High-Earning Guilt Trip: Woman Told “Real Friends” Share Wealth and Pay for Everything
A Reddit user makes over $350,000 after taxes, and her close friend said she shouldn’t show off her wealth. Instead, she should share it; if she doesn’t, she isn’t a “real friend.”
She Got A Remote Sales Job Selling Contracts To Businesses
The original poster (OP) got a remote sales job selling business contracts. She helped her make a million dollars one year but never got a portion of the profits.
So, after a while, she replicated her boss’s methods and started her own company. And once she entered her second, she became wildly successful.
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She Shares Her Day-to-Day Life On Social Media
OP shares her day-to-day experiences of her and her partner on social media. Typically she would post luxurious pictures online where she is relaxing on the beach or staying at a resort.
As a result, OP would get phone calls from family members she hadn’t heard from for three years asking for money. And when OP tells them no, they accuse her of being greedy.
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She Spoke To Her Friend Looking For Support
OP contacted her friend, explaining how everyone expects her to pay for everything. But, instead of receiving compassion, her friend yelled at her, saying she had the audacity to complain about living a “good life.”
OP’s friend adds that she and everyone else stresses daily. And if she were a good friend, she would stop showing off her wealth online, knowing her peers couldn’t afford it.
Lastly, OP’s friend implies that there is nothing wrong with people expecting her to pay for everything. Further, the friend says that OP should share her wealth, and if she doesn’t, then she isn’t a “real friend.”
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The Community Chimes In
Many Reddit users say these friends are not entitled to OP’s money. Instead, OP can help people if she wants to, but she should not feel obligated.
Another Reddit user says OP is experiencing a windfall until she feels confident that her company has legs and won’t suddenly go under. So it makes sense that OP wants to be careful and not fritter it away.
The user adds that one reason her friends react the way they do is OP’s income increase was so rapid that they have not had time to adjust mentally.
Is OP wrong for not sharing her wealth? Should OP feel obligated to pay for everything? Should OP be conservative with her money and reinvest to grow her business even more?