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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:
Lastfroginthebox · 28/11/2025 18:41

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:39

Not luck. Hard work. Yes as with life, there's some luck involved. He found his first employer was hiring quite randomly. Applied and got it.

DH has always had a vision and a plan and worked to build his success.

'There's some luck involved' You've said it yourself.

SleeplessInWherever · 28/11/2025 18:41

Coconutter24 · 28/11/2025 16:45

I didn’t say anyone needs to work harder, I said ‘you work hard’. Hard work gets you further than it would by not trying. Everyone has different abilities so yes go tell your son to work hard but do not tell him to work harder

You missed the point. Working hard won’t get everyone to the point of getting a “good education” or high paying roles.

Some aren’t capable of achieving that, and their limit is in lower paid employment - or no employment at all.

pitterypattery00 · 28/11/2025 18:39

I work hard but there are definitely people who have lower paid jobs than mine that are harder physically and mentally. But I worked very hard for many years to get where I am - school, undergraduate, masters, PhD. I don't have that energy anymore and I'm not looking to climb a career ladder. In contrast my partner actively learns in the evenings to improve his career prospects. He is driven and in his second year of a part time masters that he is doing in his own time. He now earns double what I do (whereas 5 years ago we earned similar amounts). Edited to add, he already has 2 masters - he just wants to keep improving.

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:39

Lastfroginthebox · 28/11/2025 18:35

Well, lucky him.

Not luck. Hard work. Yes as with life, there's some luck involved. He found his first employer was hiring quite randomly. Applied and got it.

DH has always had a vision and a plan and worked to build his success.

PeonyPatch · 28/11/2025 18:38

Medexpert · 28/11/2025 18:33

The thing that people like you OP are missing on is what these people mean by 'working hard'.

What is 'hard' about working hard is not how busy you are. As a matter of fact, it is often the opposite. What is 'hard' is the weight of responsibility, which include those below them who won't earn as much.

Until you are in a position of high responsibility, it is a concept that it is very hard to understand. I certainly didn't until I got there and reached a point when I chose a cut in salary for less responsibility.

The other aspect of 'having worked hard' is the sacrifices that needed to be made. They might not appear a lot individually but cumulatively do mount up.

Very articulately and well explained….!!

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 18:38

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 28/11/2025 18:33

Yes I did and I do work hard. I wouldn’t complain about tax and say I shouldn’t pay more BECAUSE I WORK HARD because I acknowledge that most people who earn less and pay less tax also work really hard. So actually it’s not relevant.

Edited

Again though, why do you need to relate it to anyone else? It's your income, from your hard work - that uou worked for it is a perfectly good reason to opine on where it goes. We don't tell low earners that they shouldn't complain because others also work hard. It's illogical.

SanctusInDistress · 28/11/2025 18:37

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 18:32

I'm complaining about entitled rich people who use 'I've worked hard for my money' as a reason why they don't want to pay more tax

So should we just pay any all our savings into your bank account then whilst you stay at home? Is that the solution? It’s absolutely fair that I go to work for other people to stay at home?

whats my incentive for going to work, so that I can pay more and more tax?

Ragtoe · 28/11/2025 18:37

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:22

My DH makes the big bucks. He's gone from absolutely nothing (when I met him) to a high income earner through the sheer power of hard work. With the recent promotion he's in the additional rate. More money to the government it seems.

Nurses and teachers are paid enough here. Start on around £30k I believe and as with most careers there's scope for progression. And let's not forget we all choose what career we go into. DH chose a career a finance director because he looked at his skills and knowledge (maths, economics, data) and decided to apply himself to where it would pay off.

You have told us an awful lot about your husband here @PrawnsForDinner

What about you?

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:37

Legolava · 28/11/2025 18:34

I don’t need to. They are on the Institute of Fiscal Studies. Your previous post to the higher earning poster clarifies where you have gone wrong. If you still need them after looking it up, let me know.

Edited

Why are you refusing after promising 3 times to post graphs? I am really interested to see how graphs form IFS explain why the dentist gave up work rather than pay for her additional childcare

Ragtoe · 28/11/2025 18:36

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:36

And you should do.

I “should” what?

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

And you should do.

Lastfroginthebox · 28/11/2025 18:35

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:22

My DH makes the big bucks. He's gone from absolutely nothing (when I met him) to a high income earner through the sheer power of hard work. With the recent promotion he's in the additional rate. More money to the government it seems.

Nurses and teachers are paid enough here. Start on around £30k I believe and as with most careers there's scope for progression. And let's not forget we all choose what career we go into. DH chose a career a finance director because he looked at his skills and knowledge (maths, economics, data) and decided to apply himself to where it would pay off.

Well, lucky him.

PrawnsForDinner · 28/11/2025 18:34

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 18:27

Well I do think they're the real problem, but whenever a wealth tax is mentioned you hear 'well I worked hard for my money...'

The only country that successfully implemented a wealth tax is Switzerland because the % is very small and also all the other taxes are low and the stability is there that the government won't decide to raid the rich people.

All the other countries have had massive capital flight. And yes high earners do work hard for their money (usually). People on lower incomes probably do toil away but that's how it is.

Ragtoe · 28/11/2025 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Legolava · 28/11/2025 18:34

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:29

Please post your graphs, I’d love to see them

I don’t need to. They are on the Institute of Fiscal Studies. Your previous post to the higher earning poster clarifies where you have gone wrong. If you still need them after looking it up, let me know.

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 28/11/2025 18:33

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 18:28

Because it is relevant in the context of taxation!
If you're a high earner what are you arguing for? Did you never work hard?

Yes I did and I do work hard. I wouldn’t complain about tax and say I shouldn’t pay more BECAUSE I WORK HARD because I acknowledge that most people who earn less and pay less tax also work really hard. So actually it’s not relevant.

Medexpert · 28/11/2025 18:33

The thing that people like you OP are missing on is what these people mean by 'working hard'.

What is 'hard' about working hard is not how busy you are. As a matter of fact, it is often the opposite. What is 'hard' is the weight of responsibility, which include those below them who won't earn as much.

Until you are in a position of high responsibility, it is a concept that it is very hard to understand. I certainly didn't until I got there and reached a point when I chose a cut in salary for less responsibility.

The other aspect of 'having worked hard' is the sacrifices that needed to be made. They might not appear a lot individually but cumulatively do mount up.

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 18:32

lolly427 · 28/11/2025 16:58

So you're just randomly complaining on behalf of other people?

I'm complaining about entitled rich people who use 'I've worked hard for my money' as a reason why they don't want to pay more tax

OP posts:
Legolava · 28/11/2025 18:32

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:23

All parents are entitled to 15 hours childcare. It’s the extra 15 hours that you lose.

thats 15 hours per week term time only.

we’re talking about what you lose as government benefit by earning over £100k, not what you pay out in childcare total.

Bingo. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

SanctusInDistress · 28/11/2025 18:30

I think there is also an element of working hard not just now but throughout school to get good grades to go to uni and then working hard at uni to get a good job to get a good salary. in fact, it was ‘work hard now [school] so you can be comfortably off later on’. Instead of ‘don't worry about school or good grades, the taxpayer will sort you out later’.

edited to add I know somebody whose father was a truck driver but he (the child) ended up a doctor. So people can absolutely educate themselves out of low paid hard-working physical retail jobs in this country, if they are willing.

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:29

Legolava · 28/11/2025 18:29

Well this is awkward. I’ll ask again. When? Maybe explain to the PP who wants to know what you’re on about as well. They seem to be down a lot more than you think. Maybe I should post the graphs…You don’t actually understand the issue you’ve decided to challenge. Whoops.

Please post your graphs, I’d love to see them

Legolava · 28/11/2025 18:29

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:20

Nothing has in taxation or relevant policy has changed since I had a child in 15 hours free childcare

Well this is awkward. I’ll ask again. When? Maybe explain to the PP who wants to know what you’re on about as well. They seem to be down a lot more than you think. Maybe I should post the graphs…You don’t actually understand the issue you’ve decided to challenge. Whoops.

Bambamhoohoo · 28/11/2025 18:29

newbluesofa · 28/11/2025 18:27

Well I do think they're the real problem, but whenever a wealth tax is mentioned you hear 'well I worked hard for my money...'

But that’s just a load of bollocks isn’t it? No one who works is going to pay a wealth tax. Why don’t you ask them wtf they’re talking about something irrelevant rather than worrying about whether they think they work hard

MarvellousMonsters · 28/11/2025 18:28

No one works ‘hard enough’ to earn excessive salaries. It’s such a bullshit phrase and implies low earners don’t work hard.

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 18:28

NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 28/11/2025 18:26

Then why say it in the context of moaning about tax. Throughout this thread people are saying that the implication is that they work hardER.
I have paid higher rate tax for many years, as has my husband. We’re probably considered high earners by many so I have no skin in the game and am not making it a competition. The insinuation is clear to see.

Because it is relevant in the context of taxation!
If you're a high earner what are you arguing for? Did you never work hard?

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