10 things people with financial security say that makes everyone else roll their eyes

Picture this: I'm at a dinner party, chatting with old colleagues from my finance days. Someone mentions they're stressed about their mortgage payment, and another former coworker chimes in with, "Well, money can't buy happiness anyway." The room goes quiet. Eyes roll. Someone changes the subject to the weather.

I've been on both sides of this awkward moment. When I was making six figures in finance, I'd sometimes say things that, looking back, probably made people want to throw their drink in my face. Now, as someone who left that world behind at 37 to pursue writing, I've gained some perspective on why certain comments from financially secure folks land so poorly.

Here's the thing: most people with money aren't trying to be insufferable. They genuinely believe they're being helpful or philosophical. But there's a disconnect between intention and impact that's worth examining.

If you've ever found yourself gritting your teeth during conversations about money, you'll probably recognize these classics.

1. "Money doesn't buy happiness"

This one takes the crown for most eye-roll-inducing statement. Yes, research shows that after a certain income level, happiness plateaus. But when someone's struggling to pay for groceries or keep the lights on, this philosophical nugget feels like a slap in the face.

I used to say this myself when I was deeply unhappy in finance despite my excellent salary. What I didn't realize was how tone-deaf it sounded to friends who were choosing between paying rent and buying medication. The truth? Money might not guarantee happiness, but poverty definitely makes happiness harder to achieve.

2. "Just invest in index funds"

The financially secure love to drop investment advice like everyone has spare cash lying around. "The market returns 7% annually on average!" they'll say enthusiastically, not realizing that the person they're talking to is living paycheck to paycheck.

When you're trying to scrape together $50 for gas, being told about compound interest feels like being advised to buy a yacht when you can't afford a rowboat. Investment advice assumes you have money to invest in the first place.

3. "I don't even look at prices when I shop"

A friend once told me she was so grateful she could grocery shop without checking prices. She meant it as an expression of gratitude, but to the person behind her in line counting out exact change, it probably sounded like bragging.

Financial security creates a bubble where you forget that most people have a running tally in their head at the grocery store. They know exactly how much is in their account and whether that avocado will push them over budget.

4. "You should negotiate your salary"

Sure, negotiation is important. But this advice often comes from people who have the luxury of walking away from a job offer. When you're unemployed or underemployed, when you have kids to feed or medical bills piling up, you don't always have negotiating power.

I remember feeling so empowered when I negotiated my finance salary. Years later, a friend pointed out that I could only do that because I had savings to fall back on. She couldn't risk losing an offer by asking for more. That conversation was humbling.

5. "I'm so broke"

Nothing makes people's blood boil quite like hearing someone with a six-figure income claim they're "broke" because they can't afford a second vacation this year or the latest iPhone model.

There's a difference between being cash-flow tight because you've maxed out your 401k contributions and being actually broke. When you use "broke" loosely, you minimize the experience of people who are genuinely struggling to survive.

6. "Just start a side hustle"

The assumption that everyone has extra time and energy to monetize is remarkably privileged. When you're working two jobs just to make ends meet, when you're caring for aging parents or young children, the idea of starting an Etsy shop or driving for Uber in your "spare time" feels like a cruel joke.

Not everyone has spare time. Not everyone has the startup capital for a side business. Not everyone has the physical or mental energy left after their day job to hustle more.

7. "I don't understand why people don't cook at home more"

Cooking requires time, energy, kitchen equipment, and the upfront cost of ingredients. When I was saving aggressively for three years before leaving finance, I had the luxury of meal prepping on Sundays. I had a fully equipped kitchen, time to plan meals, and money to buy ingredients in bulk.

Someone working multiple jobs might not have the time. Someone in a food desert might not have access to fresh ingredients. Someone in a studio apartment might not have a functional kitchen. Context matters.

8. "Material things don't matter to me"

This is easy to say when you've never had to worry about having enough material things. When you've always had reliable transportation, adequate clothing, and a safe place to live, you can afford to be philosophical about possessions.

But material things do matter when you don't have them. A reliable car matters when it's the difference between keeping and losing your job. A winter coat matters when you're cold. A laptop matters when your kid needs it for school.

9. "Follow your passion"

I literally did this when I left my six-figure salary to write. But I also saved for three years first. I had a financial cushion. I had no dependents. I had the privilege of choice.

Passion is a luxury for many people. When you're supporting a family or drowning in student loans, you can't always afford to follow your dreams. You follow the paycheck because that's what keeps everyone fed and housed.

10. "You should travel more, it's so enriching"

Travel requires disposable income, paid time off, and often the privilege of a passport and the ability to take time away from responsibilities. When financially secure people talk about how everyone should backpack through Europe or take a gap year, they're revealing how insulated they are from most people's reality.

Yes, travel can be enriching. So can having stable housing and food security. Priorities look different when you're in survival mode versus growth mode.

Final thoughts

Writing this article required confronting my own privilege and the identity I'd built around financial success. The guilt I felt about having the option to leave finance while others are trapped in jobs they hate is real and valid.

What I've learned is that financial security can create blind spots. We forget what it's like to worry about money constantly. We forget that our "helpful" advice often requires resources others don't have.

If you have financial security, maybe the best thing you can say is nothing at all. Listen instead. Ask questions. Try to remember what it felt like before you had that cushion, if you can.

And if you're rolling your eyes at these comments? Your frustration is completely valid. You're not bitter or jealous. You're responding normally to people who've forgotten that their experience isn't universal.

Financial security changes your worldview in ways you don't always realize. The least we can do is try to stay aware of that shift and choose our words more carefully.