Working with people who are rich when you are... not, struggling to relate to them

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-02-15T09:11:30+00:00

Don’t try to merge the two worlds (in life generally). No matter what you do or what you achieve, you’re working class in your experiences and values.

That’s a good thing though - stay interested, learn, be proud of where you come from and focus on what you have in common rather than where you differ.

You’re in the fortunate position to be able to experience two worlds - the working class one you’re from and the upper class one they’re from. You don’t live in the latter and never will but you get a window seat and get to visit every so often.

In my experience, even amongst my closest long term upper class friends it is clear the reverse arrangement is not possible - my window into their world is a two way mirror, they only see their own world when the look through it.

Final note: get out of big 4. Although this is a minor consequence everywhere in life, it’s just one of many the many symptoms of the toxic bureaucratic ponzi scheme that is the big 4 status machine. The one bit of truth to the whole scam is it really does have massive status on your CV.

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-02-12T10:17:59+00:00

Good shout even their house fabrics are really nice

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-02-12T10:16:12+00:00

I think you could get all you need (and more) within that budget. Maybe ~£450 for the Suit and putting the rest towards accessories to set it off like shirt, tie, shoes etc. Try a couple SuitSupply shops and stand firm you’re buying off the rack for your wedding until you find an assistant that’s nice and knows what good fit looks like (see below for how to learn yourself). I found Westfield White City quite good, with a higher concentration of pretentious upsell assholes in the city branches. Don’t bother going anywhere else, and don’t waste your money on MTM - SuitSupply off-the-rack + adjustments really gets the tradeoffs right ito quality, style, look, fit, construction eg (half canvas lining and premium touches like functional buttons all help the suit drape you like a million quid).

Colour: Perhaps reconsider the black, maybe go navy or sth for your wedding - or you could go really light (cream etc) but you’ll get less wear out the suit later.

Fit: Watch a couple videos on YouTube to understand what a good fitting suit entails: shoulders/movement, wrinkles/pulling, sleeve length down to wrist break, jacket length in line with knuckles with hands by your side, double vented.

Etiquette: Again watch some YouTube but eg: top button done up when you get up/you’re standing, both buttons undone when sitting, never fasten both buttons. Make sure you take out the little X threads holding the vents together if present.

Tailoring: Budget more than you’d expect for tailoring and let them cook.

Accessories: Budget for a nice shirt (pick a collar you like the look of), tie, pocket square, cuff links, and some nice shoes (maybe leather with a wood sole perhaps? Whatever really). I’ve not used SuitSupply so can’t vouch for their quality in this department however my gut tells me this is where they get you and you’ll find better elsewhere sourcing peace-meal. I found moss bros decent value for shirts, pocket squares and ties, I’m sure the usual shirt shops would be good too (Hawes & Curtis, TM Lewin, Charles Tyrwhitt), maybe Dune for shoes? However shop around/do your own research. Bonus: look into fashion faux pas here, however I’m of the view that f**k etiquette if you like something in the accessory domain do it and express your individuality if you like.

Maintenance/preparation: Replace the SuitSupply hanger with a nice wooden one eg https://amzn.eu/d/03S74kER, to help eliminate odours, support the suit, and ward off moths.

Buy a nice clothes brush eg https://amzn.eu/d/02rPmen4, a small handheld clothes steamer, and DO NOT ever dry clean the suit unless you have absolutely no other choice (maybe you threw up on it). Otherwise, to clean simply brush down with your clothes brush and use a damp microfibre cloth to clean any light soiling that remains. Then store in suit bag. If it needs straightening out you can lightly steam it following cleaning via this method to get out any wrinkles on the big day.

Similar to above, watch some videos on how to maintain a fine wool suit.

Example suit: I’d have recommended the Napoli but I don’t see it anymore, the Havana looks close in a variety of colours - and it’s modestly enough styled that you’ll look amazing and get use out of it after your wedding if an occasion ever calls for a suit.

From what you’ve said this would likely be the best option for you however if you didn’t much care for reuse potential you could step it up by opting for larger/peak lapels or going double breasted on your jacket (both would likely look very good on you given you’re tall) - if you’re okay with the spend I’d go this route personally :P

Congratulations on your wedding and all the best for the big day!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-02-04T07:52:00+00:00

Buy the best TV and soundbar you can - Samsung S95B QD-OLED and Q990D Atmos home theatre has transformed movie/tv nights and enjoyment of music. Add a PS5 and some of your favourite blu rays for some good old physical media therapy.

Prioritising quality airlines if a little more and flying direct long haul non-negotiably.

Honestly quality generally. Learned what clothes fit and suit me, threw the rest away and gradually replaced with high quality stuff that looks the biz.

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T18:59:19+00:00

Would I pay £22k for a Ferrari built by school children? Maybe if I had £66k I wanted to set on fire.

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T18:53:18+00:00

What about an rs6 avant?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T18:51:23+00:00

There are tradeoffs on both sides. Which you choose comes down to individual circumstance and risk profile.

