Common Practices in Prosperous Homes that Often Baffle Common Folks
Lifestyle Habits in Wealthy Homes: A Closer Look
In wealthier households, a unique set of habits and practices emerge that may seem unusual or impractical to those with middle or working-class backgrounds. These practices are shaped by the abundance of resources and the prioritization of time optimization and convenience.
One such habit is the scheduling of nearly every activity, including relaxation. In affluent households, calendars are tightly managed, with structured timings for work, leisure, and children's activities. Spontaneity is rare; even fun is planned to maximize efficiency and opportunities. This approach, known as “concerted cultivation,” contrasts with more spontaneous or flexible schedules in less wealthy homes and can feel rigid or joyless to outsiders [1][2].
Another noticeable habit is the ownership of multiple specialty appliances and gadgets for niche tasks. Wealthy homes often have devices like avocado slicers, built-in espresso machines, towel warmers, or several refrigeration units dedicated to beverages, meats, or entertaining. To those from budget-conscious backgrounds, these may seem excessive or unnecessary, but for the wealthy these gadgets represent convenience and preparedness for frequent hosting [2].
The habit of having separate refrigerators or freezers for specific uses, such as drinks, wines, or entertaining food, underscores a lifestyle focused on hospitality and bulk buying for convenience rather than saving money [2]. In wealthy homes, travel plans are often discussed without mentioning budgets, reflecting that budget constraints are not a primary concern [2].
Delegating or outsourcing routine day-to-day tasks is also common in affluent households. Wealthier individuals often avoid everyday chores such as cleaning or setting tables, preferring to spend their time on other pursuits. This can appear unusually formal or even rude to middle-class visitors accustomed to shared responsibilities in the home [1].
Art and literature are integral in wealthy homes, often chosen with intention and carrying emotional or cultural weight. Expensive furniture is collected slowly, with attention to style, quality, and provenance. Even everyday items like bedsheets, comforters, or table linens are regularly sent out for professional cleaning in many wealthy households [1].
In wealthy homes, open space is often a luxury, not something to be filled, but something to be preserved. Sparse interiors in wealthy homes are rarely about minimalism for its own sake, but a sign of selectivity and intention [1]. Household staff are often addressed by first name and included in family conversations, and it's common to hire help even for a modest-sized home, such as a housekeeper, gardener, or dog walker [1].
In wealthy homes, the calendar often runs the household, with scheduled times for reading, structured free play, and extracurricular activities. This lifestyle, while seemingly impractical or alien to those from middle-class or working-class homes, is characterised by time optimization, convenience prioritization, and financial constraints minimization [1][2].
[1] Lareau, A. (2011). Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. University of California Press.
[2] Kaufmann, E. (2019). The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties. Basic Books.
- Wealthy homes prioritize stories from art and literature, choosing pieces with emotional or cultural significance.
- Rather than saving money, a wealthy lifestyle often favors bulk buying for convenience, as shown by separate refrigerators for specific uses.
- In wealthy families, personal finance and wealth management are so well-managed that discussions about travel plans rarely involve budgets.
- Fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle choices in wealthy homes include the ownership of multiple specialized appliances and gadgets for convenience.
- The emphasis on education-and-self-development and career-development in wealthy homes is reflected in the scheduling of every activity, even relaxation, to optimize time.
- Many wealthy households outsource daily chores and hire help, such as housekeepers, gardening services, or dog walkers, allowing for more focus on other personal interests.
