To think we CAN live on the mortgage

£101 from 1 April 2025, up from £95. That's in Kingston upon Thames.

No hyphens.

Look at me everyone! I’m loaded. Follow me on insta 🙄🤦‍♀️

A couple earning minimum wage would earn £10k in three months, excluding any child benefit etc.

So it’s a nice income, but not wild.

I’d like to say I’m really shocked by the responses and vitriol towards OP, but I’m not as we see the same any time someone earning above average asks any financial questions.

• People earning <£100k salaries through PAYE won’t have financial advisors
• Earning these sums of money doesn’t make you a financial expert - asking on a forum like this is no different to anyone of any other income level doing it. She’s not Jeff Bezos.
• £3,700 a month is the mortgage on a three bed terrace outside of the inner zones now. The kind of thing which might cost £300k anywhere else.
• About 15% of all workers now earn >£50k, so the two salaries mentioned aren’t unusual - particularly in the South East
• The cost of living in the South East and particularly London is very high. That it’s cheaper where you live doesn’t really matter in context of the OP’s question
• It is very strange to be chippy and aggressive towards someone for earning more than you.

I know lots of people in the same predicament.

Yes, because they are more vulnerable and it is easier for us to comprehend their dilemma. With people who earn so much it is more difficult to relate to. It is difficult to understand why, with what seems to most of us like a lot of disposable income, they have to ask the question. Many people will never see a £10,000 lump sum in their whole lives.

Kingston IS London though. The London Borough of Kingston upon Thames, to give it its full title. Has often been noted for having the highest council tax rate in London. I haven't checked whether that is still the case.

Hmm it's a push OP.
6k after mortgage and nursery. Think you're cutting it fine.

Maybe sign up to do some online surveys. Should be just about doable then

Its a fair chunk of your take home pay, and if one of you lost your job, its unaffordable on one income. Of course rates could drop, but they could also go up. I personally wouldn’t do it.

Sorry, I should have said that's the single 25% discounted rate. Full rate Band E is £3040. Band H full rate is £4976.

Sorry fearful saints. That was meant for op and I couldn't work out how to delete ..doh. my apologies

You must be psychic!

Quite.

But it has been trending for 2 days and has around almost 700 posts.

I suggested taking in ironing but I hadn’t even seen the other thread!

Only if we are aware of the other thread, surely?

@Pigtailsandall
Kingston-upon-Thames is in London. It’s also the name of the London Borough which it is part of.
It may not have a London postcode but it is in London. There are quite large areas of without London postcodes but are in London. Eg Harrow, Enfield, Beckenham, Richmond, Romford, Croydon etc. London doesn’t end once you get beyond zone 3.

I'm just so surprised so many posters fell for it.

She started it earlier today when another 'trending' thread was about 'We just don't have enough money'.

Invented figures, tongue in cheek replies from her....

It was all a JOKE.

SOME posters 'got it'' because they suggested taking in ironing which is what the other poster was doing (to make ends meet.)

I think it's fine if you are not fussed about holidays/keeping up with the jones (endless renos/pricey cars) and you plan for no more children. Nursery costs going will be replaced by activity costs though so bare that in mind. Also bigger house = higher upkeep costs as others have said.

CT is generally cheaper in London I am led to believe. Ours is 290/month band F Z4 for those wondering about your CT cost.

You don't need to lie awake worrying. Rates have been coming down recently; of course they may go up again. But you shouldn't worry about having to pay off the mortgage in 15 years. You can get mortgages that go up to the age of 80 or 85 or with no upper age limit. Some could be as long as 35 or 40 years. Being in your 40s or 50s isn't a problem. It's all about affordability. You can even get a mortgage when you are already retired. You probably have some equity built up so a favourable loan to value ratio may get you a lower interest rate. Sleep tight.

Sorry if I missed it but I can't seem to see how long your potential mortgage term is? I'd agree it looks like you can afford those repayments now, but will you both be able to keep up the energy in 20 years' time, work just as hard/long to earn the same amounts?

I'd only consider losing that ratio of my salary to mortgage repayments if it meant I could pay the whole thing off in 15 years or less. No way would I work in a busy high-stress job for 20-30 more years just to keep up with a debt.

To be fair, I did say she was a bit late for April Fool's Day

What about women earning a decent amount of money?

You've got shitty replies because you asked a stupid question as a supposedly intelligent person.

I did think it wasn't real. Not many men earning a decent amount of money would live off of sweet potato and veg every single day.

I do think that, as a good sport, you should come back just once and admit this was all a bit of fun on your behalf 😂