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

945 replies

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 15:41

Lots of chat on MN recently about taxes on high earners. So heard lots of 'we have this money because we work bloody hard for it' and honestly I'm sick of it and think the people who say it are selfish.

Nurses work incredibly hard, long shifts, difficult job. Carers provide absolutely essential service, again shift work, difficult hours, difficult job. Teachers provide essential work, I know multiple teachers and they all devote evenings, weekends, school holidays to the detriment of their own families. All of these jobs also have huge emotional tolls. So 'I've worked hard for my money' means nothing to me, because a lot of people work a lot harder for a lot less.

OP posts:
UserFront242 · 28/11/2025 21:21

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 21:19

Of course doctors can earn that much!

My experience of consultant psychiatrist have been them sitting behind the comfort of a desk with at least 5 other MH staff around them.

I edit my statement to say that most people on £100k are not at threat of violence in their jobs.

Starconundrum · 28/11/2025 21:21

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 21:15

Have to say, I do have regrets about starting this thread as other posters are right, this is exactly what the wealthy elite want, everyone fighting amongst themselves.

In the content of the super rich, earning 100/200k is nothing. It's the super wealthy elite we should be uniting against (though some people disagree and think we should just be grateful they're here to exploit us)

I'm just so sick of the attitude where everyone's just out for themselves. We've lost all sense of community in this country. It's so sad to see and to raise my children in it. But starting a divisive thread like this is no solution. I'm just tired.

I agree!

And i welcome the thread even if it's only just changed a bit of the narrative on Mumsnet over the last few days.

I would not have posted on another thread as you just get crowded out and belittled. So thankyou for posting your view.

.

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 21:20

So, if your salary stops increasing, it's because you are NOT progressing. You may not want to do the hours or take the responsibility, but it's not the system. It's about YOU!

AntiHop · 28/11/2025 21:19

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 20:19

Nursing and teaching are not easy idle jobs, but they are also not exposed to any risk. Your employer is the NHS or the local education authority, so you are going to be paid whatever happens. Small businesses can fail, and might fail very suddenly -- when a big customer doesn't get paid what's owed to them.

Are you kidding? You think nurses and teachers are not exposed to risk? What about the risk of being assaulted at work. Or the risks that come from making life or death decisions. Nurses face these risks.

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 21:19

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 21:15

Have to say, I do have regrets about starting this thread as other posters are right, this is exactly what the wealthy elite want, everyone fighting amongst themselves.

In the content of the super rich, earning 100/200k is nothing. It's the super wealthy elite we should be uniting against (though some people disagree and think we should just be grateful they're here to exploit us)

I'm just so sick of the attitude where everyone's just out for themselves. We've lost all sense of community in this country. It's so sad to see and to raise my children in it. But starting a divisive thread like this is no solution. I'm just tired.

Of course it’s the old divide and conquer

makes me laugh about everyone using a paper straw and thinking they are saving the environment

it’s the super rich and elites that could make the change to environment
and only them

  • yes they are laughing all the way to the bank on their private jets

laughable

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 21:19

UserFront242 · 28/11/2025 21:13

Sorry, forgive my ignorance on that one. I had no idea a psychiatrist could earn that much.

Of course doctors can earn that much!

Medexpert · 28/11/2025 21:18

I have two people who report to me. Same role, same pay, both lower level management. They both deal with their job very differently.

When one is faced with something an issue, they will consider the problem, do some research, try to find a solution. They will come to me only if after these steps, they need confirmation of what they think is the correct step forward. Most of the time, they get it right. Subsequently, they are learning quickly and growing in confidence.

The other one....as soon as an issue comes their way, they forward it to me and ask me what they should do. I've tried over and over to ask them how they would deal with it, what they suggest, if they've looked into it. It's made no difference at all. They can't be bothered and take the easiest route.

Who works harder? Who is more likely to be promoted? Who is more likely to earn more in 10 years time?

DIL2025 · 28/11/2025 21:18

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 20:52

And presumably a home here you could rent out while your houses abroad all expenses paid

I think these assumptions are why people like my husband (high earners by taking risks, hard graft and resilience) get frustrated and pissed off...

We moved in our twenties - my husband prior to meeting him (due to working two jobs I feel I need to add here) had managed to buy a cheap property so we did have a house to rent out and gave us some security to return to if everything went wrong. Make no mistake - both quitting your decent professional jobs and sacking off everything you know is a HUGE risk to take. The rent paid covered the mortgage and landlord insurance...We still had to find the money for any and all repairs.

