Every time there's a thread about earnings, there's always multiple posters who claim that most people on the thread must be inflating or plain lying about their salaries.
Whilst I recognise that people lie, especially on anonymous forums, I find it quite sad that people prefer to dismiss these posts as lies rather than take inspiration/education from them (or just not care).
I come from a poor background - we never had enough money to the point that food and electricity use was rationed. We weren't on the streets, but that was a looming possibility. We lived (mostly) within the midlands.
I fell into nannying as a career (having dreamed of being a primary school teacher) and my first job was in Kensington. The housekeeper had been gossiping about the rent on the house we worked in - it was £3k a WEEK. This was 2012-ish. I remember wondering how on Earth anyone could afford paying £200k+ a year on rent alone, when - in my mind - earning just £50k was amazingly rich.
I remember walking through Kensington and Knightsbridge and Chelsea and seeing thousands and thousands and thousands of these houses, all huge and grand and all presumably commanding similar rent or sale value than the one I worked in. They were all clearly lived in and used.
Perhaps it was arrogance, or naivety, but I figured that if there were enough people who could afford to pay £1k, £2k, £5k+ a week on rent (or buy million pound houses), then there must be a lot of money out there to be earned, and I couldn't see any reason as to why I couldn't find a way to get a share of that money.
That's sort of how I feel about these earning threads - hundreds of people are posting about their high salaries and instead of scoffing that they must be sad-sacks who hang out on Mumsnet to lie about their lifestyles - I think it's inspiring and encouraging to see so many women out there making amazing money and securing their futures.
FWIW - I was 21 back in Kensington, amazed at the £3k a week rent. I'm coming up to 30 now and my average yearly income is about £120k. I remind myself every day of how lucky I am, and how 21 year old me would have been incredulous. Though I'm, of course, absolutely nowhere near being able to rent a £3k a week house 
AIBU?
to believe the Mumsnet High Earners?
LigPatin · 16/04/2021 10:49
Am I being unreasonable?
908 votes. Final results.
POLLDo you honestly think that if we tried a little harder and had higher expectations we could earn your salery.
Of course some posters earn well but it's incredibly unrealistic to think in only 9 years everyone could go from a niave nanny to earn 120k just because they put their mind to it. 
I don't know if I believe them or not, I take most stuff on here with a pinch of salt.
I find it strange that people queue up to post their salaries on here at all to be honest. Same as how much you have in savings or owe on your mortgage. I never would.
What does knowing financial info about random internet strangers add to your life really? 
@LigPatin
What was the point?
@Sparklingbrook
I find it strange that people queue up to post their salaries on here at all to be honest. Same as how much you have in savings or owe on your mortgage. I never would.
What does knowing financial info about random internet strangers add to your life really?
It makes them feel better about themselves, usually whilst saying "oh, I'm on 60k and DH is on 120k and we just about manage" and being completely insensitive to the fact that they are in the top .5% of earners in the UK.
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Me and my husband both work ‘incredibly hard’ as you put it but we’re still on less than your annual salary (even combined!)
Are you saying we both don’t work hard enough?
The sad reality of the world is that it needs people on lower income jobs - if everyone had high paying roles who would do the retail roles, call centre jobs, cleaners, admin, hospitality etc.
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