Things That Scream You’re Pretending To Be Upper Class

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights: "Things That Scream You’re Pretending To Be Upper Class"

Release Date: March 23, 2025

In this insightful episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, hosts Rachel Cruz and George Kamel delve into the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that indicate someone is pretending to be upper class. Drawing from their recent Smart Money Happy Hour episode, they discuss how maintaining a lifestyle beyond one’s financial means can lead to long-term financial instability. The conversation is both engaging and educational, offering listeners practical advice on recognizing and avoiding the pitfalls of financial pretense.

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1. Flashy Designer Logos

Rachel Cruz kicks off the discussion by highlighting the prevalence of ostentatious designer logos on social media. She points out that true luxury items, such as cashmere sweaters, typically avoid conspicuous branding. Instead, the trend has shifted towards "stealth wealth" or "quiet luxury," where affluent individuals prefer subtlety over flashiness.

“Most luxury items like a cashmere sweater never have logos all over them. We've talked about stealth wealth.”
— Rachel Cruz [00:40]

George Kamel agrees, elaborating on how this new trend emphasizes understated elegance rather than overt displays of wealth.

“It's a new trend. It's called quiet luxury. Stealth wealth. People that are actually really wealthy, you won't really know it.”
— George Kamel [01:04]

2. Ordering Expensive Wine When on a Beer Budget

Rachel and George discuss the tendency some individuals have to order premium wines or cocktails at restaurants, even when their budget is tight. They contrast this with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of choosing water or more affordable beverages.

“Glass of wine and cocktails can go for $20 a pop versus a beer. Or even better, just a water. What happened to just drinking water with a meal?”
— Rachel Cruz [01:48]

George adds his perspective on how such choices can quickly escalate dining expenses without adding significant value to the experience.

3. Talking About Money Too Much

The hosts address the red flag of individuals who incessantly discuss their financial endeavors, such as leveraging debt for rental properties or boasting about their real estate investments. Rachel specifically points out the glut of "crypto bros" loudly proclaiming their financial maneuvers, which often masks underlying financial instability.

“All these people talking loudly about money is usually a red flag to me. Yeah, they maybe they don't actually have a lot.”
— Rachel Cruz [02:56]

4. Flaunting Wealth on Social Media

Rachel and George examine how displaying lavish lifestyles on platforms like Instagram can be deceptive. They note that while some may genuinely enjoy luxury experiences, others use social media to project an affluent image that may not be sustainable.

“It just feels like I want to show you this amazing life that I live.”
— George Kamel [03:14]

Rachel further criticizes the tendency to monetize such displays by promoting credit card courses or travel tips, which often conceal the true financial cost behind these lifestyles.

“And by the way, it was totally free with their credit card points. Sign up for my course if you want to. I'm like, oh, my gosh, get out of here.”
— Rachel Cruz [03:38]

5. Leasing Luxury Cars

The conversation shifts to the allure of leasing high-end vehicles, a common status symbol that can be financially draining. Rachel humorously associates flashy car choices with underlying financial pressures, emphasizing that such leases often mask debt rather than signify true wealth.

“Leasing luxury cars… This is a status symbol that's usually draining their wallet.”
— Rachel Cruz [03:51]

George echoes this sentiment, mentioning instances where individuals appear affluent on the surface but are burdened by hefty car payments.

“Guy's got a twelve hundred dollar car payment. Yeah, he may look like he's driving great when you see him, but behind the scenes, not doing so well.”
— George Kamel [04:05]

6. Over-Accessorizing: Flashy Nails, Expensive Watches, Loud Hair or Makeup

The duo discusses how excessive accessorizing can signal financial pretense. Whether it's flashy nails, costly watches, or bold hairstyles and makeup, these outward signs often mask deeper financial vulnerabilities.

“Flashy nails, expensive watches, loud hair or loud makeup… can scream, I'm pretending to be upper class.”
— Rachel Cruz [04:52]

George adds that while accessorizing isn’t inherently negative, moderation is key to avoiding the appearance of financial strain.

