12 Money Habits That Scream 'I'm Pretending To Be Rich'

Let me tell you something that drives me crazy – watching people go broke trying to look rich.

While real wealth builders are quietly investing, these people are screaming “look at me!” with every purchase.

I’m about to break down the most obvious signs someone’s playing dress-up with their finances.

And trust me, once you see these, you’ll never unsee them.

1. The Designer Label Obsession

This one’s painfully obvious:

$1,000 Gucci belt but no emergency fund
New Supreme drops but zero investments
Every outfit is branded but their credit card is maxed
Can spot fake designer items but can’t explain what an index fund is

Real example: Met a guy last week wearing $3,000 worth of designer clothes to his job that pays $40,000 a year. Math ain’t mathing.

Meanwhile, actual wealthy people:

Wear basic quality clothes
Focus on fit over brands
Buy classics that last
Invest the difference

2. The Car Poor Phenomenon

Nothing screams “fake rich” louder than:

$800 car payment, $900 rent
Luxury car, shared apartment
Premium gas struggles
Parking it far from door dings

Real story: Watched someone finance an $85,000 Mercedes while living with roommates in a $1,200/month apartment. That’s not wealth, that’s a circus act.

3. The Social Media Flex

Here’s how you spot the fake rich on Instagram:

“Just closed a deal” posts (while living with parents)
Rented luxury cars in photos
“Entrepreneur” in bio but no actual business
Posting motivational quotes about wealth daily

Met someone who spent $500 on a photoshoot in front of a rented Lamborghini.

Same person asked to borrow $50 for gas the next week.

What real wealthy people post:

Nothing about money
Family moments
Hobby achievements
Or they’re not even on social media

4. The Empty Luxury Apartment

This is hilarious but sad:

$3,000/month luxury apartment
No furniture except a TV
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor
But hey, great views for Instagram!

True story: Knew someone who spent 70% of their income on rent for a “luxury” building. Their apartment had one lawn chair and a PlayStation setup. But don’t worry, they made sure everyone saw the building’s rooftop pool on their stories.

5. The Restaurant Flex Gone Wrong

Watch how they act at restaurants:

Orders expensive bottles for the Instagram story
Sweats when bill comes
Always has “card issues”
Venmo requests you for $4.75 the next day

Meanwhile, actual wealthy people:

Order what they want without checking prices
Pay bills without phone calculators
Often pick up the whole tab
Never mention money

6. The Credit Card Juggling Act

This one’s both sad and common:

Five different credit cards “for points”
Knows every balance transfer offer
Always talking about credit card rewards
Never mentions their 24% interest rate

7. The “Business Owner” Facade

Look for these signs:

“CEO” in their bio (of a one-person company)
Posts about “building an empire” (from mom’s basement)
Always “closing deals” (selling $20 dropshipped items)
Multiple MLM ventures

True story: Guy called himself a “serial entrepreneur” on LinkedIn. His business? Buying shoes from Nike and trying to resell them on StockX.

Total profit last year? Negative $3,000.

8. The Watch Obsession

Here’s what screams fake rich:

Entire month’s salary on their wrist
Can name every Rolex model
Always showing it in photos
Probably financed it secretly

Met a “watch enthusiast” who spent $15,000 on a Rolex but couldn’t afford his rent that month. Called it an “investment.”

Sure, buddy.

Real wealthy people:

Often wear Apple watches
Choose practical over flashy
Don’t talk about their watches
Actually invest in assets

9. The Crypto/NFT Obsession

These are the loudest ones:

Changes profile pic to a Bored Ape (bought at peak)
Always talking about “getting in early”
Posts crypto prices when up, silent when down
Has “Diamond Hands” in bio but lives paycheck to paycheck

10. The Travel Flex

Spot these signs:

Business class seat pic (used points, now broke)
Hotel room tours (split between 4 friends)
“Working from anywhere” (because they can’t afford rent)
Constant vacation photos (maxing credit cards)

Real example: Girl posted “luxury travel content” for 3 months. Reality? Moved back with parents because she spent her entire savings on “creating content.”

11. The Network Pretender

Watch how they act:

Name drops celebrities they met once
Pays for photos at networking events
Brags about their “mentor”
Shows screenshots of DMs with famous people

12. The Lifestyle Faker

The ultimate combination:

Lives in luxury apartment
Leases luxury car
Wears designer clothes
Has under $1,000 in savings

Real wealthy habits instead:

Lives below their means
Invests consistently
Builds real businesses
Never talks about money

The Truth About Real Wealth

Here’s what actually rich people do:

Drive normal cars
Live in reasonable homes
Wear basic quality clothes
Invest aggressively

Remember:

Wealth whispers
Money talks
Broke people shout

Your Move:

Check yourself for these habits
Focus on building assets
Stop trying to impress people
Start impressing your bank account

The more you try to look rich, the less likely you are to actually become rich.