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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you honestly what are your first thoughts on seeing this?

644 replies

gemful · 09/12/2025 11:44

NC’d for this

A couple. 2 dc (no childcare)
A brand new, new build house. Mortgaged.
Two brand new cars.
They don’t dress designer but the present well.
She has a few designer handbags.
gadgets are always good brands, latest I phones, shark hairdryers, robot hoover.
very organised and tidy home, both work full time in good jobs.
They do family outings every few weekends but not every weekend.
Honesty, what are your first thoughts?!

OP posts:
Christmascaketime · 09/12/2025 12:08

I wouldn’t think anything but I’m in an area with lots of new builds and new presumably leased cars.
WFH means they could potentially be working anywhere or doing any role. People are often vague about roles - Brian who does something in IT could be on £25,000 or £500,000 plus bonuses.

GentlemanJay · 09/12/2025 12:07

Nothing to see here.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 09/12/2025 12:07

Nothing. No thoughts are forming.

EarthlingsAhoy · 09/12/2025 12:07

I'd say chances are unless they both have very high paying jobs, or live in a cheaper part of the uk, or have received help from parents/inheritance, that their mortgage will be high and cars likely on credit. I think a lot of working families are in this situation in the uk.

Original poster
gemful · 09/12/2025 12:06

I am the mother in the couple, I have just bought a new car. My neighbour has made an offhand comment this morning about it. TBH I thought…like most of you…we are an average family 😅

work full time and have no childcare because we have flexi time and can wfh alternate days. Pay for afterschool club the off time. Dc are 10 and 13 so they are old enough to get on with homework etc once home.

the reason I gave the other information about bags hairdryers etc is because the neighbours comment isn’t the first lately and I was getting pissed off. My sister, a cousin and two good friends made off hand comments about winning the lottery. No we just save hard. No debt!

OP posts:
LeonMccogh · 09/12/2025 12:06

The kind of people who make many posters on this thread secretly reeeeeeally jealous, especially the ones who say they’d NEVER notice or care. 🤭

Mokeytree · 09/12/2025 12:05

Surprised by all the people saying completely normal as they appear better off than most people I know, so I'd assume they were fairly high earners.

Coffeeishot · 09/12/2025 12:05

What do you think we should think Op i mean they are just living their life aren't they ?

OneKhakiFish · 09/12/2025 12:05

I wouldnt even notice or care, not judgemental, just happy getting on with my own life

EmpressaurusKitty · 09/12/2025 12:05

handsomeson · 09/12/2025 12:02

I’d be confused at how they both work full time with no child care but that’s all.

Maybe the kids are teens.

I’m starting to wonder from the OP if there’s more going on behind the scenes. Is he abusing her? Are they running a drugs or human trafficking ring? Are they spies?

GeorgeEdwardsMum · 09/12/2025 12:04

You could be describing DS and DIL, except they wouldn't have considered buying a new-build. They bought a beautiful three bedroom semi in a great area. Oh, and just one DC.

HansHolbein · 09/12/2025 12:03

Two a penny

LemaxObsessive · 09/12/2025 12:03

I’d say they seem to care an awful lot about what people think of them. Possibly too much. I’d rather be unique than uniformly like everyone else.

Deliberations · 09/12/2025 12:02

Here for the drip feed ;) Biscuit

SilenceInside · 09/12/2025 12:02

I have no first thoughts, as I have no thoughts about it at all. You might want to give some indication of what area of thoughts you are interested in!

Actually, just had a first thought. A very conventional set up.

handsomeson · 09/12/2025 12:02

I’d be confused at how they both work full time with no child care but that’s all.

HelpMeGetThrough · 09/12/2025 12:01

I wouldn’t notice any of it.

If it’s a neighbour I really wouldn’t, I never bother looking at what’s going on around here really.

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 09/12/2025 12:01

It wouldn't even register with me. It's very normal.

toomuchfaff · 09/12/2025 12:00

That if you're not one of the people in the post (which sounds unlikely)

That you're a very judgemental nosey neighbour who needs a hobby, stop twitching the curtains and stick Jeremy Kyle on or something.

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 09/12/2025 12:00

Is this going to be about social class, or another benefit bashing thread?

User564523412 · 09/12/2025 11:59

Sounds identical to our life. DH is actually a high earner so not sure if that's "middle class"? We don't live excessively due to both of us being ND so what you described is exactly what it appears to people from the outside.

Theresabatinmykitchen · 09/12/2025 11:57

I would think they are definitely better off than Mr and Mrs average and appear to be financially comfortable, sounds like they have a nice life.

JaneJeffer · 09/12/2025 11:56

How do they both work full time without childcare?

BillieWiper · 09/12/2025 11:56

I have none.
You're just describing a few attributes or features about a random family.

I don't judge people on what they buy, wear, what house they have or what car they drive. All that is just faceless demographic data. This person owns this car. So what?

Unless I was a marketing expert and was trying to sell to them their possessions are none of my concern.

angelos02 · 09/12/2025 11:56

Is this going to be one of those - neither of the parents work threads?

Swipe left for the next trending thread