Household income. Where are you?

My husband and I each earn almost 50k, we have a low mortgage (£600pcm) so I was really shocked that it's telling me 45%. But I've got 4 kids, 2 of whom are teenagers - when I checked where we'd be without kids it tells me 87%! Actually my teenagers are cheaper, because I'm still spending a fortune on wraparound care for the younger ones.

Obviously in my head I understand that kids cost money, but I honestly hadn't understood how much. Although, tbf, we're pretty tight with money, I probably spend a similar amount on my 4 kids as I would do if I only had 2- none of them have expensive hobbies, and we never go abroad etc.

Anyway, at apparently 45% we have plenty of money for essentials, and we have flexibility to budget for extras. I feel comfortable 🤷‍♀️

I am talking about day to day life. I have been in the social circle of genuine rich- their lifestyle is vastly different to mine at 94%.
yes I can do a food shop without worrying, kids can do various activities, don’t worry about putting the heating on, have a decent car but not expensive, but we don’t have fancy holidays and my clothes are all high street.
This to be is comfortable rather than rich.

94% would never have thought so

36%

And I feel reasonably comfortable. I don't own my own home, though which is my biggest anxiety (what happens when I retire or will I ever be able to retire?).
It is also a single income household with a dependent child.
Just calculated for where I was 10 years ago with two dependent children and a low earner topped up by benefits and it was 3%.

9% here! Solidarity!

Yes they can. But not all can tow heavy trailers etc, can they? I imagine if I drove everywhere in a bigger vehicle than required for occasionally towing you’d have something to say?

No, no insecurity here. I couldn’t care less what cars other people drive as long as they’re roadworthy. I was trying to illustrate to you have utterly ridiculous you sound but I don’t think you have enough self-awareness to see that!

11%.

Single parent. Life is fun!

We're 91% without housing costs, 87% with, on a net household income of around 72k (roughly equally from me and my husband). We are certainly comfortable, but neither of us is a higher earner. We don't have kids though, which must make the difference.

@Janedoe82 To me rich is you don’t have to think really before you spend. I most definitely do!

That applies to absolutely no one. Even a billionaire like Elon Musk needs to think before he decides to buy Twitter.

My car gets me up and down the Highlands, out to emergency response bases, and safety in rural/remote areas is a very valid reason to have an SUV.

SUVs get through where other cars don't. That's hardly rocket science. They're more likely to survive accidents (eg tree branches, deer collisions, going off road).

Staying on site isn't an option for everyone (myself included) and isn't necessary when you can safely get there by car. You may hate SUVs but they're useful for a lot of people.

We're better off than 87% though that would rise to 94% if we weren't supporting kids apparently. We live in a very cheap part of the country so I know we are very comfortable.

@nellythe I have a few cars for various uses and anything lower an SUV would flood trying to get through the water in my village that gathers for weeks every single winter.

Why do you have "a few cars for various uses"? Last time I checked, they all have 4 wheels and can drive forward.

Stick to your morally superior noddy car and let me enjoy my ugly SUV.

Calling other vehicles "noddy cars" is laughable and would suggest you have some very bad insecurities. Have you been tested for small man syndrome?

You clearly have a different idea of what rich is to me!
To me rich is you don’t have to think really before you spend. I most definitely do!

Loving the defensiveness of the rich

You need to add them as an adult at 18 according to the guidance

Originally replied in a way that wasn't constructive. Have reported this general nastiness instead

94% if I include housing costs, 92% if I don't - my mortgage is small now. I'm not surprised, I've come in in the top 5-10% of households on these things for years.
It doesn't feel like I live that well, but I am certainly comfortable and have options and security many do not.

I think Mumsnetters are a fairly well-off bunch, to be honest, although there's a wide range here.

I did an ons one that requests more data. Whilst income was very near the top, our spends were 50%. I’ve always channelled the micawber principle but hadn’t realised we did the super plus version.

What’s it like walking around with this chip on your shoulder?
I have a few cars for various uses and anything lower an SUV would flood trying to get through the water in my village that gathers for weeks every single winter.
Stick to your morally superior noddy car and let me enjoy my ugly SUV.

82% - mortgage is paid off. It's a bit daft though, when we were younger with childcare costs and still paying a mortgage, we'd obviously have had a lot less disposable income.

It doesn't ask for mortgage payments, only mortgage interest payments.

85% without housing costs
78% with hosing costs

I don’t feel like I’m better off than that many people - we’re totally fine but not living an extravagant life.

That doesn't make sense, surely it's that there are a lot more poorer people than you think?

23%