Aspies with financial security; not pretentious?

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I'm not sure if this has been discussed here before (a quick search didn't turn anything up)...

I know a few other people with autism and Asperger's in person (not on this forum), and it seems that regardless of wealth or ability to buy whatever they might want, or if it's a matter of necessity to do so, they seem to live an austere lifestyle. Of course that is also a sign of common humility and good morals, so there are many NTs who do the same.

I've had many people ask me why I'm driving a used Toyota and I buy clothes on eBay and at places like Ross or TJ Maxx, if I can afford a garage full of new Ferraris and a limo & fulltime driver (not saying I can; just using an example). I know others who could perfectly well afford all that plus a yacht and mansions, and they still dress with K-mart clothing and drive used cars (or take the bus in the case of one friend with plenty in the bank). I know someone who buys houses for fun, and doesn't even rent them out or live in them. She just buys them and maintains them like a collection of baseball cards. In fact, she once owned a $1 million house in Los Angeles with pool and spa, and said it belonged to an orange ring-tail cat! And she also bought a huge house ontop of a hill with an ocean view, but lived in a little camper on the property for awhile and left the house empty. And she wears 20-year-old clothes with worn spots, and has a 1990 Ford with a rusty dent.

Another friend (high-functioning autistic as sure as I'm sitting here writing this, but he has never said so), is the sole heir to a Los Angeles oil fortune; probably over $1billion, and won't even repair $2000 in earthquake damage to his mansion in Hancock Park, which happened in 1971, and is still thinking about buying a new TV set since his 1979 RCA color console crapped out a couple decades back.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if other Aspies don't care so much about appearing to be successful in business & finance?

Charles

Yeaaaah. I love money. And I hate people. So not spending money on other people to impress them is awesome. I love hoarding money and living frugally. Seeing more money pile up gives me more security and I feel less alone. I always thought I was jewish, but I'll make powdered milk over buying it from the store just because I enjoy saving that extra two dollars. I also don't think I'm going to buy a house. I would prefer living in a condominium for the rest of my life.

I spend everything I have, really quickly. Not on fancy stuff though, unless that's what I want (it would be eating at expensive restaurants if anything).

I would actually say that this describes me almost perfectly lol. I don't think it has anything to do with Aspergers though, but who knows . Really there is very little that I truly feel the need to waste my money on...my biggest vice is that I really like fancy food lol (both eating out and cooking it). I'm not exactly wealthy right now (poor college student lol), but I really never buy more than I need to be content. The way I see it, fancy houses, cars, etc. serve the exact same purpose as the cheaper ones, they just might look a little flashier or be a little larger, so I honestly don't even see the point to a lot of it.

I think I picked up a lot of it from my grandfather...I respect him very much and he is also that way. I also have very strong religious beliefs that influence me in this area as well. He actually does have money, but one of my favorite and funniest memories was when he took me shopping to buy himself some new shirts. We went to the bargain store and he goes "Ok, now listen up! You see those $15 shirts over there? That's a total rip-off, you need to shop on this $9.99 rack over here, this is where they hide the really good stuff!"

When I have money I just buy what I want with it......and usually I end up buying things I end up sharing with other people. I would not say I am the best at managing money either so I doubt I will ever aqquire enough wealth to own a large house or even a house in general or own more than one car.

I do suspect that Aspies might be less interested in impressing people.

I really can't figure out why _anyone_ would want to buy a Rolex watch. Yes, they're the finest of engineering and materials, etc., but the purpose of a watch is to keep time, and a $10 watch from WalMart keeps just as good time. If you want to impress people, get a Rolex replica, and save a bunch of money.

I think aspies are less interested in spending on expensive things. Its like buying cheap, comfortable clothes, good enough. Or eating at cheap restaurants, good enough. I wouldn't exactly say its always a matter of impressing people but we just dont have interest in the finer things in life.

I generally buy cheap clothes and I dont spend very much. I think in college, I had people fooled and they thought I was low income.

Charles, this is an interesting topic, and one I've been obsessed with much of my life.

I do think you make an excellent observation when you note that we aspies just don't care about impressing other people. I have a ranch about four hours southwest of Dallas. Before I bought my place, the previous owner died in 1972, and it really wasn't taken care of after that. I lived in the old, dilapidated house that would've been ruled unfit for human habitation in less free places until it became totally uninhabitable. It was good enough for me.

Instead of a big, fancy house, I had a very basic 1,300 sq ft house built. It's really more than I need. Whereas normal people try to dress up the front of their ranch, I dressed up around the house, which is a long way from the road and can't be seen. The rich Chinese actually took the same approach in imperial China; they would hide their mansions behind slum facades.

It's the same with a vehicle. I've always driven new vehicles, but the most basic, stripped-down models available. A vehicle for me is only to haul things and transport me where I need to go. I couldn't care less what the other drivers think.

The reason I was able to buy my ranch, and with it a measure of freedom and independence, is because I've always lived what people like Dave Ramsey preach. Insofar as this is common with aspies, I think at root this is because we're not secure with society, and hence lack trust. We're not sure if, or when, we're going to lose our jobs or other bad things are going to happen. There is no worse thought for me than having to depend on other people for my basic needs.

I learned early. I didn't have a good upbringing, and learned to put my money away. I also had some of the same problems holding jobs that others have described in these forums; I had to learn my strengths and limitations. Even when I made minimum wage, I lived below my means; I would live on beans with no bacon, and cornbread with no milk. I spent a lot of Houston summers with no air conditioning.

My goal was, and remains, to be financially independent so that if I were to lose my job, or not be able to tolerate it anymore, I'd be able to get by--if I wanted to, I could tell my boss to go to hell. You can't be free unless you're independent.

Today, I live a lot better than what I used to, but I still live well within my means.

It's interesting to read there are other aspies with similar traits.

I'm very poor and very frugal. To the point of it getting antisocial

Seems to make intuitive sense. I think a lot of modern consumerism is a result of keeping up with some sort of social expectation, and I've never bothered. Why buy a new car and have it depreciate half it's value in a year, when I can buy a second-hand one that runs equally well and holds its value better? Why buy something I don't need? Why replace what isn't broken?

I feel the same way about this thread, essentually "Rich Aspies aren't pretentious with their wealth like NTs") as I do about autistic people being assumed to be completely honest and trusting. You'll find all kinds, everywhere.

I hate interruptions, find myself "splurging" on stuff that works, but this still tends to be below my means.

I'm known as the family miser. I don't spend an extra dime if I don't have to. I'm not cheap, but the Bible says waste not want so I don't waste .

When the world gets complicated, I simplify my life.