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.

The difference now I think to me working is that I couldn't make a material difference when you factor in the extra costs. I could only go back to my career job by doing it full time - it's a hard role to do part time because you're never there when inevitably needed.

Also I've been out of it so long I doubt I'd get a look in.

So anything I think I could get now really wouldn't pay anything like you earn. The airbnb brings in a good steady small extra bit of cash, which again I wouldn't have time to manage if I was working.

I could retrain, but I'm pushing late forties, my husband will retire in under 10 years probably, then we plan to be much free-er to travel and enjoy life. If I started a new career after a period or retraining, I feel like I'd just be starting when he's finishing.

We might sell this house, buy an easy to maintain apartment somewhere or a smaller house, free up some cash and change direction.

Sorry. St John’s Wood. I realise now this might be a family term, not the widely used affectionate nickname for the area! Although DMIL’s neighbours have adopted it too (I’m on the Square WhatsApp group for reasons I’ve not fully worked out.) When DPILS moved there 50 years ago, an older friend, resident of Eaton Square commented ‘oh yes, I did hear there are now people living north of The Park.’

Yay! Maybe it’s not just us. Although you might be DIL’s next door neighbour of course (apols for the cat, if you are.)

@AMAIncomeRelated what do you mean by ‘change direction’?

We might sell this house, buy an easy to maintain apartment somewhere or a smaller house, free up some cash and change direction.

Makes sense. Also, I'm younger with younger children. So maybe I will get to the point after we have had this level of income for a few more years where perhaps I will stop. Things like 3 dogs, we haven't committed to partly as we don't have the time to deal with!

Investment manager with specific client base screams boutique firm. I know a couple of guys working in such fields with similar earnings and then some, usually have a CFA and other certs. It's possible in the BBs but it is more common outside in smaller firms servicing target clients.

OP your last post is extremely outing, are you not bothered? 😃 just curious.

(Btw our mortgage is £9k so I know how you feel there).

@Spirallingdownwards considering my income, and even if my income was much less than what it is, I need not be jealous. And certainly not jealous of someone on the Internet.

Even your response to me shows you think the poor are out to attack and criticise “you, the OP and the rest of the Wealthy”. Not everything is judgement or disbelief of high income households so I’m confused by your snippy responses.

I think the OP’s thread is interesting.

What sort of holidays do you go on each year?

Where's been your favourite?

He wouldn't be able to have the career he has if I wasn't at home keeping things calm and organised.

Why not? I’m really struggling to understand this.

Really? Do you not do anything domestic? If you did you would realise that the management of a house and family is hugely time consuming and mentally taxing.

Do you really not think working parents struggle? School holidays are a nightmare as are days when the dc are unwell. Organising repairs, holidays navigating school events, even maintaining their uniforms and what they need on a daily basis is exhausting. Taking dc to extra curricular events, doctors and dentists, and play dates. Cooking meals and doing everything so he can go to work and come home and not think about anything wise.

Other than the Airbnb nothing else the OP has said is particularly unique. Possibly even the Airbnb

I do everything domestic. And work full time.

I manage. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. But it’s doable. It’s the bare fucking minimum of being an adult and a parent. and A LOT of parents, wether single or married can run a house and work.

I’m still none the wiser how OP’s husband wouldn’t be able to keep the home “calm and organised” if she want there. I’m baffled by it.

@drumbeats she said what her and husband did at uni, what jobs they both worked at.

Her approx age, number of kids and the primary/secondary school ages. She mentioned how some kids did state schools for primary.

Her cars (oldish Volvo model and a mini).

Her ski chalet in France, and that they're there 2 weeks in winter, in summer, and some weekends during the year.

Her charity work positions.

She mentioned no cleaner and a gardener. If I knew OP in real life I would have spotted her for sure.

Add that with a studio Airbnb, it really makes it obvious if someone on here reading this knows the OP

I can imagine how hard it is. I’ve just never managed to balance it all. I’m in awe really of people that do manage to do all of it.

This. Why exactly do you think anyone is interested OP? AMAs are usually really informative subjects with people like the Palliative care nurse the other day.

I'm bemused at the number of posters who post on the thread saying how pointless it it. Why click on the thread. It's really clear from the thread title what it's about.

@AlwaysGinPlease This. Why exactly do you think anyone is interested OP? AMAs are usually really informative subjects with people like the Palliative care nurse the other day.
Are you serious? I've seen AMA about all sorts of topics from 'I'm a kept woman' to 'I'm on only fans'

@Basilandmandarin because unlike your probable job, some jobs require 12-14 hour days, overseas business trips for a week or two with little or no notice and no ability to take random days off. My dh had a job like this. He earned multiples of what OPs does and we have a lively life but my closest friends who saw the reality of how little he could do domestically admitted it wasn't something they could deal with. All jobs aren't the same. You don't get paid hundreds of thousands or millions without having to sell your soul. Is it worth it? Some would say yes some would say no.

@drumbeats oh wow 🤣 I haven't , I find it all a bit narcissistic tbh so I usually avoid "I'm so cool and unusual ask me anything"

My boss earns close to 1M a year through his various businesses and his wife earns even more. They rarely see each other - their assistants have to find time in their diaries for evening events, holidays etc. Sometimes they try and make the same train home but its a rarity. They work long hours but they get all the comforts around that - cleaner, housekeeper, dog walker, nutritious lunches brought to their desk, personal trainer, taxi home after evening events. They have houses overseas so can fly out to enjoy the sun for a weekend. So I do not feel remotely bad for logging out dead on 5pm and going home when he works until 11pm!

This.

You pay people to do that!

I think it is quite a common local saying!

The OP has already says she WANTS to be at home with her children. She does not want to pack her kids off to wraparound care. She does not want to employ someone else to look after them. She wants them to have the luxury of coming home from school to their own home and presumably being able to do the activities they enjoy iwithout having to fit everything in at weekends.

Im struggling as to why you find this difficult to understand.

Your ‘difficulty’ is nothing more than sour grapes.