Reply #40: The thing about rich people I know

[mainer]

Most of the ones in my circle of acquaintances were born poor or middle-class and made it through small business, so they're very aware of the value of a dollar. Almost all of them wouldn't be caught dead with no cash on them, because it's a form of security against their childhood memories of being short of money. A lot of them, in fact, prefer to pay cash because they trust it.

I consider myself wealthy, and I get anxious if I leave the house without at least forty bucks in my wallet. I hate having anyone pay for me, because I don't want to owe anyone. Once you're beholden to someone, you feel as if they own you a little bit -- and I think that's the way a lot of wealthy people are. They want to pay their own way so they don't feel indebted to others.

So your stereotype of freeloading wealthy isn't my experience.