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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be shocked that 50k in savings is seen as ‘ not much in savings’ - maybe on mumsnet - but think about how people are struggling to put food on the table.

293 replies

Ginandbitterlemons · 21/10/2025 16:54

I posted about our savings of £50 k for a specific reason , and was asking advice .

A number of mums netters appeared to mention that that was not a great deal of money.

Now- its not a question of me being offended by such responses- but it has hugely struck home to me just how much society is divided.

There are people who consider this hardly anything - yet I am aware that so many sections of society would be glad to have this , or any, savings at all .

Am not sad for me that I have this ‘ insignificant ‘ amount of savings- but I am aghast that some people do not seem aware that its something than actually may be out of reach for many ,and how such comments may sound to those folk .

I was aware that mumsnet can be elitist- but for goodness sake- there are people really struggling out there.

I am not expressing this very well , but how do people think it sounds to others who are living day to day hand to mouth?
Its been really thought provoking- and made me both aware of what I do have , what my values are , and to up my donations to the local food bank.

Hope I don’t get slated for this - its just really made me think about the wealth divide .

OP posts:
Charlize43 · 22/10/2025 19:37

£50K in cash?. Probably drug dealers or fantasists.

Reminds me of those Z list celebrities say they've made over £1 million by being on OnlyFannies. Yeah right!

NoFavourz · 22/10/2025 19:36

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 19:26

It is possible people are in very precarious financial positions. A lot of people are. Through no fault of their own. And they can’t understand that many other people aren’t.

There is a lack of understanding across the board of what people’s lives are like on different incomes. But those who are ‘poor’ are automatically seen to have the moral high ground.

All this talk of ‘sensitivity’. If somebody posts about being in a terrible financial situation, then it is beyond insensitive for somebody to respond with their high salary and how good their life is. However, on an objective thread about savings, I fail to see how somebody factually stating how much savings they have is insensitive, and that they should be reading the room. I find that a bit ridiculous actually.

And I am not hugely wealthy.

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 19:28

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 19:26

It is possible people are in very precarious financial positions. A lot of people are. Through no fault of their own. And they can’t understand that many other people aren’t.

Sorry that didn’t answer your question.

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 19:26

NoFavourz · 22/10/2025 19:23

I know many wealthy people. They exist. Why do people assume bragging? And a bizarre comment of how they can find time to post during the day if they earn so much!

Many people in Senior responsible high paying jobs are in control of their hours, and may work irregular hours so are free to post when they want.

I find it an odd concept that apparently so many posters are bragging to randoms about having £50k saved. What’s the reward?!

It is possible people are in very precarious financial positions. A lot of people are. Through no fault of their own. And they can’t understand that many other people aren’t.

NoFavourz · 22/10/2025 19:23

I know many wealthy people. They exist. Why do people assume bragging? And a bizarre comment of how they can find time to post during the day if they earn so much!

Many people in Senior responsible high paying jobs are in control of their hours, and may work irregular hours so are free to post when they want.

I find it an odd concept that apparently so many posters are bragging to randoms about having £50k saved. What’s the reward?!

Franpie · 22/10/2025 19:21

Slightly disingenuous OP as people were saying that £50k in savings was not much in the context of you giving away £20k of it to your adult children when you and DH are late 50’s/early 60’s and on the cusp of retirement.

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 19:14

Blablibladirladada · 22/10/2025 18:48

What were the suggestions you retained? 👏🏼

There were lots of suggestions that i considered. Tbh i now spend a lot of my time playing golf. I took it up recently and love it. I can take up my clubs and head around a lovely course any time i want. I also run a lot and swim a lot in the sea. @venusandmars and @ThisTicklishFatball were some of the outstanding lovely posters. I go to the u3a for lots of activities. I suffer badly from extreme anxiety that i have to fight daily. It really does bring home to me that money isn’t everything. I am financially secure and that helps me. I really didn’t mean to upset anyone on the other thread though.

NoFavourz · 22/10/2025 19:00

Planck · 21/10/2025 17:28

You've really misrepresented the other thread, OP. You were talking about giving away £10k of your life savings of £50k, as a retired person, and people were very reasonably pointing out that that is quite a large proportion of savings that you need to rely on. They weren't saying that they consider £50k a small sum, they were giving you sensible advice.

I hate disingenuous misrepresentations. They’re really irritating.

PetuniaT · 22/10/2025 18:52

You'll find out just how much it is when you come to pay for your care home nd they take the bulk of it.

Blablibladirladada · 22/10/2025 18:48

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 18:45

That was me and I apologise. My final figures are 45k pa index linked. (Before state pension lol). I wasn’t meaning to upset anyone. I was just wondering what people in similar situations do to make life ok. Financial security is the only part of life that i have succeeded in through doing very difficult stressful jobs all my life. Wanted some ideas on how to make life better. Some people came back with lovely suggestions. I’m guessing they weren’t you! Best wishes.

What were the suggestions you retained? 👏🏼

Blablibladirladada · 22/10/2025 18:47

It depends on so much and I haven’t seen your other post.

People in their early/late 50’s have a few 100Ks in their retirement savings so 50 isn’t much for them but for a young 20 coming in with some money, it is a lot. Again, it all depends your stage of life and what you need/want to do with it.

Namechanged999999 · 22/10/2025 18:45

Ponoka7 · 21/10/2025 17:03

It was said on here the other day that £40k a year private pension (there would be the government pension as well) wasn't enough. The OP would have been mortgage free and didn't have anyone relying on her. It's just madness.