We were provided with a property, rent paid for 6 weeks, on our arrival in our new country. That gave us 6 weeks to get our bearings and find somewhere to rent out of our own money (my husband's wage)! We sourced all our furniture second hand, I drove an old banger with 200,000 miles on the clock that kept breaking down. It was fun because I was in my twenties but make no mistake it was also brutal and it took a lot of resilience to see it all out and settle there long enough for it to be a worthwhile risk. COVID and home working gave us the opportunity to return to the uk. The narrative that high earners have this easy path is damaging and quite frankly wrong!

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 21:17

For heavens sake, the top levels of every profession even nursing earn roughly £80K with seniority, responsibilities and experience. Teachers too, just not at the entry level.

PeonyPatch · 28/11/2025 21:15

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 21:11

Sorry! Did I venture into a thread exclusively zoned for downtrodden black people?

What on earth

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 21:15

Have to say, I do have regrets about starting this thread as other posters are right, this is exactly what the wealthy elite want, everyone fighting amongst themselves.

In the content of the super rich, earning 100/200k is nothing. It's the super wealthy elite we should be uniting against (though some people disagree and think we should just be grateful they're here to exploit us)

I'm just so sick of the attitude where everyone's just out for themselves. We've lost all sense of community in this country. It's so sad to see and to raise my children in it. But starting a divisive thread like this is no solution. I'm just tired.

OP posts:
UserFront242 · 28/11/2025 21:13

Happilyobtuse · 28/11/2025 21:09

Not true, my best friend is a consultant psychiatrist and is often attacked and has been chased with a knife more than once around the ward. Yes she earns more than 100K and has been frightened for her life after being attacked by some patients. So being a high earner also comes with high stress. Earning those salaries does take a toll on physical and mental health. My own father was in a very senior high stress job, he died of a massive heart attack at 54. I did inherit well but I would rather have had my parent live longer. He worked hard, got paid very well but it took him to an early grave. So yes I have money he left me but that is bitter sweet. So I have missed out on my father being present for my wedding, the birth of my children and other important events in my life. So no I am not lucky but I am grateful for the sacrifices my dad made.

Edited

Sorry, forgive my ignorance on that one. I had no idea a psychiatrist could earn that much.

Starconundrum · 28/11/2025 21:13

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 21:11

Sorry! Did I venture into a thread exclusively zoned for downtrodden black people?

Wtf?!

AceKitten · 28/11/2025 21:13

I hear you op
I just don’t know why everyone can’t just be respected for what they do
we can’t all be ceos
the country wouldn’t be able to work that way

we need people that produce food pack food, work in supermarkets, deliver things nurses teachers
bin people sewer people
road makers

why have we learnt nothing from lockdown about how we are ALL important and needed

Medexpert · 28/11/2025 21:11

Thank you! The rhetoric on MN really seems to be that most wealthy people have pulled themselves up from their bootstraps, as if there isn't an entire class of people whose families have been rich buddies for generations
We all have one thing in common...we want the best for our children. The difference is what we believe we need to give them most to prepare them for the future.

What many call 'privileged' is families who have once chosen, or are now chosing money as a high priority. This almost inevitably comes at the cost of giving them the wealth of their time.

It is wrong to think that parents who choose to prioritise the wealth of time over money should be entitled to also give their kids the same privileges as those who have prioritise financial wealth.

As a single mum, I prioritised money and with that, giving my kids some privileges. For that I had to work FT, commute for 3 hours a day, and accept a constant life of mental stress that came with each promotions I took. I don't regret it because they are both on very good paths and are very happy. We also have a great bond, but I lost out of precious time with them.

I would say that mums who get to spend more time with their kids as they grow up are extremely privileged too, just in a different way.

Social workers, nurses have been mentioned as hard working professions yet not highly paid. They can be though. Many of the high paid NHS managers started as nurses. They however opted for roles that required more responsibilities. If/when something goes wrong, unless it is through criminal negligence, the person who will be blamed and take the shit is the manager. That's why they are paid more.

Papyrophile · 28/11/2025 21:11

Sorry! Did I venture into a thread exclusively zoned for downtrodden black people?

AlltheHedgehogsontheWall · 28/11/2025 21:10

Couldn't agree more.

We ALL work hard. Almost everyone.

Yes, there's a small minority of shirkers but to be honest the amount of effort they put into avoiding work seems like they may as well work. I do know a couple of people who really do take the piss with benefits and don't have any intention of working, but I think they are a really small percentage of the people who are getting help.

Someone earning £100k has obviously worked hard, but so has someone earning £40k and a lot of people earning £20k.

