When money gets tight, people say a lot of things to cover it up, which usually helps them to avoid awkward conversations—sometimes, they do it just to make themselves feel better. However, it’s not the loud or dramatic lies that you should pay attention to, but rather the little comments, odd excuses, or carefully worded replies when someone asks them questions about money. The goal is to make it sound like everything’s under control, even when it’s not. Here are thirteen lies people tell about being broke and the truth behind what they’re really saying.
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“I’m not struggling—I just don’t talk about money.”
Anybody who’s clearly in a tough spot but doesn’t want to go into it will say something like, “I’m not struggling—I just don’t talk about money.” They say they’re private or don’t “believe” in talking about money, but they just don’t want to explain what’s going on. It’s easier to say they don’t like discussing finances than to admit they’re broke & overwhelmed.
“I’ve got money, just not in a way you can see.”
It’s natural for them to feel a little cornered when you ask them about money—they’ll say, “I’ve got money, just not in a way you can see” and suddenly tell you about some crypto wallet or money “tied up in something.” The details are always vague, yet it’s easier for them to pretend they have access to something, regardless of the fact that they haven’t checked their bank balance in days. They’re just hoping you don’t ask to see proof.
“I’m not broke, I just don’t like material things.”
People say, “I’m not broke, I just don’t like material things” to sound like they’re above spending, but usually, it just means they’re low on cash. They’ll often say it when they can’t afford to replace a broken phone or buy new clothes—saying they don’t care about it feels better than admitting the truth. There’s no problem with liking simple things, yet people tend to say this when they’re trying to explain away not being able to afford something basic.
“I’m just between blessings.”
The saying “I’m just between blessings” gets used when someone doesn’t want to say they’re unemployed or don’t have any income, as it sounds better than saying, “I’m out of work.” They’ll soften their words with something vague that sounds a little spiritual and allows them to dodge the reality of their situation. They might say it as a joke to avoid further questions, but behind this facade is usually stress about money, bills & not knowing what happens next.
“I don’t want to work for the man anyway.”
After someone gets laid off or has to quit because things weren’t going well, don’t be surprised to hear them avoiding saying they need work & can’t find it. Instead, they’ll say, “I don’t want to work for the man anyway” and suggest they’re done with traditional jobs, which sounds like a personal decision. However, usually, it’s because they’ve been struggling to get hired or keep a job and don’t want to explain what happened—they’re probably still applying to jobs while saying this out loud.
“I’m focusing on myself right now.”
It’s common to hear “I’m focusing on myself right now” when someone has no income and isn’t making moves to change that—they’ll use it to dodge questions about what they’re doing next or why they’re not working. Rather than saying, “I’m broke and stuck,” they say they’re working on themselves, even if they’re just staying home & hoping things get better. Such a phrase helps them avoid judgment or critiques from people around them.
“I’m investing in myself.”
Similarly, you’ll also hear “I’m investing in myself” after someone has spent the last bit of money on an online course or something they hope will change their situation. It’s not always clear if the money went toward something useful—but saying it was an “investment” makes it sound like a smart choice. Sometimes, it’s just a way to avoid regret over spending money they didn’t really have & the person might just be hoping it pays off, while knowing they don’t have money for the basics.
“Money’s just energy.”
People who say “Money’s just energy” usually don’t have any because it sounds a lot better than admitting that their bills are late or their bank account is nearly empty. Saying this phrase gives a sense of control, whether or not they have any real plan to make money. It also helps them avoid talking about financial stress, as they might still be trying to figure out how to buy groceries or pay rent while repeating this idea.
“I like to keep things low-key.”
Someone says, “I like to keep things low-key” when they don’t go out & avoid activities that cost money, although it’s not always because they’re being private. Most of the time, they just can’t afford it & don’t want to say that—so they say they’re not into fancy stuff and that they like staying home. It’s a way to explain why they always pass on invitations that don’t fit their budget, and it keeps people from asking too many questions.
“I don’t do things for money.”
Anyone who isn’t making money probably wants it to sound like they’re choosing that, so they’ll say something like “I don’t do things for money” while also talking about passion or values. They want to avoid admitting they can’t get paid work, even though they might still be doing side gigs or applying for jobs in secret. But out loud, they say they’re not in it for the money, so it comes across as though they’re doing meaningful work, even when they’re stressed about bills.
“I’m actually happier now.”
People usually say, “I’m actually happier now,” right when things are kind of a mess—rent’s overdue and there’s not much in the fridge, but somehow they claim to feel more at peace. You’ll hear stuff like, “I don’t even miss all that stress,” which is hardly true because they’ve been eating dry cereal for dinner. They might say it with much confidence, but rather, it’s more like something they repeat to stay hopeful.
“I’m not broke, I just don’t like to spend unnecessarily.”
Someone says, “I’m not broke, I just don’t like to spend unnecessarily” when they’ve been skipping basic stuff like soap & toothpaste—saying this makes it sound intentional. They might talk about how they’re into minimalism and how they’ve cut out “non-essentials,” but in reality, they just don’t have the money. Asking them why they never go grocery shopping & why they’ve been stretching a single roll of toilet paper will lead to them claiming they “hate waste.”
“I could get money if I wanted to.”
They’ll say, “I could get money if I wanted to,” with a weird kind of confidence that also involves telling you they have a rich cousin who’d help, or they’re “thinking” about flipping a car. They might even say they have a business idea that’s “ready to go”—except they haven’t called the cousin, the car doesn’t exist, and the business idea is still a bullet point in their Notes app. Rather than lying to be dramatic, they just don’t want to face the fact that they’re out of options.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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