AMA Income over £500k

[AMAIncomeRelated]

Following the thread on the disadvantages of earning just over £50k, it got me thinking that if some people think that is a huge amount to earn, what do they think of my life.

We live in North London. Husband earns a lot, over £500k most years. We live in a big house, with a huge mortgage, 3 children at private school, 3 dogs, own a ski chalet which is let out as well as for our use. I don't work, I did try a part time job 5 years ago and whilst I loved it, it cause too much stress at home because my husband is used to me doing everything.

We obviously live very comfortably, but also there are lots of things we'd like to do but can't afford the big projects at the moment. My husbands job is very stressful.

AMA. I am absolutely not gloating, I know only too well how fortunate we are.

Absolutely! Some people
have no clue.
Tell me you vote Tory without telling me you vote Tory 🤣

It really is a tired trope to suggest that if one is not gushing with sycophancy that jealousy is the motive
Not all women are jealous of women with rich husbands. It’s permissible to have an opinion or pov that isn’t wholly motivated by jealousy

Don’t be a nit picker. I was asking the OP a question on an AMA thread. You get your own.

This has been really interesting, thank you OP. It is kind of mindblowing that you are on over 5x the same household income as me but on a day to day basis actually have less cash available for discretionary expenditure and savings. Obviously that is a result of prioritising different mortgage/education choices. It just goes to show how much income is needed to sustain that kind of lifestyle though.

Unless that take home is after savings and investments, I think in your place I would actually worry about whether I was saving enough. If you're spending the bonus on holidays and the like, how much are you able to save in a year? Or do you view your house as your main investment?

@Pursuinghappy I took home £160k last year and just got a promotion, I now have a bigger salary, bonus and more stock. I will probably take home £200k+ on my next tax return.

I'm a mum of an 18 month old and little do my company know, I am 10 weeks pregnant with number 2. Sooner than we had thought and happened before I got the promotion.

Let me tell you, I am full of anxiety and fear all the time. That's probably a me problem, but being pregnant and promoted has sent my mental health into crisis with worry of what people will think. Perhaps I innately feel I don't deserve any of it and I'm a negative person. The success I am more than proud of but I need to work on myself, I think most of us do and money/success doesn't change that.

DH earns more than me so we have a very comfortable life which we acknowledge and feel grateful for.

I’m fat and earn about 20k. I’m not jealous, I have everything I need and more 🤷‍♀️

Not sure why you think people would be jealous. Sure, it would be nice to buy a house and go on a few big holidays but i wouldn’t swap my life.

She says they have two massive pension pots, one of which is maxed out, the other they pay big lump sums into. So they make lots of additional investments as well.

Plus they have multiple properties! So you definitley aren’t better off than them.

No you were not, you were judging. Simple.

Yes, absolutely I was. You’ve not “caught me out” somehow! 🤣
And I was asking a genuine question too.

OP's actual post said: "it got me thinking that if some people think that is a huge amount to earn, what do they think of my life."

She is literally asking what people think of her life.

I don't understand what part of that question you think is not inviting judgment.

So I told her what I think. That is what she asked for.

Interesting thread. Laughing at certain parts, eg if you eat supernoodles.

"Wow! 3k for all bills/food/clubs/clothes? That actually seems a bit tight to me,". I agree. £3k isn't actually very much (for your lifestyle) once you deduct all the basics.

Why should she? Just why??

The op literally said AMA. That legitimises posters asking questions even the probing ones

Read some of the responses and tell me they're not jealous.

Im happy that you like your life. I like mine too.

What sort of deposits do you think you can give your dc, when and how will you do it, if you do.

Not sure if anyone has asked but did you know your husband long before he was earning this much? Did you “grow” together? Or did you meet him whilst he was pretty wealthy.

Im curious as a friend of mine has just got married and really wants to be a SAHM (she runs a business anyway) when she has children and is her OHs cheerleader when it comes to career etc.

All the concern over OP just having £3k left per month after mortgage and private school fees is a bit of a ringer...

Because they likely have a stack of savings as well, they get a large bonus every year to cover additional living expenses, they earn income from an air b&b and ski chalet. With OP taking on a lot of the housekeeping responsibilities at home they are probably saving a fortune on a cleaner, housekeeper, nanny, chef, which could easily be another £100k in expenses.

OP sounds down to earth and I don't think she is bragging, I just think she is doing an AMA about her experience, which is interesting to me, if not some people on this thread.

Yes, also why would you work if you did not need to, you actually can look after your own dc.

Posters are saying get a housekeeper and go back to work.
As if housekeeping isn’t a proper job. Tell that to professional housekeepers and nannies.

I understood what OP said, and I didn't say that I was better off than them, thanks.

There is no way that as a household of 5 they are accruing substantial savings from the base salary with those outgoings. Either a large chunk of the bonus is going into savings or very little saving is happening.

I would not want the responsibility of all that money. I don’t think what I feel is jealousy, but I definitely have an emotional reaction. I’m 65, on benefits due to being seriously disabled, I have cancer, and I can’t afford a heating bill. I think the likelihood of someone in this income bracket voting Tory is pretty high, which causes further demonisation of people like me. I wish there were a more even distribution of monies but I can’t ever see it happening.

Who wanted the children to go to private schools more? Does your DH 100% support private schooling or did you have to argue the case for it given he didn't go to one and you did?

Interesting thread, thank you OP.
DH and I can only dream of earning that kind of money and have no chance to as we are both public sector workers (both at senior level). Please could you tell us what job your DH does (I’m planning on retraining lol) and do you live in Hampstead or Primrose Hill? Love those houses and I love Georgian villa

I earn this. No one in the world knows except my husband, my boss and my accountant. You'd never know if you met me. And I'd never think to do an AMA but if people are curious let me know.

You really are bonkers.

Go make your own thread 🤣

Tell us more! It can be our little secret 🤫