to be fed up of hearing 'I've worked hard for my money'

It’s the same aresponse I’ve given a few times now. These are rough choices where work has been put before kids, family, life and its crap. I hear you. But my question was what are the specific sacrifices made by high earners that are different to people on median incomes? What you said here is what we all do, so when high earners say ‘but I’VE made sacrifices to get this salary’ what specifically do they mean? So far I haven't heard anything different to things so many people on median incomes do so I’m still wondering why they use that phrase.

People who say this are in lower paid jobs.

Look, I do work bloody hard and I have done so since school. Studying to get good grades, go to uni, work in my chosen field, etc. I will not be shamed or told I am wrong.
I don't doubt that other people work hard but nurses and teachers don't work harder than me. I am grateful they chose to work in those jobs but why work in jobs known to have very long hours, low pay, no pay awards, pay freezes.. and then moan at every opportunity. Maybe if you worked harder your career choices wouldn't be so limiting.

I do work hard and anyone who tells me different just cause they earn less can fuck off.

There's a very big divide in this country now.

Hard workers / good pay = taxed to the high heavens to let lie abouts enjoy free money. I mean how can a lower paid worker end up with more money than a high paid worker. Unreal. I hate paying tax for these lazy people. Go better yourself.

Thank you. To get a leg up in industry DH paid tens of thousands of pounds for his masters. Had to balance his then job with work. And now in his high position constantly works till the night and on the weekends. He took DD to Prague a few months ago. He'd have to answer calls during that and often just told DD to explore on her own.

Skill, stress. The years at uni with no pay. The professional exams. The CPD.

If a labourer gets it wrong he's not likely to get sued. His boss will be questioned on why it went wrong.
If an accountant gets it wrong, he can easily be sued.

If a labourer needs to work late hes likely to be paid for it.
If an accountant needs to hang back to get something finished to meet a HMRC deadline - tough shit - do the hours required to do your job.

The main thing is skill

How hard you work isn't directly related to your wage though is it? Many people work just as hard or harder for a liw wage. No-one begrudges certain professions their pay. We are all happy if doctors are paid well and most people would support nurses and teachers being paid more. But it is daft to claim an accountant works harder than a labourer.

Seconded!

This! 👏👏

Except we all haven't have we? That is just not true.

Work long hours - ie unpaid overtime - the hours required to do your job.

Travel DH is away from home 3 weeks out of 4. That is only possible with me at home to deal with the kids.

The second someone on MN mentions issues with childcare pick ups and drops ofs the first question is 'where is DH'

High earners don't get paid big bucks for having a 10min commute, zero stress and a 9-5.

Frankly, you sound jealous. Why shouldn’t people on high incomes complain? Who made you the authority on deciding who gets to complain?

TBH, I’m more sick of people earning £70k and claiming UC
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5451708-aibu-to-claim-uc-with-a-high-income?utm_campaign=mumsnet-daily&utm_edition=202511290530&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&user_id=e0dc2cdbdcb4ff31208f1e88639cc647dc732a9582ac05157263e77fff41e1a0

1

High earning doesn't mean wealthy. We're high earners but month to month can struggle due to high housing costs and a house that needs significant work to be habitable

Exactly. Thank you. I understand though that the disabled or those with severely disabled kids perhaps cannot do this. But if you're healthy, take life by the reigns and work to a better. Yes get support and all, but work to better yourself.

I should probably say that in the decade before, I worked in financial services, mostly investor relations in NYC, so I was aware that there were opportunities. I am acknowledging that I am financially much more sophisticated than most people. But our SME journey is the same uphill trudge. And IMO the Chancellor of the Exchequer does not have any insight into how difficult it is to get a business started or how to keep it working and paying taxes without hobbling it. And nor do her colleagues. Which is why this Government is such a shit storm.

Not always though.

DH is on close that and we have a much, much better work life balance now he's in his current line of work than when he was a primary school teacher. Definitely definitely less stress and hours are similar.

Well with the £150k + range it’s even more true that they work hard, it’s the sacrifice lots of people earning that much have to make. I have few friends in that position, I honestly wouldn’t want it especially now I have my family. Looong hours, lots of stress, a lot of travel, having their kids with strangers or in school for 10h a day. They get paid this much because they pretty much have no life, it’s a big sacrifice.
I do feel that people in the £50-100k bracket are punished the most by taxes, usually skilled and skilled educated, too rich to get any help but definitely not rich anymore

Probably a cross post, no problem.

You've quoted it, but not said what you think in response

Probably because on the Chancellor's estimation of what makes you "rich" we are quite close to it. We bought a lovely house well and quite cheap, we set up a SIPP when they were so new we had to explain the concept to our accountants and financial advisors. We were quick and crisp, and 25 years later, we're regarded as minted and entitled.

I notice that @newbluesofa hasn't really directly replied to my comment at 20:41. But again for clarity, yes, I do think it is quite possible that poverty is a choice. One that is forced on some but chosen by others.

That’s what I used to think. I come from a very poor background but made myself not poor as I didn’t want to have struggles my parents had. However after a period of a bit of resentment towards my parents - why didn’t they do more to be more financially comfortable - I understood they had their limitations, they are pretty much incapable to do more as don’t see the opportunities. They definitely lack the drive and a positive attitude, too scared of failure. There are lots of people like that, just born with it (low IQ), lack of confidence, or maybe because of their upbringing, just accept their fate and don’t strive to achieve more in their life for various reasons. So I disagree, being poor isn’t always a choice