Why do you think mumsnet has a more wealthy user base than average or do you think it’s full of bullshitters?

Yes - particularly the last two paragraphs. Most posters appear reasonably educated, which can often mean better paid jobs.

This ^

True... A bit like a TV drama... Everyone loves a bit of escapism and the posts about a saga from a wealthy person is often more enticing than a post about struggling to afford stuff in this cost of living crisis - the majority are experiencing that day to day, so it isn't anything gripping ... Wealthy people's drama on the other hand... 🍿 👀

I’ve been on here since around 2002. (Constant name changer). It was much less busy then and much more ‘middle class’. It’s been by far the most useful forum for me and I still visit every day even though DC are grown.

There were noticeable changes a few years ago when the site set out to make more money from advertising and I’d say the demographic of users changed at the same time to be more representative of the UK. It’s not about money so much as education levels but the two are closely correlated.

I’m probably Mumsnet’s core user type. London ish, higher earner, fussy about SPAG!

Also 100k isn’t necessarily wealthy now when you account for inflation & fiscal drag

It’s the equivalent of 40k in the early 00s

There is probably a lot of quite well off folk on MN. But the ones boasting about their DH's massive salaries while no point in poor little them working as. they are quite busy enough will school runs and coffees. Hmm not sure I beleive that. The rich ones won't be the ones boasting IMHO.

Lots of the posters seem to live in London and the South East so both the value of their homes and their salaries are often higher than the national average. However, I definitely think some bullshitting goes on in terms of posts around both wealth and education. More recently there seems to be a rash of folk who now earn in excess of 200k on here which seems a bit disproportionate to life outside of MN.

Hm mums net is very wordy. No pictures of visuals so probably appeals to people with more of an attention span, more interest in reading reams of words. Whether that tracks to higher income who knows

Billy Bullshiners abound!

Some of it may be true. A lot of it will be fantasy. That’s forums for you. 🤷‍♀️

I really don't think there's a load of people sitting there writing posts and threads in private schools or other sections talking about their high end earnings and possessions if they were in fact living in a tent.

But I could be wrong. I'm open on here about being broke and don't get who you'd be trying to impress by alleging wealth when you have none. You'd be talking about things that you don't have and never will? I guess maybe it's some kind of fantasy.

If I say it on here it makes it true?

But yeah there's plenty of odd people online who get a kick out of telling fibs.

@Chasingfairies im 40 ish & it’s not specific threads/boards as you say. It’s references to certain films, songs, historical events etc.

I am not sure where else to go though!

I think it's hard to be sure, but go and read the university entrance threads. All those posts from mums, waiting to see the offers of places for their children and many, many mums talking about their own uni experience. So, I think we probably are a fairly well-educated bunch.

I don't think you can compare to Facebook though, when talking about spelling and grammar, as that will be a reflection of your own friends. I'm a teacher, the vast majority of my friends are also teachers, so everyone has a similar level of education.

As for the salaries, I think some people don't have a clear idea of just how high salaries are in some areas. My husband is an engineer and one of my sons is head if intelligence and analytics for a multi-national company. They're on eye watering salaries, especially my son. He's not alone though and his friends tend to be the same. The amount these people were earning by age 30 is just something a teacher could never dream of.

I think also, the gender pay gap is closing somewhat and more and more women who work in areas where pay is negotiated are now learning to value themselves in the same way a man would. So, there are a lot more big salaries out there than people realise.

That doesn't mean that anyone not on those salaries should feel like a loser though. Some of my favourite people are on low salaries. For a huge variety of reasons, they couldn't or didn't stay in education as teens. They're salt of the earth type people though and really hard workers.

@TheHateIsNotGood bur people aren’t having dc in their 50s. And of course the users have grown with the site, I just don’t think the site attracts many new mothers due to other platforms.

People don't realise - there are hundreds of thousands of people in London/south east earning over 100k

About 155000 women earn 100k plus which is pretty small.

re the observations that so many PPs seem old. That's because over the past 25 years, the age of first time mothers has been increasing and, secondly, many of the older aged posters have been on MN a long time, since their DC were young.

@likelysuspect but loads of posters like to be contrary so they say shit like that even though they know its unrealistic.

I mentioned on another thread, and have before on others anyway, this concept of 'just earn more'

Even worse, just move

Just get another job

People's lives are just not like that.

That's really interesting. Richer, thinner, poorer, fatter, older, younger?

This!! The pupil premium report at my kids school makes it clear from the number that there are less than 5 kids in the whole school qualifying for FSM. I was on the committee for a local pre-school and helped with the financial reports and budgeting, very few of the kids qualified for the full 30 hours funded childcare or tax free childcare, most had at least one parent earning 100k so only qualified for 15 hours and no tax free childcare.

Its always been London centric and many aspects of it appeal to a london professional audience, simultaneously being offputting to other groups, e.g.

1. open critique of spelling, grammar and writing style that put off less educated users
2. a culture whereby it is expected or encouraged that users opine bluntly on life choices of others, which is perceived as unsupportive and deters many less well off people who may have made mistakes along the way
3. the fact that people in manual or lower paid occupations sometimes face prohibitions on having phones out during working hours
4. the fact that many users regularly name change, giving the impression of a huge pool of high earners when the same people will post on many threads under different names

People don't realise - there are hundreds of thousands of people in London/south east earning over 100k. I live in a naice commuter belt village and most of my social circle have household incomes well over £200k.

I think we notice what seems unusual. I am always surprised how often people casually mention qualifying for certain benefits, especially when women are divorcing. I doubt those posts are actually happening that often, but I notice them because that is not my lived reality where all the women have professional jobs and can easily support a household.

Not bullshitters

I remember a post where a lady had been out all day and only had a few pounds on her. She really wanted a hot chocolate but decided instead decided buy a bar of chocolate and a jar of hot chocolate so she could have one at home everyday for a couple of weeks.

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be able to buy themselves a drink out whenever they want.