“I do that I get my nails done… but when it becomes your whole Persona and it's the only thing you're shooting for in life… that's where the caution signs come.”
— George Kamel [05:02]

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Notable Quotes

1. Rachel Cruz [06:10]:
   “If you live fake rich, you'll become real broke. Eventually you will be calling the show and life was great and now something happened and you're going, I'm in a real pickle because of my financial decisions.”

2. George Kamel [06:23]:
   “Let it be real. And yeah, doing things again, doing a budget, living within your means, saving up for an emergency fund, getting out of debt so you free up payments so that you can actually use your money to give, to invest, to buy a house that's actually reasonable for your income.”

3. Rachel Cruz [07:00]:
   “Normalize the 10 year old used minivan.”

4. George Kamel [07:07]:
   “That's practical. Amen.”

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Practical Takeaways

• Live Within Your Means: Avoid the temptation to display wealth through expensive items or lifestyles that exceed your financial capacity.

• Embrace Subtlety: Opt for "stealth wealth" by choosing quality over quantity and favoring understated elegance.

• Limit Financial Bragging: Refrain from excessively discussing your financial status or investments, as it can indicate deeper financial issues.

• Mindful Social Media Use: Be cautious about showcasing a lavish lifestyle on social platforms, which may not reflect your actual financial situation.

• Prioritize Practicality Over Status Symbols: Choose practical assets, like a reliable used vehicle, over flashy but costly items that strain your budget.

• Focus on Financial Stability: Emphasize budgeting, saving, and debt reduction to build a solid financial foundation rather than seeking transient status symbols.

Conclusion

Rachel Cruz and George Kamel effectively shed light on the subtle ways individuals might project an affluent image that doesn't align with their financial reality. By identifying these signs, listeners are encouraged to foster genuine financial health through disciplined budgeting, mindful spending, and prioritizing long-term stability over fleeting displays of wealth. The episode serves as a valuable reminder that true financial freedom stems from authenticity and prudent money management, rather than superficial appearances.

For more in-depth discussions, listeners are encouraged to check out the full Smart Money Happy Hour episode available on YouTube and various podcast platforms.

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“Create your free EveryDollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.”
— Rachel Cruz [08:46]

Transcript

[Rachel Cruz]

Brought to you by the EveryDollar app. Start budgeting for free today.

[George Kamel]

All right, George. We had a Smart Money happy hour episode. You know, we have some that just, you can tell, have hit a nerve with the world in a good way. And we did one recently on things that scream. I'm pretending to be upper class because living a higher lifestyle than maybe what you can afford keeps you broke. I mean, when you are living beyond your means and trying to, in a way, kind of keep up with what everyone else is doing will constantly lead you back to this idea of spending money that you don't need to spend. And sometimes you're spending money you don't even have to keep up this lifestyle.

[Rachel Cruz]

And you talk about comparisons a lot. So this segment hopefully will help you fight those comparisons and FOMO you feel amongst your friends. So here's some signs, some things that your friends may be doing. People out there on Instagram that may show they're faking their upper class status. Number one, flashy designer logos. This is a big one. Most luxury items like a cashmere sweater, never have logos all over them. We've talked about stealth wealth.

[George Kamel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Smart money happy.

[George Kamel]

It's a new trend. It's called quiet luxury. Stealth wealth. People that are actually really wealthy, you won't really know it. They don't really have all the flashy stuff that you just look at and you know exactly. Oh, that hat, that jacket, those shoes, like, you know exactly where everything's from. A lot kind of go under the radar, you know, if you know, you know. Yeah, yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Society.

[George Kamel]

Yeah. It's kind of that. That's like the new vibe, which is great. I think it's great. So, yeah, that's number one. Number two is ordering expensive wine when everyone knows that you're on a beer budget.

[Rachel Cruz]

Ooh, hey. Some of these beers now are crazy expensive. But, yes, the. The wine does. That one feels like a ripoff to me personally. You know, this my state.

[George Kamel]

I do know I will not order restaurant.