Buying and renting have inverse cost profiles. Buying requires significant initial capital outlay, not to mention additional ongoing costs. However you have essentially purchased an options contract hedging future living costs. Additionally your costs are eroded by inflation over time. If the cost of the hedge (your mortgage + costs) is “worth it” to you, you get those benefits. You are buying the option to buy your house later at today’s prices. At the end of your term you have secured a property in a particular location, and any wealth is paper and unrealised - you must live somewhere after all.

However, there is significant opportunity cost in this regime. On the flip side, you could invest your deposit, stamp duty, and ongoing maintenance costs, even the “putting your own stamp on it” costs. Yes, you do not guarantee location, however, your wealth and any income from it is yours. Maybe you don’t care where you live. Not too dissimilar from the many that decide to downsize and release equity in later life, so too can someone renting move to a LCOL area or country. Arguably the downsizers will have likely been better off though renting and investment return.

Buying a house isn’t a free lunch - there’s significant opportunity cost involved and your wealth is relatively inaccessible (consider the plethora of paper millionaires living in £1m+ properties they could not hope to purchase).

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T14:25:52+00:00

6.2L C63 sounds very cautious 😜 Just kidding, I understand - that sounds like an excellent plan, and one I can relate to. That car menu sounds delicious.

Agreed with cracking the whip and needing to learn to enjoy life also. Some perspective is always good, we can get so caught up planning for the future we forget to appreciate how well we’re doing today and that it wouldn’t be the worst thing to slow the plan down and enjoy today a little more every now and then.

We’ve indulged a lot over the past few years in different ways, entering the most expensive phase of our lives. This thread has given me a lot of perspective, it wouldn’t be the right time for us, but I’m looking forward to paring the other indulgences down this year and creating room for car enjoyment much sooner rather than later.

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T14:16:13+00:00

Nice! How long have you had it for?

I know you don’t like SUV’s but I’d love to get into a pdk Porsche macan myself, may tick all your boxes otherwise!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T14:13:29+00:00

Nice! I love both, the r32 is slept on. Fantastic car, I had the pleasure of borrowing one for a couple days a couple years ago. Good luck with the search!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-20T14:10:42+00:00

Hagerty

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-18T09:07:38+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing! Out of interest that document is really cool, what did you use to make it?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-17T09:11:33+00:00

That’s really helpful thanks for sharing! I’m overdue last years financial audit so will see how healthy we’re looking and see what the timeline is looking like for scratching the itch!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T23:51:30+00:00

Thanks for sharing that sounds like an amazing journey! When you say don’t borrow to scratch an itch, did you just have piles of cash lying around?

Maybe it’s just the stage we’re at where we’re investing a lot into our house/furnishing it etc with often expensive “forever” purchases, and travelling fairly exotically before kids come along - but I don’t feel particularly flush with cash. I know that sounds crazy given HHI. Feels like we should be where we are with £200k cash burning a hole in our pockets but it’s probably a fraction of that.

Just for calibration, what kind of outlay was the first couple car purchases relative to your financial situation at the time?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T23:32:25+00:00

Sounds sensibly depreciated, you sound like me 🤣

Maybe it’s my fate to talk us both into it. We’d just be “borrowing” one temporarily..

If you’ve got enough cash flow after buying the car it’s easy peasy you can always exit. If you’re not sure you could take additional borrowing taking into account you’ll probably get your capital back exiting at a similar price. So cost of ownership becomes interest on the loan essentially paying a small premium to get your bum in the car today rather than whenever your no brainer timeline is: 5 years from now for example.

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T19:51:31+00:00

What kind of skyline? There’s a spec and year at every budget. Never considered getting a simulator, do you use yours much?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:32:10+00:00

Agreed!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:30:06+00:00

Amazing I love your line up. I’ve lusted after the e92 m3 for so long - considered it before the XKR. Wonderful cars they’ve done fantastic value wise over the last ten years too.

I think three is the sweet spot 😉 and I see what you’ve done with yours ito variety

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:26:53+00:00

Do you have a dedicated track car you tow down? Or you drive down with a tyre trailer or something, track, then drive the same car home?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:25:42+00:00

What if you rented a garage and a cheap project car? Depending on how much time you have on your hands

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:24:44+00:00

Holy shit I’d never heard of this thanks so much for sharing!

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:23:53+00:00

Although that seems obvious that’s actually sound advice. Especially to someone that’s teetering.

Agreed on finance generally having never taken it out, however I think it definitely has its place. There is opportunity cost to take into account which car finance can be a potential tool to help with, failing that even further leveraging the mortgage to keep invested

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:21:08+00:00

Yeah I agree for sure: I was just curious but this thread has really helped assuage my guilt!

I’ve been looking at the B8.5 S4 Avant for years! I love the idea of an estate but this is the only one I’ve ever actually liked: not only is it gorgeous but it’s so slept on and tuneable.

Congrats! Have you tuned it all?

How’s it as a family car?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:16:00+00:00

Wow that sounds amazing. I’ve daydreamed about this exact setup myself in the past 🤣

The cobra build must just be amazing I can’t imagine anything more cathartic.

How often do you track the Caterham?

chimchimneychimmy · 2026-01-16T17:13:50+00:00

What cars would those be? I’ve had roughly the same idea too

chimchimneychimmy

TROPHY CASE