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Why do people pretend to be "Skint"

As per the title "because its not in my Current Account", when theyve got money in ISAs, Savings acounts, insurance policys (ones that pay out) Stocks & shares, Premium Bonds, etc, etc. But they are "Short this month" because the had a few "Bills" this month (who dosent?) Rant over.:mad:
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Comments

  • jimjames
    jimjames Posts: 18,905 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Because they don't want to break into savings and this is their way of justifying it?

    Or they're genuinely skint?
    Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.
  • Because - budgeting
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Perhaps they are Money Saving Experts . . .

    (Sorry, couldn't resist)
    Evolution, not revolution
  • teffers
    teffers Posts: 698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    It's an effective budgeting method.

    Separate your 'spare' money from your bills and savings, that way you know how much you have that's disposable.

    When it's gone, it's gone.
  • Budgeting - I have been 'skint' sometimes despite having a house deposit in savings and unused credit cards in a drawer. Of course, if it was a real emergency I could have accessed the money but for day to day purchases it was 'out of bounds' for spending.
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Perhaps they just dont want to go for a meal/ drink with you and so using it as an excuse even though they'll be going home to have a money fight?

    As above, assuming they are actually short of money for the month then good budgeting is to cut back rather than raid the savings. Thats how they still have savings.
  • Herbalus
    Herbalus Posts: 2,634 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I used to pretend (well, I just didn't tell anybody otherwise) I didn't have a lot of money as a student (I had several £k in savings from working through college), because people view you quite differently when they think you're loaded.

    It removes the ability of people to pressure you into doing something you don't want to. In the case of students it's going out and spending a few £100s every week at clubs - yes I could have afforded it, but telling people you haven't got any money is a lot more effective and easy for them to understand than saying you think £200 on alcohol for one night is a waste of money.
  • SuperHan
    SuperHan Posts: 2,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I regularly decline going out with friends for expensive meals/nights out as I have "no money". I have about £10k in joint savings that I could access if I want to, but I am currently saving up for a big holiday, so I don't want to spend money I don't have to, I'd rather save it.

    So the money I have in my current account (which is less than £100 as I am almost at payday this month) is all I have to spend. If an unforeseen bill comes up, I'll pay it on my credit card then pay back after pay day, but I won't touch my savings because they are just that.

    So while I wouldn't say I'm skint, I'll say I don't have much spendable disposable income at the minute as it's earmarked for another purpose.
  • Paul_1977
    Paul_1977 Posts: 992 Forumite
    It's there money, not anything to do with you.

    I tell people I have no money all the time, because I don't want them knowing my business.

    Why?, because sooner or later they will ask to borrow money, so to everyone and even family, I am "skint".
  • NoMore
    NoMore Posts: 1,679 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    roddydogs wrote: »
    ...when theyve got money in ISAs, Savings acounts, insurance policys (ones that pay out) Stocks & shares, Premium Bonds....:mad:

    But none of those things (apart from if savings is instant access) is cash available to them at a moments notice, so effectively they are 'skint' at that moment in time.
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