people can just sense you’re low income, and then treat you poorly/differently because of it?
I try my hardest to look middle class. I keep my hair buzzed very short with the top styled in gel. My skin is clean and free of oil and blemishes. I wear a smart watch. I try to wear brands like Nike and Vans.
And yet when I’m out in public buying something, or even at work, I feel like people think they can take me for a ride or use me.
I feel like they think no one cares about me and that I don’t really matter because I’m low income. Therefore they think they can overcharge me, make up charges, or just have a disrespectful attitude with me.
I’m a very respectful person to strangers so I don’t know why I frequently run into this. My only guess, like I said, is that they disrespect low income individuals and think that I’m lazy.
Netizens’ comments
- Well, unfortunately, it may be a bit of the opposite – THEY don’t realize you are lower income, but you are putting on an act, and they are probably subconsciously picking up on the fake-ness. Wearing certain brands or that sort of thing doesn’t have the impact you probably think it does.
How you carry yourself, how you speak, those things will make more of a difference. I know a lawyer (who has plenty of money by the way) who buys secondhand things and gets cheap things online and puts together cute outfits that get her ton of compliments. These aren’t fancy name brand things, they just look nice together.
You know what she does have though? Inner confidence, and she exudes that everywhere she goes.
I’ve seen this in how I get treated in my sport based on how confident I’m feeling where I’m at. When I’ve been feeling confident and enjoying things, I get treated differently than when I’m feeling a bit lost and unsure and just trying to force up the competition in myself. It really does affect how others respond to you… - Never dress because you want to belong to a group, dress for you. Dress for your own confidence.
Income isn’t defined by clothing, most higher class/super rich people wear joggers with no brands. They wear what they want and are confident in it.
Follow suit.