*As told to Kally from someone who wishes to be anonymous
I have a confession to make. I am so guilty about this. I don’t exactly work for a living. I mean, I have enough to spend, but I’m not employed. My money comes from a trust fund that my mother left me years ago before she passed away, and I didn’t get to know about it until I was 21 years old when her lawyer contacted me.
I’m adopted when I was eight years old. My actual mother tried to reach out to me when I was in my teens, but I never wanted to make that connection. My adopted family are nice honest working folks, but I have never felt we were close. Sure, I love them as my family, but I wouldn’t go to them if I ever am in trouble.
I graduated from high school, but I didn’t want to further my studies. I was never the academic kind. I started working as a salesgirl at a local department store. Hours are long, but the money is okay. Of course, I quit the job once I knew I had a trust fund. Not precisely in millions, but the amount is quite substantial.
According to the lawyer, if I continue to make smart investments with the money, I can probably not work at all for the rest of my life. And I like very much to stay that way, so I started learning about long-term investments, reading everything I could, attending all the financial workshops and avoided risky, short-term portfolios that promise high returns. No way that I will gamble all that money away. I’m going to stretch this dream as long as possible.
Now, you may be wondering what the lie is and why am I lying. Well, I did quit my job, but I couldn’t explain why suddenly I had so much to spend, so I lied that I was hired as a personal assistant for a prominent businessman. I couldn’t really explain why I didn’t want anyone to know I had a trust fund. I guess I didn’t want everyone to start treating me differently. I didn’t just lie to my family. I lied to all my friends, including my boyfriend.
My adopted family would probably start expecting me to give them a share or at least buy them something nice like a car or pay off their house mortgage. My friends will probably avoid me as most of them are uncomfortable hanging out with wealthy people. We used to make fun of them and call them self-entitled money pooping snobs, or at least I used to until I became one. My boyfriend? As much as I really love him and probably will end up marrying him, he will blow all my money away on some silly gadget stuff to show off to his buddies.
As ungrateful as I may sound, I really want to keep the money all to myself. I don’t mind stepping up if someone needs cash for a medical emergency—just no fancy stuff on my account.
Heck, I didn’t even buy myself a new car even though my beat-up car is a safety risk to both me and others on the road. All I did was buy some nice clothes that I lied that I had a clothing expense account from the company because I needed to look good when I was out with “the boss”.
The most foolish thing I did with my newfound fortune was splurging on a 10k vacation to Bali. I had never flown before, and I wanted to experience travelling to an exotic country. So I told everyone that I was needed for business travel with my boss for two weeks and flew off to spend it in Indonesia. The vacation was so good. I had a villa all to myself. For once, I didn’t need to pretend to anyone. I dined at expensive restaurants, splurged on spa treatments, and went shopping every day without needing to explain where my money came from.
However, the most sensible thing I did was purchase a house in one of the prestigious districts, all paid in full, so I won’t get any bank letters reminding me to pay my mortgage. I’ve got the trust fund lawyer to arrange all the necessary paperwork and taxes to deliver through his office so that nothing can be traced back to my address. The three-storey house is empty now, unfurnished except for a daybed, a small table and a chair to escape to time to time when reality, or you can call it my double life, gets too much for me. It’s also where I hang out whenever I am “at work”. I planned to rent it out after the pandemic to fund the purchase of another house in another district that I am eyeing.
I don’t have any long term plans for my future. Having money is a strange feeling. I have enough to last me forever, so there’s no pushing factor for me to do something with my life. On the other hand, it’s like I’m waiting for something significant to happen.
Does it make sense? I don’t know, but I’m young, and now I’m rich, so I can do whatever I want.
Love our Whisper stories? Here are some more to feed you:
Whisper: I’m Being Paid to Do Nothing
Whisper: I’m 38 And I Still Live With My Parents
Whisper: I Am An Office Diva
Can’t get enough of MiddleMe? You can find me sharing my thoughts here as well:
Instagram @kallymiddleme
Twitter (MiddleMe_net)
FaceBook (MiddleMe.net)
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kallytay
Thats a brilliant story, most people with money in my experience buy property to rent out and so have a steady income. As for keeping it a secret well thats a personal choice, i completely understand and would do exactly the same thing, if other people found out about being rich it could be said that the lottery was won instead of having a trust fund lol , but anyways i really do understand the reasons for secretly, knowing someone has money changes their attitude towards you.
