12 Subtle Clues Someone Is More Affluent Than They First Appear

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In a world partly driven by status and greed, many people love showing off possessions and boasting of riches. However, some prefer to keep a low-key profile regarding their fortunes. How affluent is someone really? Watch out for these signs that often imply someone is much richer than they say. 

1. Costly Hobbies

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Although some people may not brag about their hobbies, casual mentions of pricey pastimes, like golf and micro lighting, can be a good indication of wealth. Mentioning activities that aren’t generally accessible where they live is often further evidence of them having cash to splash. Think, for example, a Floridian who loves skiing or a Kansas native who spends their free time surfing. 

2. Vacations

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While wealthier people might not flaunt their vacation habits, frequent breaks often equal more money. The type of vacation is a sign, too; spotting pictures of yachting trips, overseas safaris, and high-end resorts usually shows that someone has plenty of disposable wealth.  

3. Limited Luggage

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Flying sans luggage might not just be a sign of a light packer but a sign of someone having a fully equipped holiday home elsewhere, complete with all necessary clothing and personal items. It can suggest that they plan to buy a new wardrobe upon reaching their destination. 

4. No-Brand Clothes

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While many people love flashing designer labels, those who are more subtle about their finances often opt for stylish clothes without the showy tags. A well-dressed individual with classy but simple no-brand apparel may have more money than they’re letting on. 

5. Fitted Clothes

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Keeping with clothing, someone who always wears perfectly fitting clothes likely has the means to adjust off-the-peg garments or custom-made items. Tailoring doesn’t come cheaply! 

6. Simple Homes

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As with clothes, people who have elegant homes with an air of simplicity may have more money than others realize. Such individuals often prefer high-quality minimalism over clutter and lower-priced décor. 

7. Regular Cars

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Rich people who want to disguise their wealth often drive reliable, well-maintained vehicles that easily blend in with others. They’ll often eschew expensive cars for more middle-of-the-road options.   

8. Home Chores

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A subtle sign of being relatively well off is how much time someone devotes to household chores. While some people do their cleaning, laundry, gardening, and other domestic duties themselves, others pay for various services to make day-to-day life more convenient.   

9. Nice Teeth

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With high costs for dental treatments, a perfect smile can come at a price. People who can quietly take care of cosmetic matters might have more money than those around them realize. 

10. Quality Food

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Wealthy people often eat significantly better than those who struggle to make ends meet. This isn’t just in terms of food security or the amount of food, or characterized by regular meals in luxurious restaurants, but about the quality of food enjoyed. Buying various fresh produce, organic goods, and good cuts of meat may indicate that someone is in a good financial position. 

11. Low Profile

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Very often, people accustomed to money don’t want to advertise their riches to the rest of the world. Having very little online activity, sharing few life details, and seeming a bit mysterious overall may be a mark of generational wealth.   

12. Etiquette

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While good manners aren’t a sign of wealth, old-school etiquette traditions often are. For example, handwritten invitations and thank you notes, subtle tipping practices, and table behaviors can be small clues about a person’s upbringing and finances.

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Andrew Herrig is a finance expert and money nerd and the founder of Wealthy Nickel, where he writes about personal finance, side hustles, and entrepreneurship. As an avid real estate investor and owner of multiple businesses, he has a passion for helping others build wealth and shares his own family’s journey on his blog.

Andrew holds a Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has worked as a financial analyst and accountant in many aspects of the financial world.

Andrew’s expert financial advice has been featured on CNBC, Entrepreneur, Fox News, GOBankingRates, MSN, and more.

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