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Are we classed as "poor" or average

341 replies

FutureMrsBourne · 17/09/2023 17:25

Sorry I couldn't think of a better word.
DH earns around £70k.
I only earn £12ph and work 3 days a week as we have 2 children under 5.
Most of my friends are on slightly more than me an hour but not massively, have maybe slightly nicer but similar houses, only really get their hair done in terms of beauty.. but most of DH's friends partners earn £50+.. have big houses with cinema rooms, bars.. have regular Botox, lip fillers etc.
we live in a 3 bed and semi and have saved since 2018 for a new kitchen.
Are we poor.. or average? I feel such a failure compared to DH's friends wives and I worked bloody hard for my qualifications that are rubbish pay!

OP posts:
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Iknowitswrong15 · 17/09/2023 17:40

Wow
I’m a single mum earning less than you but more than the average wage in the uk
we are not poor 😂

Kdubs1981 · 17/09/2023 17:40

Well, you are going to get your arse handed to you here OP 🍿

SatelliteStomper · 17/09/2023 17:39

You know some very tacky, flashy people OP. Don't compare yourself to them.

husbandcallsmepickle · 17/09/2023 17:38

Botox, fillers and Turkey teeth are really chavvy

Checkcurtains · 17/09/2023 17:38

Are you for real OP?

The ons has a calculator that allows you to benchmark against the whole country.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/articles/incomespendingandwealthhowdoyoucompare/2022-03-09

You'll be in the top quartile at least. Of course you are not poor and probably not even average

ThatsGoingToHurt · 17/09/2023 17:38

Comparison is the thief of joy!

Your household income is above average, but I expect 2 maternity leaves and nursery fees have drained a lot of the money for extras.

I don’t know anyone who has 700k houses, cinema rooms or goes to Turkey to get their teeth done!

RedLollyYellowLorry · 17/09/2023 17:38

Beezknees · 17/09/2023 17:31

Your husband earns a £70k salary and you think you are poor because you don't have a cinema room?

I am a lone parent earning £22k, you have no idea what poor is.

You need to claim benefits that you are entitled to if you are a single parent.

MonkeyPuddle · 17/09/2023 17:36

Maybe look at some third sector job opportunities so that you can earn more, do something worthwhile and improve your self esteem in a way that isn’t derived from the accumulation of physical items.

who gives a fuck if your mates got a big house and big teeth. You have a home, family, security.

Boomboom22 · 17/09/2023 17:36

Above average so basically rich according to both labour and the tories at the moment.

Adreno · 17/09/2023 17:35

I love that a home bar is considered aspirational.

Sounds tacky as fuck.

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 17/09/2023 17:35

It' DH's wage that brings the money.. I just feel a bit useless sometimes for being so poorly paid and not progressing in my career before children.

Get your husband to go part-time and you go full-time, and do what it takes to move to the next level in your career. Plenty of people survive on an income of less than 35k (i.e. if your husband halves his hours).

Jk987 · 17/09/2023 17:34

Why do you need to know whether people perceive you as poor or not? What's led to you having these insecurities?

WeaselCheeks · 17/09/2023 17:34

Your husband's on more than double the average wage, so you're well beyond average, never mind poor!

Keepitrealnomists · 17/09/2023 17:34

Everyone is different, everyone earns different amounts and spend their money on different things depending on priorities. Don't know why your comparing yourself to other people. Concentrate on you and your family. Fwiw, we have a household annual income of £100k+ and we are more than comfortable. We don't spend our money on anything you have listed.

IHeartGeneHunt · 17/09/2023 17:33

I make £13,000 a year. I'm poor. You're not.

Stompythedinosaur · 17/09/2023 17:33

How tone deaf!

Theimpossiblegirl · 17/09/2023 17:33

You might want to have a think about what poor really means.
People are struggling to feed their families FFS.

FutureMrsBourne · 17/09/2023 17:32

@pinkpanther2023 if my wage was pro rata to full time I would only be on around £20k too x

OP posts:
RuthW · 17/09/2023 17:32

I'd say you were very well off

rickandmorts · 17/09/2023 17:32

Hermittrismegistus · 17/09/2023 17:26

If you're poor then what are all those families on half your income or less?

Literally! Our household income is around 35k (sometimes more if dp does Saturday overtime). I don't consider us poor at all. But by OPs standards we're practically destitute 🥴

flummingbird · 17/09/2023 17:31

I'm a single parent. I earn £29k. That's it. No benefits, no husbands salary, no magic money tree. If you're poor on approx 85k what the hell do you think I am 🤣

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 17/09/2023 17:31

Another goady thread on this subject ...

FutureMrsBourne · 17/09/2023 17:31

I didn't mean any offence at all I'm sorry if I did, I just couldn't think of a better word. This is true they may well be in debt. One couple both went to turkey to get their teeth done, have regular Botox done at their house and have just bought a £700k house.

I feel like we are comfortable but then I feel inadequate as that's not down to me, if I was on my own I would be on universal credit without a doubt. It' DH's wage that brings the money.. I just feel a bit useless sometimes for being so poorly paid and not progressing in my career before children.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 17/09/2023 17:31

Your husband earns a £70k salary and you think you are poor because you don't have a cinema room?

I am a lone parent earning £22k, you have no idea what poor is.

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