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AIBU?

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If you are married to an orthopaedic surgeon (not private practice), how well off do you feel as a family, if you don’t work yourself?

462 replies

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:21

Just wondering as DP is a surgeon (just made consultant). He doesn’t do private work and I would say we have a nice lifestyle but only because my income tops it up. I’m used to a lot of luxury and had a privileged upbringing (don’t mean to sound like a dick I’m just stating a fact) and I wonder if we had kids if I would actually have to continue working to have a decent lifestyle. Not something I talk much to DP about as he came from a less well off background and understandably I would come across ungrateful!!!

OP posts:
Blondebrownorred · 19/07/2025 15:36

I wouldn't want to live on £110k with children. Especially when its earnt by only one person so more tax paid. Can you work part time?

JacquesHarlow · 19/07/2025 15:34

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:32

@ilovesooty i don’t think I shouldn’t have to. I just don’t want to!

If you don’t want to work, you need to be able to strategise financially. Right now you sound like you’re more keen to complain instead from a rather privileged position.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2025 15:33

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:32

@ilovesooty i don’t think I shouldn’t have to. I just don’t want to!

That sounds rather spoilt.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2025 15:33

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:30

@2024onwardsandup he doesn’t agree with private practice

So you think he should compromise his principles to allow you not to have to work once you start a family?

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:32

ilovesooty · 19/07/2025 15:31

Why do you think you shouldn't have to work? He already earns a lot more than most people do.

@ilovesooty i don’t think I shouldn’t have to. I just don’t want to!

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABare · 19/07/2025 15:32

No idea but just wanted to say yay for orthopaedic surgeons.

ilovesooty · 19/07/2025 15:31

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:30

@boulevardofbrokendreamss hes on 110k. Not sure how much it goes up or how fast. I earn 80. But yes youre right I don’t want to have to work!

Why do you think you shouldn't have to work? He already earns a lot more than most people do.

Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:30

@2024onwardsandup he doesn’t agree with private practice

OP posts:
Yunall · 19/07/2025 15:30

@boulevardofbrokendreamss hes on 110k. Not sure how much it goes up or how fast. I earn 80. But yes youre right I don’t want to have to work!

OP posts:
2024onwardsandup · 19/07/2025 15:30

How much does he earn? Why doesn’t he do private work? Do you enjoy your job? Do you want children?

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 19/07/2025 15:29

So you want to be SAHM and ‘continue to have a decent lifestyle’.

you need to have some serious conversations with him. He’ll probably need to pick up private work and all the childcare bollocks will fall to you. Can you work p/t.

sorry if I’m wrong but it sounds very much like you don’t want to work and don’t think you should.

Google suggest 90k as a base salary. We earn a lot
more than that combined , based in the SE. Definitely couldn’t lose a salary.

Brokenforsummer · 19/07/2025 15:24

That is a very specific question. My husband earns similiar but isn’t even a medical doctor.

Money doesn’t go as far with children.