AIBU to feel deflated after payday despite a decent salary?

It does annoy me when people on good salaries receiving sizeable bonuses complain about the tax they pay. They are 1. still better off financially than they would be without the bonus or than others on lower salaries; and 2. can use salary sacrifice or additional payments into their pensions to reduce the tax impact and enhance their pension pots.

Yes, increases in interest rates and inflation affect affordability, but come on. The OP must be earning around £54k.

Its not about the numbers though is it? More the principle. If we lived in a Scandi country we would be paying 45% tax but would get good quality public services and cheap or free child and health care. Instead we are robbed blind and get shit services. We see money flowing out abroad to help people who contribute nothing to this country. The system is a disincentive to hard work. Smart workers cut their hours and get a cash in hand side hustle.

So you are paying off a loan? Is there some other way to pay for what you want?

I get about £4200 a month and after bills, mortgage, etc etc have less than £200 left, so from my pov YABU.

What is it you feel like you are missing out on? It sounds like you've got a fair bit of disposable income between the two of you.

Many people's bank accounts are wiped clean after the bills and they struggle to pay for any extras. Many can't afford holidays, cars, clothes, gifts.

What is monotonous about your financial situation, are you actually struggling?

I have £500 left after transfer to joint for bills. £200 of that goes to monthly saver. Then out of the £300 still pay carparking for work, phone bill and TV Licence.

There is

I just got paid a similar amount - £1600 went to the joint account which covers all household expenses and joint savings.
£300 goes to paying debts which will be cleared by Christmas, woo.
£400 goes towards my car(work required lease) insurance, maintenance pot etc.
£400 goes straight into savings for maternity leave as despite the decent wage they have stat mat pay.
£50 goes into my emergency fund
£200 left for spending money.

So yeah I'd be delighted to have £1700 left over tbh.

oh goodness me. How are you going to manage?
I don’t even earn that a month. How utterly insensitive of you.

Wow. Our whole household income is £3k a month. You have £1700 a month left to do what you want with and you think thats a struggle

Agree but it's not just the highly skilled. I struggle to find anyone to take on additional responsibility when the reward for it is so poor even relative to NMW, especially if it punts you into another tax bracket.

One of our receptionists on roughly NMW declined a promotion to HR - with training and career structure - because the pay rise was not worth the extra hassle. Extrapolate that across multiple industries and no wonder we have a big productivity problem in the UK.

This is a very insensitive thread. I work in social housing and have people using food banks and having to get by on energy vouchers because they can’t afford the basics despite the fact they work. You are fortunate to have anything left over after your bills are paid and you’re complaining about only having £1700?! That’s a lot of disposable money and most people would be grateful for even half of that after their bills were paid let alone also having money to save. You really need to get in touch with the real world.

I know what you mean OP, I’ve been in my career 35 years, educated to degree level, huge amount of experience, work really antisocial shifts and have had 15 years of below inflation pay rises - this years will no doubt be another one - I can’t think of the last time I bought myself something new. Everything goes on food, bills, travel to work, and kids.

You have £1700 AFTER all bills?

And you feel deflated?

That’s some peoples entire income. Do you understand that?

You’re not though are you you’re just paying for your life.

Of course, which is why so many highly skilled and very experienced people are pulling back in their careers instead of pushing forward.

A lot of us have earned less than £1700 a month. It doesn’t mean now we’ve strived to earn more we should be thrilled about giving it away.

Now imagine only being paid £1700 a month, or even less.

If she is confident of dying before retirement age, and has no dependents, she might reconsider putting anything into her pension, and spending more on wine, men and song.

I wouldn't usually recommend it.

Would you?

Are you buying a swimming costume and a hose, painting rooms, repairing leaks and having your lawn mower serviced every month?

Everyone has the choice not to take on the extra work if they don’t think the payoff is worth it 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Also the 60% is only applicable for a relatively small slice of the earnings scale. Anything after 125k is taxed at 45% so they still keep the majority. Up to individuals to figure out if that’s the right work/reward balance for them.

Most of these items are luxuries to me!

I don’t think £1700 left over is that good - petrol is £200 of that (for me), then food shopping maybe £300 a month, the odd vet consultation and treatment’s £100, new swimming costume from John Lewis is £45 - maybe )another £100 spent on trains and London transport going for sporadic work meetings, buy lunch for my dad at a pub and get him a taxi home £100 (including my food as well), dog walker for when I’m in London for the meetings £40, parking at the station, window cleaner, small leak for handyman to sort, paint for the garden room, service the lawnmower £80, etc etc 2 x plants for the garden, new hose as the other one’s split.

it all adds up! I haven’t been on holiday abroad for years - but if I want a fuchsia to put in a pot, I should be able to have one!

This! I know the colleague above me’s salary but I also see how much more than me he is required to give. I don’t think the pay bump is worth it (neither does he FTR.)

Could you downsize or take in some ironing?