Luxury Neighborhood Snobs and How to Deal with Them

Whether you have recently moved into a luxury neighborhood or you have lived in one for awhile now, there is a good chance that you are going to come across luxury neighborhood snobs. What is a luxury neighborhood snob, you ask? Well, they can act snobby in a number of different ways and you will know if you ever meet one. Some of the signs that someone may be a luxury neighborhood snob include:

1. They will not allow your child to play with theirs because she is not enrolled in the honors program at school,
2. Nothing that you have is ever good enough. If you wear Reebok sneakers, you are criticized because they are not Tommy Hilfiger's,
3. If your house is smaller than theirs, it is automatically incomparable,
4. Money is constantly an issue. They are interested in what you make and if it is nowhere close to what they make, you are the "unsuccessful" family of the neighborhood.

So, how do you deal with someone who acts like this? Is it possible to become friends with a luxury neighborhood snob? How do you help your children get along with theirs or, in some cases, how do you explain to your children that their parents do not want your children to associate with one another? Here are some tips on how to deal with luxury neighborhood snobs.

#1: Don't Discuss Your Salary With Luxury Neighborhood Snobs

As tempted as you may be to tell someone about the $1.00 an hour raise that your husband got this year, the best thing that you can do is avoid discussing money issues with a luxury neighborhood snob. If they ask how much you or your spouse makes, the best thing that you can do is give them an answer that satisfies, but does not keep them pressing you for an answer. Say something along the lines of, "We're well off." Although this does not give them an exact number to criticize if it is lower (or higher) than their own, it should shut them up.

#2: Tell Your Neighbors That You Don't Think Money is Everything

Although a luxury neighborhood snob probably will not agree with you, you may want to consider telling your them that you don't think money is everything. Of course, you do not want to come out and just randomly say this. If there is ever a time when your neighbor is criticizing another neighbor because the present that she bought her husband was not up to standards or she recently quit her job, you will want to consider bringing this up. If nothing else, it should at least get the hint across that you are not materialistic like they are.

#3: Try to Help Your Kids Fit in, When You Feel it is Necessary

If your luxury neighborhood snob's kids are making fun of your children because they are wearing gym shorts with holes in them or shoes that have the soles worn out, it is a good idea to replace these items if you can afford to. Does this mean that you should run out and buy your child name brand items just because they want to fit in? As a parent, you probably want to keep your child happy and, unfortunately, fitting in is very important to children. If you can afford to help your child fit in with your neighbors, it may be in his or her best interest.

#4: Invite Your Luxury Neighborhood Snobs to an Event

Whether you decide to throw a Fourth of July party or take the kids to the zoo, why not invite your neighbors? Unless the conflicts that you have with your neighbors are major, there is a good chance that spending time with them can really help out everyone. Both of you may get to see some good qualities within one another and, ultimately, this can help build a relationship between both parents and children. As very reluctant as you may be to invite your neighbors to a certain event, it can really prove to be beneficial in the long run.

#5: Give Your Neighbors the Cold Shoulder if Necessary

If you have tried everything else only to find that your neighbors really are nothing but luxury neighborhood snobs, you may want to consider giving the cold shoulder. There is only so much that you can do when it comes to getting along with your neighbors. If your children ask why they are no longer able to spend time with your neighbor's children, it is important to be honest about it, but don't tell them everything until they are old enough to understand. Tell them that Jimmy and Suzie's parents feel very differently than you do about certain issues and that is why they cannot spend time together at the moment. Explain that this may change as they get older and, depending on your neighbors, there is a good chance that it may. Once your snobby neighbors realize that you aren't speaking to them because of their actions, there is a chance that they may change. On the other hand, they may stay the same.