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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how people are coping?

816 replies

CobbleWobble · 18/09/2025 15:07

We are very lucky, I know this.

We are "Mumsnet rich" both have professional jobs with good salaries (£170k household income) and yet this last 12 months:

  • removed children from private school
  • changed how we do the weekly shop to reduce costs
  • cut subscriptions (like Disney+ etc)
  • reduced what I bought in the back to school shop
  • decided against a holiday in October half term
  • concerned about our usual Christmas food order

What is going on? I just don't understand why or how prices are rising as they are or how people on less than us are coping!

I'm extremely grateful we have the things to cut that we have but we've also had to remortgage this year which has doubled our mortgage payments and then our utilities have increased and the food shop has just got insane.

We have other things we can cut - a holiday in the UK, Netflix, the monthly takeaway but its just miserable to think we may need to do that just not to be living.

Happy to post spending particulars if people are finding it hard to see where I'm coming from.

So AIBU to think that as a country we cannot go on with prices rising like this? How are others coping?

OP posts:
NoisyLittleOtter · 18/09/2025 15:37

GreatWhiteWail · 18/09/2025 15:35

No food shop in the world has increased by more than a year of private school fees. Unless you're eating almas caviar, white truffle, saffron and Kobe beef daily.

Assuming you're not, then if you have no breathing room despite having reduced your annual expenditure by a 5-figure sum in fees, then you're doing something wrong.

What are you spending your, what, £8-9,000 a month net income on?

Show quote history

I know, we’re on a similar income and without our school fees we’d be absolutely minted!

childofthe607080s · 18/09/2025 15:36

Suggest you buy a smaller house in a cheaper location as that’s the only reason why you could possibly be feeling the pinch

Sera1989 · 18/09/2025 15:36

I cope fine enough on 1/6 of your salary so you must be really awful with money if you’re having to cut subscriptions. I don’t have many holidays but I don’t have to worry too much about groceries or Netflix 🤨

GreatWhiteWail · 18/09/2025 15:35

CobbleWobble · 18/09/2025 15:07

We are very lucky, I know this.

We are "Mumsnet rich" both have professional jobs with good salaries (£170k household income) and yet this last 12 months:

  • removed children from private school
  • changed how we do the weekly shop to reduce costs
  • cut subscriptions (like Disney+ etc)
  • reduced what I bought in the back to school shop
  • decided against a holiday in October half term
  • concerned about our usual Christmas food order

What is going on? I just don't understand why or how prices are rising as they are or how people on less than us are coping!

I'm extremely grateful we have the things to cut that we have but we've also had to remortgage this year which has doubled our mortgage payments and then our utilities have increased and the food shop has just got insane.

We have other things we can cut - a holiday in the UK, Netflix, the monthly takeaway but its just miserable to think we may need to do that just not to be living.

Happy to post spending particulars if people are finding it hard to see where I'm coming from.

So AIBU to think that as a country we cannot go on with prices rising like this? How are others coping?

No food shop in the world has increased by more than a year of private school fees. Unless you're eating almas caviar, white truffle, saffron and Kobe beef daily.

Assuming you're not, then if you have no breathing room despite having reduced your annual expenditure by a 5-figure sum in fees, then you're doing something wrong.

What are you spending your, what, £8-9,000 a month net income on?

maudelovesharold · 18/09/2025 15:35

a holiday in the UK, Netflix, the monthly takeaway but its just miserable to think we may need to do that just not to be living.

a)
I’m sorry, op. but I find it hard to believe that you can’t afford the above on 170k a year! Are you sure this isn’t part of trying to demonstrate that you’re suffering the effects of the col crisis just like all the plebs, even though you’re rich?
OR
b)
This is a complete wind-up! I wonder if the op will be back?

fussychica · 18/09/2025 15:33

Blimey you must be very poor at budgeting to struggle on £170k. I hope neither of you work in finance.
Try managing on the state pension or NMW then come back and post.

ResusciAnnie · 18/09/2025 15:32

Honestly I’m not sure, we have a similar income and feel pretty flush.

PassportPringle · 18/09/2025 15:31

Im going to assume you've had a high income for many years and your lifestyle reflects it (large house/private school) and vat and interest rates are now screwing you over.

BadgernTheGarden · 18/09/2025 15:29

CobbleWobble · 18/09/2025 15:07

We are very lucky, I know this.

