When money is tight, normal people think long-term. They usually look for stability, a better job, a side hustle, or a sustainable plan to improve their situation. A narcissist, however, does not think long-term. They think survival, and survival means scheming. They will dabble in shady deals, small scams, or manipulative ventures. They will exploit people’s trust with promises they have no intention of keeping. To them, pulling off a quick hustle is not wrong; it’s smart. They admire themselves for outwitting others, even when what they have done is exploitative or downright illegal. The danger here is that their short-term wins lead to long-term disasters. Often, they burn bridges, destroy trust, and sometimes even break the law. By the time the consequences catch up with them, they have usually moved on to their next victim. In their mind, risk does not matter because they have convinced themselves they will always land on their feet. And if they do not, well, someone else will bail them out eventually.
5. Using Pity as Currency
They use pity as their main form of currency. When everything else fails, they fall back on the most powerful weapon they know: pity. A broke narcissist understands that most people cannot stand to watch someone suffer. So, they turn their misfortune into a performance. They will exaggerate illnesses, create sad stories about how life has beaten them down, or bring up every good deed they have ever done for you, twisting it into guilt: “After everything I have done for you, you won’t help me now?” Their words are carefully chosen not to inspire compassion but to unlock your wallet. They never feel shame about it. To them, your empathy is just another tool, another resource to exploit—no different from food or money. They know that if they cry hard enough, look miserable enough, or act desperate enough, most people will give in just to make the discomfort stop. They weaponize your kindness against you.
6. Intimacy as a Transaction
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