Sometimes, one finds oneself in the position of having to seek gainful employment, in order to get oneself through a hard time. This needn't be a shameful experience, but neither should one lower one's standards or gentlemanliness or class standing.
- Charity organiser. More for the ladies, but also acceptable of the gentry. Get involved in the big and prestigious charitable organisations in your area; with galas, drives, and whatnot. Ensure you are somewhere close to the top of the food chain using your name, title, and prestige, and remember, skimming is acceptable if you don't get caught.
- Carer to the elderly and infirm. Obviously I'm not endorsing the actual caring business of cleaning and feeding, but if you spend some time visiting old and well to do aged persons in homes, your friends will respect your charitable nature and the old folks will often leave large tokens of their appreciation.
- CEO. There is a risk of vulgarity unless you do it right - the company has to be prestigious old money and you have to have been awarded the position through the family. No internet businesses or plastic toy producers need apply.
- Kept gentleman/woman. There is no shame in finding a rich spouse, provided the whole situation is discrete and unostentatious. The kept party should have to prove their marriageable previous old money credentials before being allowed into the family. It is NOT acceptable to marry new money.
- Beneficiary. Aging grandparents, parents or other relatives can be cared for, and are often more than willing to provide fiscal assistance. This also gives the impression to your friends that you are charitable and generous with your time, and may assist you in snaring an old-money spouse.
- Equine owner. While gambling may be a shameful occupation, the gentlemanly ownership of racehorses or horses for polo, provided it is something that your family has been doing for generations, is not.
- Radio host. Somewhere cultural, like a classical music station. And if you disguise your voice slightly, it's very possible that none of your monied friends need ever know...
- Television host - provided it is of genteel programming assisting to education the masses on art, culture, literature, or similar. There is no shame in attempting to educate the philistines through popular culture... if you're really desperate, that is.
- Owner of a small art gallery, auction house, or similar. All very respectable professions. See if you have one floating around in the family that you could take on.
- Eccentric. If you can't find employment, taking on some eccentricities should get you through the tough times without anyone discovering you're actually... ahem... poor. Thank goodness.
