Reality check - are we earning enough?

How much do you put in your pension? If it is 25% each, which would be reasonable, it leaves 50k for both. I assume you've counted NI in your tax figure too?

It's not a lot but if you are not big spenders and stick to being child free, it's just about OK.

How much is your mortgage monthly?

Kids are bloody expensive.

if no kids then you’re laughing

Comparison is very much the thief of joy here! You have chosen a career and lifestyle that works for you. Other than making sure you have a pension that’s a very healthy way of living.

I changed career mid thirties and had a massive drop in salary (to lower than yours) and absolutely no regrets.

edit: just saw your update re pension, and small mortgage - all seems very sensible!

I just saw someone say they’re on £35k per year and that’s “bad” for a 35 year old. Well I’m 32 and my husband is exactly 35. So it’s just made me worry

Why on earth would a random comment from a complete stranger make you worry?

You don't need to be comparing yourselves to others. If you're happy then that's enough for you.

That being said, cost of living is going up and up. I would look at how much scope there is for increasing your earnings in order to keep up. Otherwise I think you run the risk of suddenly finding, in a couple of years, that your happy spot needs to be a few grand higher. The positive is that you know how much you need to be happy, so you know what you're aiming for in the future.

I guess I'm in a slightly similar position, in that what we bring in now is fine. But I'm really aware that the pay rises I get are not enough to keep up with cost of living, so I'm trying to work toward promotion to compensate.

When I was your age, I hadn't even managed to buy my first house or start a pension. You sound like you've got your head screwed on. The problem with your peers is they all seem to be living a lifestyle fuelled by Instagram or something, but loads of holidays while being subbed by parents is silly. . I've got far more respect for what you're doing. You should be proud of yourself. Keep going.

Maybe try and get a business mentor? That would be sensible. Get into some networking with local businesses perhaps. Maybe focus less on your salary you're drawing and more on what you want to achieve and how you can get there?

If you have enough money to live your life how you want, and also save for the future, then you’re fine. Personally, it wouldn’t be enough for my household, but we have 2 DCs so need to be providing for them and also saving for their futures as well as our own. If we had no DCs we wouldn’t need as high an income as we have now.

Does the business have intrinsic value? Because you are investing your time and energy in that as well.
Are you paying substantially into a pension, having sick pay?

If the value of the business is growing and you have incomes and pension, then that’s fine. If you stopped for maternity leave, would the income from the business halve?

It sounds as though it’s ticking over at a sensible rate allowing for quality of life.

Meant to add if you’re happy and living life how you want to, it doesn’t really matter.

You’re both earning below the average 35 year old by between 5 and 10k a year. Is the business growing, salary likely to increase in the next 5 years? If it stays the same-ish he’ll be significant below an average 40 year old.

It’s all completely relative. What’s your mortgage, outgoings, pension, savings? As long as you feel comfortable, not sure why you feel bad?

Sort a pension out though! 😉

66k without kids is fine. Children are expensive. For example - my food shop each week for 5 of us (dd1 is 18 and doing a levels, and dtds are 14 so essentially adult size portions) is £275-£300. I bet yours is nothing like that. Doing a job you love is so valuable. Cherish that!

You are extremely fortunate. Comparing yourself to strangers on the internet is crackers. You sound like you have a good life. Maybe you'll grow your business and have more money in future. Maybe life will hand you something else.

'Should' is judgemental. Maybe I 'should' have had a better life and more money and not had the shitty (ex) husband and everything else that life handed me. But I got what I got. I earn less than £50k but I have no debt, have a beautiful son and good friends. My health is crap. My job is ok but stressful. If I'd have had different circumstances, then maybe I'd have climbed higher and had more money. I'm certainly capable...but that's life.

What do you want? If you have ambitions to have more money for a reason then go for it, but there's no 'should'.

Sounds like it’s working just fine for you.

I’m 42 and earn 28.5k
if it’s enough to afford what you need and want and you’re not struggling, then it’s fine