[Rachel Cruz]

But if someone else buys a bottle, hey, I'm happy to share.

[George Kamel]

Oh, sure you are.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'll chip in.

[George Kamel]

Take a. Yeah, for someone.

[Rachel Cruz]

Glasses of wine and cocktails can go for $20 a pop versus a beer. Or even better, just a water. What happened to just drinking water with a meal? Why do we get to add more calories to the mix?

[George Kamel]

And more money.

[Rachel Cruz]

And more money.

[George Kamel]

That's not fun, though. I do like an appetizer, and I'll.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just have a water. Rachel's like, I'll have three appetizers.

[George Kamel]

And let's try a bunch of I do. I love going out.

[Rachel Cruz]

Rachel. I do a little.

[George Kamel]

I do. Number three is talking about money too much. So it's like, oh, I'm leveraging this debt for rental property. All this real estate. This is. I think those are, like, some of the funniest Instagram reels that come up on my feed sometimes where people are like, I'm $6.2 million in debt and we are loving it. And it's like showing all their VRBOs that they've bought in debt and all this stuff. And you're just like, oh, no, no.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's exhausting. And then you've got the crypto bros who are very loud right now, because crypto is worth $14 billion, you know, for the moment. And so all these people talking loudly about money is usually a red flag to me. Yeah, they' maybe they don't actually have a lot.

[George Kamel]

Yep. Next is flaunting wealth on social media. Oh, so this is an interesting one because I do think you can, like, use vacations for an example. You could see somebody at the same destination on social media, but the way they present themselves again, kind of back to that stealth wealth of like, oh, yeah, we're just like, maybe I'm showing you some of the stuff, but it's more of what we're doing. Or like, you know, the kids and the poor. I don't know, whatever. And then there's those that are like, oh, no, I'm gonna take you around the suite that we.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah.

[George Kamel]

Rented for the week, you know, or, you know, we're gonna. It feels. It just feels like I want to show you this amazing life that I live. And that's.

[Rachel Cruz]

And then the kicker, they're like, and by the way, it was totally free with their credit card points. Sign up for my course if you want to. I'm like, oh, my gosh, get out of here.

[George Kamel]

It's true. It's true.

[Rachel Cruz]

Get out of town. Here's another one. Leasing luxury cars.

[George Kamel]

Oh, yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

If you're a dude and you've ever posed in front of any vehicle, it's a hard no for me. You. Your dad didn't hug you enough. And I'm sorry, that's just the truth. But this is a status symbol that's usually draining their wallet. We just took a call earlier.

[George Kamel]

It is.

[Rachel Cruz]

Guy's got a twelve hundred dollar car payment.

[George Kamel]

Yeah, he may look like he's driving great when you see him, but behind the scenes, not doing so well and leasing cars, you know, the number one city. I read this somewhere. So don't. I don't want everyone in Dallas city did that. At least cars. Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

[Rachel Cruz]

That makes sense.

[George Kamel]

Number one.

[Rachel Cruz]

So a lot of young bros who are doing well for themselves.

[George Kamel]

Yes. Got those Beamer, you know, you're always leasing like a Beamer Mercedes. It's always like a. I want a nice.

[Rachel Cruz]

Where are the guys who are leasing, like, the Honda Civic, you know, does that exist?

[George Kamel]

No, I don't think. I don't think they make money off that, George. Okay, and then number six, over accessorizing, flashy nails, expensive watches, loud hair or loud, loud hair, slash makeup is what's on there. Meaning just. I don't know, just a lot.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. No, and this, you know, obviously the watches leans more the dudes, but the women, the flashy nails, the loud hair and makeup, we could tone it down, you know.

[George Kamel]

I know, but I'm all for accessorizing with this.

[Rachel Cruz]

A limit.

[George Kamel]

I know. Here's my thing with this, though, is, I mean, I do that I get my nails done like.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, you follow a lot of, like the influencer moms. And some of them are very sweet and authentic and being themselves. And then some fall into the category of this is a lot.

[George Kamel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

You're trying to portray a certain life.

