Cheep And Cheerful

‘SCOTT Fitzgerald, as the Telegraph reminds us, described the rich as ‘very different from you and me’. And it transpires that this is true, as a new survey shows.

‘Hey, there’s me on Anorak!’

The research looked at people who earn more than £100,000 a year and have investments of at least £250,000.

It found that they were – to paraphrase the report – a bunch of tight bastards who haggle in shops and look for two-for-the-price of one offers.

Seventy per cent of them also said they enjoyed using supermarket loyalty cards.

The paper interviews Sarah Anderson, a businesswoman whose company sells ‘folding toddler’s lavatory seats’ (sic – and has this folding toddler given his permission?).

Sarah admits she enjoys haggling, but prefers to call it ‘negotiating’.

All very sensible, too, if you’re struggling to get by on her income, which sounds extraordinarily low to us, but obviously goes a long way in the shops of Pimlico.

For good measure, the paper adds a short guide to famously mean rich people.

For once, the famous Getty pay-phone is neglected in favour of more recent gems.

Lord Derry complained when the Co-op refused to register a £1 dividend because he had forgotten his loyalty card.

Mick Jagger refused to tip in restaurants – in contrast to the generous £2.10 tip that Prince Harry left in a restaurant whose service left much to be desired.

The Queen negotiated a discount on Christmas puddings from Fortnum & Mason.

Well, we all know that the rich are stingy – that’s how they get rich – but surely they must spend it on something?

A small adjoining story provides a clue. TV cook Clarissa Dickson Wright has filed for bankruptcy, after having business problems.

No one ever accused her of being tight – except in the best possible way.

The piece ends by noting how she inherited a fortune and spent it all on drink. Well, at least she didn’t waste it.’

Posted: 9th, October 2003 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink