To be unsure of how much I actually believe on here

I’m in a long, happy marriage and have tall
and fairly delightful children but sadly don’t earn 200k for three hours of work per week. Fell at the first hurdle.

No 😲. Who actually took the time to disprove someone's Internet fantasy? How weirdly overinvested.

Whatever makes you feel better

You can think everyone is lying, or you can look at property prices around you and look at kids in your area.

I don't know how much people earn, but houses in excess of a million £ don't stay on the market for long. None of my kids friends are remotely overweight, younger teens are nearly too skinny.

But you believe what you want - we do have an obesity problem in this country, so no one is pretending ALL the kids are slim. It's impossible to buy trousers, they are all made for overweight kids , that comes from somewhere.

What I find sad is convincing yourself that women having a happy sex life must be a lie. Low expectations...

I think there's sometimes embellishments, but just living where I do tells me some people have serious money or at the very least, have access to some serious credit 😲.

I remember when I first moved here, I would just drive round and admire houses. Some are spectacular things - right in line with the MN 5 bedroom 5 bathroom structures. And we have quite a few competitive private schools round here that are quite populated, so the 'superb children with excellent exam results' also rings true.

Now, if only I could work out how to 'manifest' some of that; as my job is never going to make me wealthy by any stretch.

You’d be right to.

There was a serial fantasist on here when my DC’s were little. Someone (rather strange of them) went looking for her real life.

lol - the ‘willowy’ 6ft tall supermodel daughters were average looking at best and slightly lumpen in shape. I’m sure they were lovely young women but how embarrassing!

I actually do have decorators in tomorrow, and then my cleaner comes next week and I probably will have a glass of wine.

Not sure what your point is here?

Yes, the problem with this type of thread is that the OP always massively over eggs the pudding in the opening gambit, and comes across as a bit snotty. I am on here most days browsing threads and don’t see this so much. There are a lot of “I’m on £100k” posts, which always surprises me. I can’t fathom that kind of income. But I believe other people do earn it.

Some threads are unbelievable, and the OP usually disappears, but I haven’t seen one in ages. Mores the pity as they are entertaining.

High salaries in sectors like law, finance, tech and pharma are very common in London and Dublin.

I don't think lying as anywhere near as high as people think it is but yes, there are some poster that completely make up everything and it shows.

The number of people who hate parenting and regret having children always surprises me. The parents I know IRL are all besotted with their children.

I think you’re conflating a bunch of different types of poster, OP. I’m genuinely often in disbelief at how deeply unequal marriages are depicted as normal on here, because that doesn’t reflect my own experience or that of anyone I know, but I can’t imagine that many people are trolling about being martyrs to housework and childcare for frankly dreadful men. I find the high earners less incredible than that.

Oh I’ve got the decorator in today, finishing off the youngests room and when that’s done, the cleaner will do the house. I shall sup fine red wine.

Reality…

Its me decorating and then I’ll hoover the house after. Once that’s done I’ll crack open a bottle of co-op red and consider how many bottles I’ll drink.

I don't have a cleaner, and I'm over weight

If it makes you guys feel better, I'm disabled and on pip and UC, so not a high earner. My DC have sen. My house is small, rented and in a crappy area. I have a crap car and no debts

Don’t forget the “I’m 59 but look 21, and when I’m out with my granddaughter people often ask if we’re sisters” claims.

I know someone who earns 200k a year and shops at Aldi, like I know people walking around M&S who are topping out at 50k.

I believe approximately 2% of what I read.
I don't doubt for a second their are some people who live these incredible lives and good for them however the people I know with these levels of careers appear to never have time to breath nevermind post mindless shite on Mumsnet.

Everyone's child is a strapping 6'4 with 'model looks', thin as a rake despite eating 4000 calories a day.

I have seen some of the other claims you mention on here, although personally I wouldn't say they're the norm, but I've never seen this one! In my experience 'everyone's child' on MN is a stroppy second child who is three years old, throws daily tantrums, and is making them lose the will to live!

I don’t earn anything near £200k but I don’t find it difficult to believe that there are multiple people on here who do and larger numbers in the £100k+ bracket. There are many threads from people discussing the pros and cons of specific London private schools where fees will be £20k plus a year.
Only a small percentage of the population will earn that much but that is still quite a lot of people. The demographic on here skews towards higher earners. Also people start threads about jobs earning very high salaries so people with those salaries will respond.
I have a 6ft teenage son who while not ‘rake-thin’ isn’t overweight, that doesn’t seem unusual to me so it seems weird to me that that would be something you would think is made up.

I'm a prince.

Ohhhh I earn £999K a year but I have to buy my food in Lidl and get my clothes from charity shops! I don't know how the rest of you do it!

It's the high amounts of earnings that I find really perplexing.

Even given regional variations and that I know some types of jobs pay high-level than others I struggle to get my head round the salaries quoted.

I always think why anyone earning such high amounts should turn to MN for advice when, even if they don't have family or friends to talk to, they could actually afford to pay someone for expert advice and guidance

statistically, yes, high salaries are very rare, but in reality I live in a not particularly affluent north west town and the vast majority of people I know earn well and are very comfortable.

So many have gifted and talented kids
Have hundreds nay thousands spent on each child at Christmas
Looking for a reasonably priced 'prom dress' no more than 5 grand please as I have a stretch limo fire engine to hire
Both big earners £250,000 plus each (without twice yearly bonus) but how much free child care can I have please and when -now

Good point Sartre

I think a disproportionate amount of high earners / educated folk are on MN compared to national average. Grammar is generally pretty good on here and there’s always been a certain amount of snobbery. Plus complex political issues away from parenting are discussed in depth.

Other parenting forums like Netmums are probably more proportionate.