To think the problem with wealth inequality is that rich people don't know how rich they are?

Bit early to be drinking.

Aye ok. Tedious.

I live somewhere with no private schools at all, and to send a child to one would involve them having to board, possibly not even returning at the weekend. Private education isn't really a realistic option here, we cope, we still have lots of students going to excellent universities and coping with demanding courses. I've nothing against folk sending their kids private, but it's not the be all and end all it's made out to be by some. I grew up in a town where approx. one third went to private schools, and felt sorry for the long commute some of the younger children had.

Both of mine went to state school. Both have professional jobs with good salaries and have mortgages.

Youngest got his house at 23 and oldest at 25. They managed this with me working 17.5 hours per week for 10 years when they were little (they are four years apart).

We also paid privately for a DT1 monitor for the youngest until it was available on the NHS (3 years).

Work/life balance.

I just wondered why you butted in.

I think private education is great. As is private healthcare. The state alternatives for both just aren’t very good. Obviously grammar schools are great but there are hardly any of those so that’s not a realistic alternative for many people.

my personal view is that private school and private healthcare is worth a cut to work life balance.

Of course it wouldn't! There would be more full time employment instead of running a few people ragged doing three people's jobs and being guilt tripped for not working extra unpaid hours. There would be far fewer massive handouts, which might deter big investors, but that version of capitalism is so badly structured it needs a rethink anyway.

Which is?

Why don’t you jump straight to your view on private education @Differentforgirls

you know you want to!

I get that people prioritise different things, but am not sure how anyone can equate no work life balance to having a better life for the family. I get that we need people to be productive, but why are we routinely aiming for 13 hour days? That's beyond productive, and actually counter productive. Anyone who works really long days should probably be on some sort of 4 on/3 off type set up, not routinely working crazy hours.

Do you think that about private education?

Everyone is different. Some people prioritise work life balance over money, some don’t. Some people think private education is the best thing you can do for your kids. But if everyone prioritised work life balance the country would be bankrupt.

How is not having a work life balance making a better life for your family?

Someone on 150k per year is not taxed out of existence at all, they will take home 91k

Your benefits claimant, even at the top end, very few, will get 23k or 25k in London.

In the early 2000s i was earning the equivalent of 6 figure salary, its a fucking great life, appreciate housing is more now but to try and make out people on 6 figures are poor or are all working 80hrs per week is bollox.

But as said, the issue isn't folk on a 6 figure salary, they already pay enough, its the super rich and the corporations, such as energy companies and banks

You told me I wasn't in one of your previous posts so you must know how you subsidiSed me.

Well it depends if you are a net contributor or not. If you are a net recipient then quite a lot! That’s how a progressive tax system works. And I’m in favor of a progressive tax system, but I think ours needs some tweaks to make it fair for everyone.

You work 9am-10pm @OneAmberFinch

I suspect you’re being fleeced.

My ex husband (with whom I’m thankfully very amicable!) is on £172k plus bonus, and works 10am-8pm (and the odd very late meeting with oz team).

The only industry I can think with those hours is corporate law with a focus on Australia and Asia, but even that industry has done quite a shift in work / life balance according to my sister (sr partner at magic circle firm)

So you made a decision not to move, despite wanting to and despite it presumably impacting your family, because your boss…. Frowned when you mentioned considering a thirty minute extra commute? @OneAmberFinch

So what did you subsidise me for before you moved to the human rights capital of the world?

So many generalisations on this thread, with such extreme examples of every situation.

what's to say that Susan is savvy enough to know that paying £300 for a dress is a ridiculous waste of money or that she doesn't need to be a victim of Russell and Bromley prices to buy good quality. And what's to say that she doesn't give a shit if she's told she's in the top 2% earners. Big deal.

She's someone who has her own mind and decides to live within her means, doesn't go on social media and end up with life style inflation because of over reacting to all the crap that gets spouted in there. There are plenty of people in this category who aren't fixated on what they earn or comparing themselves to others, they're content to be getting on with their life and living within their means, budgeting according to their income. If you're earning £120k you're going to be well-educated and likely to be making good life choices for yourself and your family. The reason you're in the position you are is because you know it gives you options in life, you aren't painting yourself into a corner.

id just love to know how people on here have an encyclopaedic knowledge of people's income, and how much all their colleagues pay for child care. Do you really know or are you making it up for effect?

I do think a lot about this you are right. Of course some people are on low wages and they should pay less tax etc and some people are disabled or ill and they can’t work so society absolutely needs to provide for them. But some people game the system and that is not right. There may not be lots of those people but the fact that there are any offends my sense of fairness. The government is going to raise benefits in line with inflation, but it won’t lift the levels upon which the higher taxes are paid in Line with inflation. The balance is not right.

It bothered me so much that I moved to Dubai last year. 257,000 other Brits also emigrated last year.

Yes this. People brainwashed into believing the working people earning well are the ‘rich people’ and are the problem.

Some people have more than others that’s the way it’s always been, someone will have more money than you do. But working people earning six figures are not the problem ‘they’ tell us these people are the rich so they can impose more taxes. Actual rich people don’t pay income tax, or very little, so it doesn’t affect them