To wonder how people are coping?

@Crazyhorselady1 I know right, we are on about 29k roughly. If we can get to 35k I think we could live a bit better and at least get a holiday. That’s the only thing bothers me really, I want to give my kids holidays.

I don’t think OP was looking for sympathy or advice on how to cut costs. She was saying that if a household with that jncome is having to make cutbacks then wtf is the majority of the country having to deal with?!! It was more shock and horror at how bad it must be for the average person. She isn’t saying “gosh we might not be able to afford a Waitrose shop at this Xmas, poor us!!!” She seemed genuinely worried for the state of the country. At least that’s how I read it.

We are only on about 35K and have a 1K mortgage, Disney, a holiday each year and several horses! Yes we are living only just within our means and can't save anything, but I would feel rich beyond my wildest dreams on 170K!

Yep, I can't see it ever sorting itself out tbh.

That’s the big question which we haven’t cracked yet - the worry is that productivity is actually declining in UK. Traditional methodology is: reduce red tape (part of brexit theory but it was never realised and actually increased for anyone that trades with EU); relax planning rules (something this govt wants to do but so far hasn’t managed and which most agree with right up to the point they are impacted in their town) but it massively moves the dial for industry and house building; invest in infrastructure (which we are terrible at - partly due to supremely difficult planning rules and red tape) - we can’t even get a 3rd runway at Heathrow or a second one at Gatwick FFS - literally every airport should get permission for more runways - china built 20 new airports in 2023 and we can’t even get planning permission for a runway for 40 years), To put the current two runways at Heathrow into perspective Charles de Gaul (Paris) and Amsterdam airport have 6 each!). Cut waiting lists at hospitals - it is a major drag on the economy and productivity having unfit/unwell people. Finally, work has to pay more than sitting at home. People can’t stack benefits and get more household income than a working family - just crazy economics and a drag on national wealth having those capable of work sitting at home claiming benefits. But so much easier said than done I guess!

We are living on a pittance compared to the op and we have Disney plus and Amazon prime.
Our struggles are food, constantly going
up. I’m batch cooking and reducing what the adults have to eat. It’s just getting worse!
Extras, we have the above subscription services. We don’t drink alcohol, we
dont smoke, we have pets, we don’t have days out. We walk the dog and have picnics.
No holiday this year. Christmas will be a struggle. Kids do one extra curricular each.
We are actually really fed up and both looking for better work and only the last few months have we actually felt poor.

I have to confess, I have no idea what “Mumsnet rich” even means, but I agree you are extremely well off. I earn so little that I don’t have to pay tax each year so you can work it out. I don’t have a mortgage, but I have all the other bills; the running of a car; food and clothing to buy and it’s a massive struggle, but I do it. I’m not really sure whether to take your post seriously or whether to be offended by it if I’m brutally honest.

@Roobarbtwo I have always bought yellow
sticker items and my parents did but the savings are generally rubbish compared to what they used to be. Why is pointing that out sarcastic?!

I don't have kids and I get that they are expensive - but you are living on 7k a month. If you aren't coping on this you need to get some proper advice from step change or CAB. I currently live on 1.4k a month. Until last year I was living on 400 pounds a month. You don't need holidays if you are feeling the pinch so much. You need to cut back on everything you can - and consider selling up if your mortgage is crippling you

If you live in London or home counties and have a big mortgage then thats the killer! I think many people are genuinely struggling and dont have 170k income.You need to maybe downsize or similar.How much do you have at Christmas FFS?

My household income is less than a quarter of yours and we're coping fine. But I guess I have a modest mortgage and am not a fan of Disney.

I think it depends on circumstances. We rent and have 2 children using childcare

It’s your childcare that’s the big one really isnt it. Is it worth him pumping even more into pension to get the 20% tax free childcare?

How old are your kids? I also do 32 hours but for it around the school run. 6 hours (no lunch) 4 days a week, then 1 longer 8 hour day. That way we don’t spend a fortune on childcare and I can see the kids more.

Our monthly net income is £10k so earning less than you and both sons in private school still. Not quite sure how you can’t manage (honestly - not intended as a dig) and we go on holiday - but you can do things cheaply

Dunno why but I think this post is a wind up- or OP/DH is on recreational drugs - which could actually be the problem 🤔

It'll be your mortgage op. Fancy car?
We only earn a joint income of £60k and don't have the issues you have. I can't fathom how you struggle to live on such a large income?

Yeah you're right - but I still regularly get cheap food yellow stickered. I don't think you need to be sarcastic to someone living well below the line. I also made clear that I use community tables and pantries as well.

Hilarious. I am a boomer on a tiny work pension and the state pension. Made some errors along the way. What comes in, goes right back out again. Both of us have restarted work at pushing 70.

170K? Mindblowing.

You wonder how people earning less than you cope?? I earn around £19k working full time in a primary school,child maintenance and child benefit etc bring me up to around £26k and I feel I am reasonably comfortable!! Luckily I don’t have a mortgage but my one income has to pay for everything else ie car,water,energy,TV licence,council tax,insurances as well as food and eating out etc
Do you really need Disney and a holiday?? I’m amazed that people pay £50-60 a month just for some TV programmes

Not sure if that's sarcasm - but a few years ago

A lot of things were very different a few yrs ago...

What is Mumsnet Rich?

Is it cocaine? Gambling addiction? Keeping up with the Windsors?

You do know that the average UK salary is circa £38K