[George Kamel]

I would agree with that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like, they wake up and they have full makeup. Who's believing this?

[George Kamel]

This isn't real. This isn't real. So, yeah. So all of these things, you know, can again, scream, I'm pretending to be upper class. So here's the thing, you guys, not to be faking upper class. How do we get there and be wise, because again, none of these things in of themselves, I wouldn't say right. If you, like, order wine at dinner. If you do have a nice designer person, none of these things in of themselves are bad. But when it becomes your whole Persona and it's the only thing you're shooting for in life and again, that you will put yourself in a financial position that's not wise in order to achieve these things. Like, that's where the caution flight, the caution lights come.

[Rachel Cruz]

And if you're doing it with debt, it is a facade. It is a house of cards. You're artificially propping this up. So here's my. You can tweet this if you're listening out there, whatever it is called or whatever platform you're on, whatever free speech platform you choose. Here it is. Rachel, you ready for this?

[George Kamel]

Can't wait.

[Rachel Cruz]

If you live fake rich, you'll become Real broke. Eventually you will be calling the show and life was great and now something happened and you're going, I'm in a real pickle because of my financial decisions.

[George Kamel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

So we just don't want that for you.

[George Kamel]

Yep. Let it be real. And yeah, doing things again, doing a budget, living within your means, saving up for an emergency fund, getting out of debt so you free up payments so that you can actually use your money to give, to invest, to buy a house that's actually, you know, reasonable for your income. You know, you're doing all these things again. They're not, it's not going to be like this flashy, beautiful, wonderful lifestyle 24 7. It's not going to look like that. But there's going to be the steadiness and this like firmness of a foundation under you and it's not all just like shaky and built on other people's money.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. Normalize the 10 year old used minivan.

[George Kamel]

That's practical. Amen.

[Rachel Cruz]

A paid for car. That's the real flex.

[George Kamel]

Okay, so let, yeah, so the minivan. And everyone knows I love my minivan.

[Rachel Cruz]

We know your feelings about minivans.

[George Kamel]

Yes, I do love, I love my minivan. I think it's great. It is wonderful. But I will say the plastic on the side of the seats have popped off. So two now are. So when you get in my van, there's like wires and have your kids.

[Rachel Cruz]

Been vandalizing this vehicle? I feel like that's a personal problem. I don't think that's on Honda. You know what I mean? We can't blame the good people at Honda for this.

[George Kamel]

I know, but I'm like, oh my gosh.

[Rachel Cruz]

This like I'm blaming Chuck Cruz. He's been working out too much. Just ripping pieces of this van apart.

[George Kamel]

Oh, but it's, you know, but it's paid for.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's what matters.

[George Kamel]

That's what's great.

[Rachel Cruz]

Less stressful. You know what? I hit my garage the other day. Big old scrape on my car. You know what I said? Yeah, it's 12 years old. It's fine. Who am I trying to impress? Rachel Cruz. She's not impressed.

[George Kamel]

What am I trying to do here?

[Rachel Cruz]

So yeah, there's a big old scrape in my car.

[George Kamel]

So good.

[Rachel Cruz]

I hit my garage.

[George Kamel]

All right, if you are watching on YouTube, comment below because we want to know some of your, you know, things that you see out and you're like, huh, are these people trying to, trying to be upper class and they're not.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know, share your stories.

[George Kamel]

The lifestyle fitness that's out there, and I would say a good bit of it's probably on social media. Can we be honest with that?

[Rachel Cruz]

It helps to just get off of there. I realize I stop caring what other people think when I'm not looking for reasons to be angry and upset and jealous and envious. Just get off and live your life, George.

[George Kamel]

If we could all be as wise and as disciplined as I'm the most.

[Rachel Cruz]

Humble guy you know.

[George Kamel]

It's all of it. But you can check out our Smart Money Happy Hour episode as well on YouTube and podcasts, where we dive into this conversation even more. This is the Ramsey Show.

[Rachel Cruz]

Create your free every dollar budget Today. The simplest way to budget for your life.