High earners - how do you spend your salary?

@Robinni

Nothing posted as altered my view, no.

Thats not the fault of my views though

@Topgub I don’t think you will take anything seriously unless it is 100% aligned to your world view which is clearly set in stone.

Yes

It said something about Eton having halved the amount they sent but I couldn't see an actual ratio?

Cba reading it again

@Topgub did you read it?

I'm also not sure i can take an article seriously when it says it feels most sorry for the white males from 'outstanding independent schools' forced to go to st Andrews instead

@Robinni

Did that link give the actual stat?

How many Oxford graduates came from inner city deprived schools?

Bloody hell OP we earn more than you are and we don't have the dumbassery to call ourselves high earners. What planet are you living on exactly? Are you living in shitsville where everyone else lives in a mud hut?? FFS

@Topgub www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-culture-wars-have-crept-into-oxbridge-admissions

@Robinni

I've never said otherwise

It doesn't mean higher earners work harder or deserve their wage because they made a different choice

Being apologetic is debatable

Especially depending on how they make their money/how much tax they avoid and how the vote

Agree, wages are never based on deserving, if they were then some of the lowest paid work would be the highest.

it’s a mixture of complexity of skills set, qualifications required, training required, revenue generated, Amount of folks who can do it, complexity, and in itself it’s complex and covers many things but it’s not based on who deserves it the most.

@Madbamboo

Whats the private school ratio for Oxford /City law firms these days?

@Topgub ok, but you prioritised presumably a passion over practicality and chose to be in a position where you are overworked, missing out on time with your kids and husband and underpaid.

You would have known what the prospects were for you from the outset.

Other people chose to spend their time working towards brighter financial prospects but arguably you may feel more fulfilled in what you do, who knows.

But it was your choice to pursue the course of action taken. It is not something high earners are in any way responsible for nor should they have to be apologetic for their salaries.

Supply and demand, which is linked to entry bar, and how easily replaceable it is. Almost anyone can be a a cashier, a carer/firefighter will require couple years of qualification but the entry bar is not as high as getting into Oxford University to study law and then bagging training contract in a city law firm.

@Robinni

I worked and studied for years too.

I'm highly skilled and knowledgeable in my profession with 20 years experience.

Still not a higher earner

@Lunar27

Obviously its subjective.
Thats the problem

How have we got to the point where its ok for footballers and kardashians to make what they do from others and keep it?

I think i should be making what the op does too.

Youd think we would have learnt from the pandemic but apparently not.

I worked in care for many years but wanted more so retrained. What I would say is that when you’re studying you are doing a full day, working to support study, and if doing a good job of it pulling late nights and all nights to attain highly. Then if pursuing a high earning profession often you go into an intense and competitive position with a tonne of stress. You’re paid because of the skill set you’ve taken the time to develop.

Many do this for 10-20 years but try and invest or start other things for a greater work life balance down the road.

Admittedly, this then becomes the point where you could say a high earner is not working as hard, because they delegate tasks or live off investments.

Whether high or low earning people should be supported to manage their money wisely and make the most of it. That’s all OP was asking about in the first place. How to make the most of their position… I don’t get why it’s problematic except that maybe placed in the wrong forum.

I get why higher earners get annoyed when its pointed out they dont deserve their higher earnings. But you'll never convince me that an accountant or a hedge fund manager or IT coder is worth their pay (Especially when you read stats about how shit some of them are) in comparison to what a carer or a firefighter is making

Deserving is highly subjective. Footballers out earn almost everyone for just kicking a bag of air around.

Sadly it's not about deserving but often how much is generated as a result of your work. Either that or the value society places on your job. My daughter is a carer and it's ridiculous. Same goes for child care.

Those of us that have done well (and I count myself in this camp) are fortunate that our professions are valued more. Personally I think I should get paid more than solicitors but hey ho. That's life.

I also think that a lot of the hours that higher earners put in are presenteeism, inefficiency and lack of flexibility from employers.

None of which are good things.

(Not all)

Lol. Rich people aren't just happy with their wealth, they want everyone else to applaud them for it too and get all hurty feelings if they don't.

The entitlement is just staggering. Truly, embarrassingly unbelievable.

Working away doesn't mean you're working harder

I've worked 70 hour weeks. I used to do nights in my own job then go and do back shifts in another.

Me and oh work opposite each other so dont see each other plus I do 12.5 hour shifts so went days without seeing the kids when they were wee.

I'm never 'off duty' due to the nature of my role.

My role carries huge amounts of responsibility and stress and is mentally and physically exhausting.

I could work hundred hour weeks and still wouldnt be a higher earner because my role just doesn't make money.

I get why higher earners get annoyed when its pointed out they dont deserve their higher earnings. But you'll never convince me that an accountant or a hedge fund manager or IT coder is worth their pay (Especially when you read stats about how shit some of them are) in comparison to what a carer or a firefighter is making

Maybe

I think that lots of lower earners work very hard

But Dh and 1 earn much much more than our siblings and we have worked much longer and harder to get there from the same starting points
Worked abroad and away to earn money- not as a great lifestyle choice- not seen out children for week on end
Worked 70 hours a week for many years for no extra money
Work when on holiday

etc etc

And obviously many carers work much harder than lawyers, but we don't value their compassion. There is an argument for lawyers to be replaced by AI, eliminating human error. There is no argument for replacing carers in this way, the skills of empathy can not be artificially conveyed, therefore carers should be valued more.

Agreed.

Well said.

Society places worth on all the wrong things imo.