LikeLiked by 5 people
What a great advice, Jack. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story. You are living most of our dream.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kally, it sounds to me that this young lady has identified what she needs to do in her situation and has a sound plan post COVID. When she is older, she will probably feel a bit more comfortable regarding who she needs to tell, then again she may not.
We know a number of people who have won lotto or some other significant prize money. One young lady we knew at the time took us all on a river cruise etc to celebrate, brought a house and so on. Where I live, the research shows that most people have used up their lotto winnings within seven years (I know, imagine trying to spend millions upon millions in such a short period of time).
Our whisperer seems to have a very good idea on how to make sure she keeps her trust fund in tact. That’s wonderful, in my view. She doesn’t need to feel guilty, just enjoy life as simply as she can.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and advice, Sean. Indeed, she doesn’t need the baggage that comes with money.
LikeLike
Its a dilemma in life about what to do, whether we’re rich or needy. Its okay to not know what the course of action, but if the stillness shakes you from within, try doing new things, be it meeting new people, social work, learn music, and whatever you believe you could have done if the fund wasnt there. Its a fact that if we wait for the target, we wont find it, so try hitting wherever you can, but with utmost clarity and calm.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLike
Sounds very sensible to me. Although getting married or living with someone will give away your not working unless you got out a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly lies have a way if catching up with you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is a good and sensible decision by a young one. But keeping it a secret after marriage will be difficult!
LikeLike
Considering how many people win the lottery and squander the lot, and wind up worse off than they were before, this young lady has acted in a very thoughtful and intelligent manner. She’s spent frugally and invested wisely.
However, as previous commenters have noticed, she’s now carrying a burden of lies. Where she goes with it from here is hard to say. I wonder if she’s started looking at sites like this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting point of view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A decision that I myself would have made if I was in this position. But after marriage it will be difficult to withhold from your husband.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I thought the same too.
LikeLike
Sounds wise money wise 🙂 however, relationship wise not. It is very necessary to equip herself with sound advice from a relationship perspective as well.
LikeLiked by 3 people
This reads more like a novel and leaves me wondering if she is not living in a fantasy world and using you.
That said, if there is any truth to it, the poor woman really needs a spiritual makeover. She is selfish, greedy, egotistical, afraid of what other people think, dishonest even with her boyfriend who she describes as an immature show-off (now there’s a relationship asking for trouble if they get married! 😰) and she admits to living a “double-life.” This is pathological, so not only does she need spiritual guidance, but probably a good psychologist as well.
Tell her to find a good church (CMA, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic) and to begin reading everything the Bible says about money. Note: MONEY is NOT evil, but the love of it IS.
There are missions in which she could become involved instead of splurging on houses, clothes and vacations ALONE. All this stuff will burn up someday, and she will not have any friends or family left.
If it is a made-up story (which is most likely), it is a morality tale about how to waste one’s life.
The main character needs to get a purpose. 😒
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is no one’s business how much money you have, or how you got it. You do not owe anyone an explanation. I do wonder why the secrecy. You didn’t get the money by ill-gotten gains, and you do not owe your relatives anything. Enjoy your wealth, and consider doing something good with any extra money you have. You may feel better about your instant wealth. Good Luck with your future.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Good advice. I guess the whisperer doesn’t want to invite trouble in her life if she can avoid it.
LikeLike
Mind-boggling story 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree!
LikeLike
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are being very sensible with your money. I would say, in time, there will be someone you trust well enough to let in on your secret.
Don’t marry your boyfriend until he is mature enough to handle your money .. or until he signs a prenup and realizes your lawyer has it all locked up.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s wisdom! Thanks for sharing that bit of advice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the money wisely.
LikeLiked by 2 people
*she uses
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oooh, tough one! Lying by omission? I mean, good for her and she sounds like she’s quite savvy, investing her money and buying a house. I think I’d want to keep it a secret but I know I wouldn’t be able to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Live in US ? Trust fund disbursements are taxable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can certainly understand wanting to be the one in control of the funds, especially after putting in the effort to learn about managing them. However, keeping it hidden from their entire social circle doesn’t seem like a sustainable situation long-term.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Un petit bonjour du matin ou d’après midi ou du soir
Pour te souhaiter une bonne semaine avec des mots d’amitié.
Que ce jour ne soit que douceur et bonne humeur !
Chaque journée qui nous est donnée à vivre est une nouvelle chance pour cultiver le bonheur !
Alors concentre-toi sur ce qu’il y a de meilleur et mets tout le reste de côté.
Trouver sur le net bise Bernard
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beutiful lie is not lie.you are amazing whisperer,dear kally!!love you.❤
LikeLike