ExhaustedPigeon37 · 28/11/2025 21:09

I’m a police officer, so is my husband, we have both missed birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, new years, had days off cancelled with no notice, we both work shifts, long hours, often off late, have to give the first 30mins of any Overtime worked (from a normal shift) to the king (which means if we work 7-4 but finish at 5pm we only get paid 30 mins OT). the job has had an emotional toll on both my husband and I, dealing with death, rape, knife crime, gun crime, gang crime, trying to make a difference and to help people. I have worked in the public sector paying 13.4% of my salary (I do not have a say in this) into my salary sacrifice pension, that pension by the way is no longer final salary, we now also have to work 35 years to receive the full pension not the original 30years we signed up for. Just this year I’ve been spat at in my face, been punched, pushed over (resulting in a broken wrist), which only one has gone to court and I was awarded £50 compensation.

We are both apparently “high earners”. We do not get any child benefit and neither of us earn over £100K! In fact we are actually still paid around 28% under inflation due to the previous pay freezes!

I quite frankly risk my life every time I go to work, I risk being assaulted on duty. So yes I work bloody hard for my money and I will let people know about it I’m asked! I’m not selfish in anyway, the job I do doesn’t allow me to be selfish.

Starconundrum · 28/11/2025 21:09

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 21:06

Yes the people who’ve been able to commandeer more of the worlds resources because of their privilege

Well I didn't want to type an essay as I'm watching stranger things with friends, but essentially yes. The world is not a level playing field and at some point you need to pay your advantage forward.

Happilyobtuse · 28/11/2025 21:09

UserFront242 · 28/11/2025 20:46

YANBU
Some people earn lots and don't work hard at all. It could be the interest on their vast savings.
Then you get people who work very hard and get very little, such as people caring for a disabled relative.

There have been a few high earners on this thread say they don't work hard. They love their job, and find it easy.
Then you get people on NMW who find their job very difficult, both physically and mentally.
I can guarantee no one on £100k is facing the threat of violence in their work day.

Either way, it is not a competition. The press is doing a grand job of pitting everyone against each other.

Not true, my best friend is a consultant psychiatrist and is often attacked and has been chased with a knife more than once around the ward. Yes she earns more than 100K and has been frightened for her life after being attacked by some patients. So being a high earner also comes with high stress. Earning those salaries does take a toll on physical and mental health. My own father was in a very senior high stress job, he died of a massive heart attack at 54. I did inherit well but I would rather have had my parent live longer. He worked hard, got paid very well but it took him to an early grave. So yes I have money he left me but that is bitter sweet. So I have missed out on my father being present for my wedding, the birth of my children and other important events in my life. So no I am not lucky but I am grateful for the sacrifices my dad made.

CleverButScatty · 28/11/2025 21:08

EatingTillIDie · 28/11/2025 20:48

I think what im most sick of hearing is the claim taxes are high. I'll be paying an extra £36 a year in tax. Whoop de do.

People need to get a grip. They love to moan when feral kids roam the streets, when their own little darlings are 'disrupted' by the sen kids in class, when the roads are full of potholes, when the grass is overgrown, when high rise building go up on flames, when houses cost too much, when the shops are all closing down because everyone buys it online... endless endless moaning. If they had 2 braincells to rub together they might realise a correlation between these things and the amount of tax we all pay.

The actual rich people are laughing at all of us.

Hear bloody hear!

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 21:06

Starconundrum · 28/11/2025 21:03

We should be looking up to those people to give us a helping hand. Which we are.

Yes the people who’ve been able to commandeer more of the worlds resources because of their privilege

Starconundrum · 28/11/2025 21:03

Happilyobtuse · 28/11/2025 20:59

Well if everyone would get off their butts and work hard rather than rely on the state for handouts then we would all be better off. If anything having parents who were not well off should make you want to work harder and leave your kids better off rather than being jealous of those whose parents did just that. Look up to people who made the right choices and put in the hard work as those are people to emulate rather than hoping the state would take money off them and hand it over to you! Like one of the posters above mentioned no one can have everything. So when you work hard long hours you often have to leave your children with strangers, not kiss them goodnight, miss school functions etc. Everything comes at a price, even money.

We should be looking up to those people to give us a helping hand. Which we are.

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 21:03

Whoever the “them” are

Doggielovecharlotte · 28/11/2025 21:03

Happilyobtuse · 28/11/2025 20:59

Well if everyone would get off their butts and work hard rather than rely on the state for handouts then we would all be better off. If anything having parents who were not well off should make you want to work harder and leave your kids better off rather than being jealous of those whose parents did just that. Look up to people who made the right choices and put in the hard work as those are people to emulate rather than hoping the state would take money off them and hand it over to you! Like one of the posters above mentioned no one can have everything. So when you work hard long hours you often have to leave your children with strangers, not kiss them goodnight, miss school functions etc. Everything comes at a price, even money.

Omg you’ve just assumed I’m one of “them”

we live in a a structurally oppressive society for people of colour, women etc

it’s not a level Playing field

you can’t just say “work harder”

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