Celebrities love to weigh in on ‘regular’ issues. Money problems are no exception. Recently another celebrity spoke about money issues.

Some celebrities use their influence for good, but often they miss the mark, particularly when it comes to speaking about privilege and finances.

Listening to a celebrity speak about money issues can be disheartening and frustrating to say the least. I believe we should stop listening. Instead, listen to finance experts and specialists, who can give you the tools needed to succeed.

In this post I’ll cover:

1. What celebrities are saying
2. Why we shouldn’t listen
3. Why you should not make comparisons
4. It’s not all bad though…

What celebrities are saying

Yet another celebrity weighed into the personal finance debate recently.

Kim Kardashian said women should “get off their f***ing ass and work”. She also said that no-one wants to work anymore and attributed her fame and success solely to her work ethic.

She’s not the only influencer with this view. Molly Mae recently spoke on a podcast about how hard she works and how we all have the same 24 hours in a day.

Of course, Molly Mae found fame on reality TV show Love Island, instantly giving her a platform with millions of followers and a captive audience.

I’m always keen to support successful women, so it’s frustrating to feel compelled to write this. However, acknowledging flaws and discussing how we can improve is the only way we can all move forward.

Why we shouldn’t listen

Despite what they claim, these celebrities have not got to where they are now based solely on their own work.

I don’t dispute that they do work hard. However, this is not the only – or often main – reason for their success.

Kim Kardashian, for example, comes from a very privileged background. She fully rose to fame when a sex tape leaked and when Keeping up with the Kardashians first aired in 2007.

It’s a similar notion to how her sister Kylie Jenner claims to be a self-made millionaire. However, Kylie has appeared on our screens since she was a teenager and has a captive audience ready to buy anything she sells and promotes.

We can all work as hard as we like, but most of us will never see this kind of fame or success. That is not to say you shouldn’t work. Anything worth having will take hard work to achieve.

However, all these comments do is show how detached celebrities are from the real world. Don’t let someone who doesn’t know or understand your life tell you that you’re not working hard enough.

Why you should not make comparisons

We do not all have the same 24 hours.

We may try to recreate the perfect Instagram snaps or go to the same bars as celebrities, but in reality, this is as far as the similarities go.

Making comparisons will just frustrate you.

Remember all the other responsibilities you have. From cooking and cleaning to parenting and caring roles, most of us have far more to worry about than just our job. Manging finances even takes a significant amount of time.

Many celebrities will have chefs, cleaners, nannies, accountants, and any other staff they require. This takes away a lot of the everyday stresses most of us deal with.

Celebrities also tend to have greater flexibility. If you’re employed, you likely have set hours you have to work. You may also have to work from a set place or office.

You can’t necessarily drop everything to focus on an exciting new project or to go to an event which could further your career. I know, when I’m at work, I don’t have time – or the ability – to think about anything else.

This is very different to celebrities. I doubt they have bosses who check when they clock in and out each day…

It’s not all bad though…

Some celebrities have much more self-awareness thankfully. They seek to use their platform to raise awareness of social issues and to raise funds for causes close to their hearts.

One of the most prominent examples of this is Marcus Rashford. Marcus regularly speaks out against child poverty and has succeeded in getting free school meals provided to more children and helping improve child literacy rates.

You certainly couldn’t describe him as detached from reality.

Don’t feel bad

Don’t let a celebrity speaking about money issues make you feel bad.

There are so many more factors not mentioned in this post that help determine your financial success – from gender, to race, socio economic background and more.

Everyone’s financial situation is unique. If you’re struggling right now, know it’s not because you’re not working hard enough. For many people, the system is simply stacked against them.

What you can do, is educate yourself about personal finance, address your debts and try and take small, positive steps every day.

Don’t forget to follow me on social media @Katie20Percent to keep up to date with all my latest posts.

Did you know I offer freelance writing services and personal finance workshops and talks for schools, workplaces and organisations? I also regularly feature in the media. Get in touch via kroyalsfreelance@gmail.com or reach out on Twitter @Katie20Percent if you’d like to find out more.

If you found this post about why we should not listen to celebrities about money issues interesting, please ‘like’ and share it on social media or with your friends. Do you find it frustrating when a celebrity weighs in on money issues? Comment below – I’d love to hear your thoughts!