We are "Mumsnet rich" both have professional jobs with good salaries (£170k household income) and yet this last 12 months:

  • removed children from private school
  • changed how we do the weekly shop to reduce costs
  • cut subscriptions (like Disney+ etc)
  • reduced what I bought in the back to school shop
  • decided against a holiday in October half term
  • concerned about our usual Christmas food order

What is going on? I just don't understand why or how prices are rising as they are or how people on less than us are coping!

I'm extremely grateful we have the things to cut that we have but we've also had to remortgage this year which has doubled our mortgage payments and then our utilities have increased and the food shop has just got insane.

We have other things we can cut - a holiday in the UK, Netflix, the monthly takeaway but its just miserable to think we may need to do that just not to be living.

Happy to post spending particulars if people are finding it hard to see where I'm coming from.

So AIBU to think that as a country we cannot go on with prices rising like this? How are others coping?

Does your DH (or you) have a serious drug or gambling addiction? It is truly ridiculous that you can't live well on £170k a year, there must be something else going on.

Didimum · 18/09/2025 15:29

We're on £190k. I can't see how you're struggling after cutting private school fees. You must have an extremely high mortgage or one other significant outgoing.

Jojo2408 · 18/09/2025 15:29

Our jointly income is less than half of yours. Two kids. No school fees. Mortage takes up 30% of our total income. The rest is spent on food, bills, savings and stuff for the kids. We can afford to pay for Netflix, Disney+, prime, holidays, days out etc. It can be tight sometimes, and we may have to cut back on certain things as cost of living continues to rise.

From the sounds of it, your mortgage may be the root of the issue. With your income you should in theory feel relatively comfortable but I guess it’s all about your outgoings.

Upstartled · 18/09/2025 15:29

What is your mortgage now, op?

WallaceinAnderland · 18/09/2025 15:28

How much did you save taking the kids out of private school and why did that not bridge the increase in food prices? Something doesn't add up here OP.

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 18/09/2025 15:28

Personally I wouldn't cut out netflix. Life isn't that great as it is and the option with adverts is £5.99. Also have Disney as spend a lot of time at home and I am enjoying Desperate Housewives. Surely you can afford that?

Bideo · 18/09/2025 15:28

I live very nicely, without having to think too hard about clothes, trips, or food shopping on about £50k. You must have huge commitments somewhere?

DoAWheelie · 18/09/2025 15:26

I'm on benefits.

I haven't had a holiday in over 10 years.
No car, can't afford taxis, can't use the bus due to disability so I'm just stuck inside a lot.
Tiny damp flat
Massive debt on utilities (almost 5 figures)

The poor are not "coping" we just have to put up without what people consider to be "the basics" of a comfortable place to live and ability to get out and about.

FuzzyPuffling · 18/09/2025 15:26

Fuck me. I'm on a state pension. Good thing I don't like Disney.

TheDandyLion · 18/09/2025 15:25

You are not 'Mumnset rich', you are top 10% of earners in the UK rich.

purpleygrey · 18/09/2025 15:25

You just have a huge mortgage to be cutting a £10 Disney subscription

hattie43 · 18/09/2025 15:24

I can only assume you have a massive mortgage and childcare costs because having to cut down on £170k seems implausible.

KateMiskin · 18/09/2025 15:24

You are going to get slaughtered! Why not post in the Money forum?

QforCucumber · 18/09/2025 15:22

I mean, you'll likely not get a lot of sympathy here - our income is jointly 80k for 2 FT workers. with a mortgage and we still have booked 3 holidays for next year (2 in the UK) and have prime and Disney+.

Happy to help try to balance the books if you give a breakdown though - our mortgage is around £1500 a month.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 18/09/2025 15:21

Deepbluesea1 · 18/09/2025 15:19

you are not just rich, you are extremely well off. It takes some balls to come here and play the fiddle. If you are struggling on that amount, you obviously live beyond your means/are crap with money. No amount of ridiculous pay can fix that.

Show quote history

Social media is full of posts like this. I assume it's Russian/Reform bots telling us how awful life is all the time.

Lmnop22 · 18/09/2025 15:21

I want to know what on Earth you were planning to buy in your Christmas shop if you can’t afford it despite now having the money saved from private school fees (must be at least £1k per month per child) extra!

Bladderpool · 18/09/2025 15:20

Sounds like you’ve overstretched yourself massively with the mortgage. We earn about a third of what you make and have a very comfortable life with holidays and weekends away all year, subscriptions and decent food etc., that said we owe absolutely nothing, no mortgage, no loans.

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