Sometimes, people say things with complete confidence… without realising just how out of touch it sounds to someone who hasn’t had the same level of security, support, or access.
Most of the time, they’re not being malicious. However, privilege has a way of slipping into casual conversation when people assume their version of reality is universal. These are just some of the phrases that often reveal someone’s privilege, even if they don’t mean to sound condescending or detached.
1. “You just have to want it badly enough.”
This one ignores every structural barrier that exists. From systemic discrimination to financial limitations, wanting something doesn’t guarantee access to it. Ambition doesn’t magically erase inequality, and this phrase makes it sound like those who struggle simply don’t care enough.
2. “I just told my parents I needed help, and they sorted it.”
That’s lovely for you, but not everyone has parents with the means, time, or even willingness to step in. For a lot of people, there is no backup plan. This comment assumes a level of family safety net that many never had. Unless you grew up with a trust fund or extremely wealthy parents, this is just unrealistic.
3. “I’d rather own than rent—renting is just throwing money away.”
This skips over how impossible homeownership is for many people, especially in cities where prices are absurd and wages haven’t kept up. It also ignores things like credit history, generational wealth, and whether someone can even afford a deposit to begin with. Must be nice to be able to get on the property ladder these days!
4. “Why don’t you just take some time off to reset?”
Because unpaid time off isn’t a luxury everyone can afford. For many, a single missed pay cheque means spiralling bills or not making rent. Suggesting someone “just take a break” makes sense only when a safety net is already built in. Sure, most of us get holidays, but we can’t just decide to step away from work for an extended period of time.
5. “School was easy for me—I don’t get why people make it such a big deal.”
This usually comes from someone who never struggled with learning differences, family stress, or having to work a job during their GCSEs. What was “easy” for one person may have been a survival act for another. Just because you didn’t experience something doesn’t mean someone else didn’t.
6. “Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day.”
Ah yes, the Molly Mae special. This is technically true, but wildly dismissive. Some people’s 24 hours include childcare, shift work, medical appointments, long commutes, and emotional labour that other people will never even see. Time isn’t distributed equally, even if the clock is.
7. “I just budgeted better and made it work.”
Budgeting helps, but it doesn’t fix poverty. You can’t cut corners that don’t exist, and for someone struggling to cover the basics, this kind of comment feels more like a flex than advice. How do you split up nothing from nothing, anyway? You can’t.
8. “I worked hard for everything I have.”
That may be true, but it doesn’t mean other people didn’t. The difference is, not everyone starts from the same line. This statement often erases the impact of luck, timing, support systems, or access to opportunities other people never had. Sadly, just because something was accessible to you doesn’t mean it was accessible to everyone else. It’s very possible you had an unfair advantage.
9. “I just told the recruiter what I wanted, and they matched it.”
Some people get filtered out before the conversation even starts—because of their name, their postcode, or the gaps in their CV from surviving rather than thriving. Getting what you want in the workplace isn’t always about how well you ask. It’s also about who’s listening.
10. “I never think about money—it just stresses me out.”
That’s a luxury in itself. For many, thinking about money isn’t optional—it’s a daily calculation. Being able to tune it out is a sign that you’ve never had to count every coin or map out the week by the contents of your bank account. Some people have no choice but to constantly be mulling over how much they have (or rather don’t).
11. “You just need to be confident—it opens so many doors.”
Confidence helps, sure, but it lands differently depending on who you are. What’s seen as assertive in one person might be seen as aggressive, arrogant, or unprofessional in someone from a marginalised background. Not every door opens just because you knock loudly.
12. “I never really worried about getting into uni. If you’re meant to go, it works out.”
This kind of casual optimism skips over exam anxiety, financial blocks, lack of guidance, or needing to care for siblings at home. For some, just applying is a leap. Getting accepted doesn’t mean the road is smooth, and not worrying about it is its own kind of privilege.
13. “My advice? Never settle for less than what you’re worth.”
Easy to say when you’re not worried about paying rent or feeding your kids. Some people have to take what’s available just to stay afloat. Telling them to hold out for more can feel tone-deaf when survival is the real priority. Most people can’t afford to walk away from opportunities because they don’t know when the next one will come along, and they have to take care of themselves and their families in the meantime.
14. “I don’t see the point in complaining—just work harder.”
This one skips past reality. Sometimes people are already working as hard as they physically can. Complaining isn’t always laziness. It’s a symptom of exhaustion, or a cry for change in a system that’s already stacked against them. It also plays into the idea that our worth is tied to our work, and that’s ridiculous.
15. “Travel is the best way to grow, and everyone should do it.”
It’s a lovely sentiment, but not everyone can drop everything and book a flight. Time, money, visas, kids, caring duties—it’s not just about choosing to go, it’s about being able to. Suggesting it’s a universal experience makes it sound like people are small-minded just because they stayed local.
16. “I just manifest what I want, and it always works.”
Believing in your goals is powerful. However, when people make it sound like visualising success is the only step, it ignores how much privilege helps things “magically” fall into place. It’s not always the universe. Sometimes, it’s access, connections, and luck disguised as alignment.
