Will the REAL ballers please stand up!

In case the title of my blog has thrown you off guard (I apologise I decided to tap into my urban side) please ignore me, I don’t actually have an urban side! Defining a baller was somewhat more testing than I had anticipated; it’s one of those words in my mind I can clearly define -but to articulate becomes awkward. In order to get a definition that may illustrate my point (for those of you who are foreign to the term baller) I have consulted the trustworthy (I use that term loosely) urban dictionary.

A baller: One who is in a state of being extremely rich and likes to show off how rich he is. (Urban dictionary, 2009).

What ignited me to write this blog was my inability to grasp, whether its peoples sole purpose on earth to flaunt their alleged success. So this blog is not intended for real ballers rather at the counterfeits!

I tend to find that these individuals are people who ensure that at any given opportunity, everyone and their dog can see their Gucci belt, Louis Vuitton ruck sack, Gucci scarf, Rolex watch, Prada shoes, Parker pen and their Fendi toilet roll. Ok, I admit slight exaggeration with my last statement; does designer toilet roll even exist?

Common characteristics of a supposed baller (let me not single out) baller/ballerettes:

·        Popping expensive bottles of champagne in the club

·        Owning an expensive car (which is usually on finance or rented)

·        Wearing expensive jewellery

·        Wearing the most expensive hair (if you’re reading this and you happen to wear weave. I recommend you either get Remy or Brazilian hair it’s a good investment, you won’t regret it)

·        Having the latest designer handbag

All the above are acceptable as long as you:

·        Don’t have three credit cards that have need to be paid off

·        Are able to still do your weekly food shop (unless you have some sort of eating disorder)

·        Can still pay all your bills

·        Actually have money in your account which isn’t through fraudulent activity.

If you were wondering, yes I just made up the word ballerettes for the purpose of this blog, let me not discriminate females are also at fault!

I am sure that most people are familiar with the phrase ‘If you have it, flaunt it.’ The definitive words being IF YOU HAVE IT! Where my agitation lies, is with the individuals who project a bogus lifestyle. To us they appear as someone to envy but at home they scrounge for pennies. I encourage optimism, however I also believe in practicality so if you get paid £4.35 an hour maybe it’s not wise that you spend your wages on a luxury yacht. Illogical but there are ludicrous people who would if inevitably they could grow a fan club. 


I'm not knocking people buying luxuries or wanting the good life. What I am rebuking are those people who buy into a lifestyle (for image purposes) which is simply beyond their means and one they simply cannot afford and maintain.

Don’t get me wrong this is not the case for everyone; there are plenty of people with their head screwed on. It just so happens, I have unfortunately come across a few. Disregard the above it’s not unfortunate, I wouldn’t have written this blog otherwise. 


For one reason or another I find that this type of behaviour is predominantly amongst young people and in particular males who fall in the age brackets of 18-27. Whether I am being biased, I will leave you to decide. Although in making such claims, I am conscious of the female population, who are equally guilty of such transgressions. There is nothing wrong with weave if done correctly whether it’s Remy hair or Brazilian hair you choose. However there is a problem, when you sew weave to your head at the expense of having your monthly bus pass that gets you to work. I can only hope the bus drivers appreciate the time, effort and sacrifice that has gone into your hair and lets you on for free. I was never one to play the name and shame game thus the guilty young lady will not be named on this occasion.

Interestingly individuals with real money, more so wealth (two different things but I will not go into the technicalities) and assets if you will; those who are economically considered millionaires and billionaires are more discrete with their attainments. From afar some billionaires hardly look like they own anything, with all due respect Richard Brandson, Bill Gates and numerous other billionaires wear plain clothes. If it is a high end designer you would need a magnifying glass in order to make out the logo (unlike the counterfeit ballers who make known what brand they are promoting (wearing). 


Society would be a better place if people were much more frugal and truthful to themselves. We all have free will and if it satisfies you and makes you feel like you are the new P. Diddy (whatever he tends to call himself these days) Jay-Z, or any other glorified celebrity; then not much can be said. Whether the possession of luxury goods (which you cannot afford) makes you feel like a worthy human being is a question only you can answer. If discretion is not your strong point and impressing others and seeking attention is something you hold dearly to your heart, then please at least do it with a modicum of honesty.

Although after writing and discussing this with my close friend, it’s apparent that priorities differ from person to person, therefore it is a lifestyle choice. To some people looking good is ranked higher than intelligence or learning, others may rank feeding their shoe and bag addiction over moving out from under their parents.

Is there an age limit on this type of behaviour; is this predominantly something males do more so than their female counterparts?