That was me and I apologise. My final figures are 45k pa index linked. (Before state pension lol). I wasn’t meaning to upset anyone. I was just wondering what people in similar situations do to make life ok. Financial security is the only part of life that i have succeeded in through doing very difficult stressful jobs all my life. Wanted some ideas on how to make life better. Some people came back with lovely suggestions. I’m guessing they weren’t you! Best wishes.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 22/10/2025 18:28

Some people really have zero clue how little money many people live on as their expectations are so vastly different.

minvee · 22/10/2025 17:44

Also, if OP is so horrified that some people think £50k savings is nothing - now claiming to be offended on behalf of those who have no savings or whatever - then I'm afraid she brought it on herself by mentioning specific amounts in the first place. Could this not be seen as crass? If you're that bothered about other people's financial insecurities, why not just say, "I gave my daughter some money and now I'm wondering whether to do the same for my son, or wait until he buys a house?"

minvee · 22/10/2025 17:34

This is the internet OP. Why anybody on MN would feel they have a right to police the economic status of other users, or the perspectives that arise from the fact people are in diverse economic situations, is baffling. Of course there will be mega-wealthy on here. Of course there will be those living hand to mouth - and everything and everyone inbetween. So yes, £50k will be nothing to some people, but a fortune to others. I don't see the point of this thread.

Worralorra · 22/10/2025 17:26

I think there’s a statistic around that most people in the UK wouldn't be able to survive more than three months if they were made redundant tomorrow, so £50k in that context isn’t a huge amount. For those with a large mortgage, say £3500 pm, it stands to reason that having £50k+ would be less of a cushion than it would for people paying rent/mortgage around £500 to £700 pm…

Disturbia81 · 22/10/2025 16:46

It’s a different world on here

1offnamechange · 22/10/2025 16:42

Blappengrap · 22/10/2025 10:57

Lots of those people you listed are not friends though are they? My hairdresser is not my friend she's my hairdresser. Same for colleagues and children's teachers they are not my friends.

The people who are my friends, I am aware of their financial situations and they are aware of mine.

[Bangs head against wall]

I didnt say they were your friends, because you didn't specify that by "anyone" you actually meant "my five closest friends."

You didn't say "none of the friends I know well enough to talk to about finances and somehow know they are definitely telling the truth have large amounts in savings"
You said "I don't know anyone."

Which is obviously completely different.

Basing what you think of as "normal" from a tiny sample of people who are in very similar circumstances to you is obviously going to get different results than a more general sample of people of different ages, jobs, social backgrounds, etc.

Cloudeee · 22/10/2025 16:39

Labraradabrador · 22/10/2025 15:36

If you assume half the posters are bullshitting, why do you spend your time here? And not just a little time either if you are trying to sleuth out perceived inconsistencies across various boards. The only thing more bizarre than creating a fictitious identity onan anonymous forum is spending your free time trying to hunt those bullshitters down.

I find some threads interesting, why do people watch eastenders it’s made up bullshit too? Why do people read Shakespeare even ?

DingDongJingle · 22/10/2025 16:03

Labraradabrador · 22/10/2025 15:36

If you assume half the posters are bullshitting, why do you spend your time here? And not just a little time either if you are trying to sleuth out perceived inconsistencies across various boards. The only thing more bizarre than creating a fictitious identity onan anonymous forum is spending your free time trying to hunt those bullshitters down.

I agree with this. If you don’t take what people say at face value (bar obvious trolls etc) then what’s the point in engaging at all?

Labraradabrador · 22/10/2025 15:36

If you assume half the posters are bullshitting, why do you spend your time here? And not just a little time either if you are trying to sleuth out perceived inconsistencies across various boards. The only thing more bizarre than creating a fictitious identity onan anonymous forum is spending your free time trying to hunt those bullshitters down.

Whammyyammy · 22/10/2025 13:02

We have £50k in my premiun bonds and £27k in DH. I agree, we don't think it's much tbh

InterIgnis · 22/10/2025 12:52

Cloudeee · 22/10/2025 10:11

And the us and Irish posters would be noticeable for using $ or €

We were specifically speaking about 100,000+ in GBP.

I’m Serbian and live in the US. I don’t tend to make a habit of using RSD or $ when referring to GBP.

JHound · 22/10/2025 12:43

BadgesforBadgers · 22/10/2025 08:06

Nobody seems to enjoy day to day life much in Mumsnet world.

Top up your savings

Overpay your mortgage

Add to your pension pot

Make sacrifices

How about we live in the moment a bit, instead of planning for a not certain future?

Oh , and £50k savings is a huge amount of money, the circumstances in which you live is irrelevant.

Because sometimes you realise in life, there will come a time when you need to access your savings and have none.

Satisfiedwithanapple · 22/10/2025 12:01

Statsquestion1 · 22/10/2025 10:03

Apparently, there’s about 8 million unique users on Mumsnet.
Looking at the UK alone there is approximately 2.5 million people earning over 100K, you also have to take into account that there are plenty of people on Mumsnet who are not in the UK (me being one of them) and usually they come from countries like the US, Ireland, Australia etc our wages are actually higher. So I wouldn’t say it’s uncommon for people on over 100 K to be on Mumsnet and posting throughout the day…

There aren’t 2.5 million earning over 100k. It’s 4% of the total workforce of 34 million.

it is completely true that British wages are pretty crap these days in comparison to other countries.

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