Have you ever wondered how the other half lives?
I’m talking about people that are fabulously wealthy – and let’s be honest, it’s probably only about 10% of the population (if that), rather than “half”.
And yes, I’m aware that the term originally referred to the opposite end of the spectrum – it’s the title of a book published in 1890 about the extreme poverty of those living in New York tenements.
When it comes to finances, I know what it’s like to go without – in my teen years particularly. Nowadays, I can’t complain – though it took a lot of hard work and many years of strict budgets to get here (for example, when I first started op shopping it was more from necessity than want). But this also means that we really appreciate the many benefits of our now comfortable lifestyle.
Both of us are still driving cars that are more than ten years old and looking a bit the worse for wear (the cars, that is, not us LOL), but we “could” upgrade if we wanted to … it’s just not a priority right now.
Anyways! All this to say, that until recently I didn’t really understand how the other half lives.
Then I got chatting to somebody who is a housekeeper for a very wealthy woman, and it was a real eye-opener …
Lifestyles of the Rich & Not Necessarily Famous
Traditionally we think of rich people wearing designer labels and jewels, travelling in limos or their own jet, and living in luxurious mansions – but it seems there’s more to it than that.
While you and I might be satisfied with vacuuming once a week and the occasional mop, it seems you can really up your standards of cleanliness when you’re not the one that’s actually doing it!
Here are just some of her housekeeping duties:
- Sweeping and mopping the floors every day;
- Changing the beds 6 days a week;
- Washing AND ironing the sheets;
- Polishing the silver (I don’t even think we own any!) and the antique furniture (ditto);
- Picking up any clothes that were tried on and cast aside the day before, re-ironing them, and hanging them back up; and
- Cutting the tags off new clothes, ironing and hanging in the wardrobe.
At least as a housekeeper she is paid for her services, and gets the occasional bonus. For example, the lady of the house will order over $500 worth of flowers when entertaining (have you read my post about how I hate entertaining?!) – and so she often gets to take some of the beautiful blooms home afterwards.
I must admit my mouth was hanging open at the thought of sweeping and mopping every day, as well as the ironing sheets bit …
Oh, and when you’re fabulously wealthy, you also don’t have to do anything so mundane as wash your own hair! How do I know? Well, when Miss 22 worked at a hairdresser, there was one wealthy client who came in for a shampoo and blow out every other day so that she was always perfectly coiffured.
And yet, I can’t say I aspire to be that wealthy.
Perhaps that’s the reason our standard of living is called “comfortably off” – we have enough dosh for the things that matter, without having to keep up impossibly high standards!
How would you describe your financial circumstances – fabulously wealthy? Comfortable? Battling? Or maybe it just depends what day of the week it is?!