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Original poster

Who are the squeezed middle?

144 replies

Thisisanewnamename · 23/08/2022 20:10

I know the squeezed middle is a bit of a contentious term here on MN but as it’s common parlance, let just roll with it for the thread.

In terms of household income who are the squeezed middle? Obviously there’s variation here for location, children, mortgage/ rent. Given that the average uk mortgage is around £750 a month. What is the salary range (before tax) for the squeezed middle. DH and I have an average life I’d say (average mortgage, average usage bills wise, average family size you know) but I think we’re probably a bit above average in terms of household income and yet we can barely make money stretch. I think maybe households that earn under £100k?

am I the squeezed middle? I think I must be, household income is definitely under £100k. Is there a definition of the squeezed middle?

OP posts:

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/08/2022 20:11

We are low 60’s and feeling the pinch badly.

NameChangeLifeChange · 23/08/2022 20:14

Our household income is around £85k but huge mortgage (almost double that average thanks to a hideous recent remortgage at a high rate) and insane childcare costs.
Life feels really miserable right now. Currently on a (free!) holiday- drove to a friends place in Spain. Good lord I want to live here and never come back.

Wouldloveanother · 23/08/2022 20:15

People like us I reckon. Combined income of 75k (before tax) so take home between us is something like 4.5k a month. However;
Mortgage is 1200
Childcare is 1100
Bills together (everything including mobiles, cars) are £900 ish
Food £400
that leaves £900 a month or so for everything else, but we’ve had a lot of ‘expenses’ lately - washing machine breaking, car needing repairs, hefty vets bill because dog swallowed something… there’s always something…

So it’s quite normal for us to be left with £500 between us - £250 ish each - after working full time for a month. Not great is it?

LilacPoppy · 23/08/2022 20:17

£75k is not the squeezed middle! The average squeezed middle are people who are on a very good income but completely delusional and think they are not.

Ganymedemoon · 23/08/2022 20:17

I would say we are the squeezed middle. Annual income of £70/80K in London with an above average national mortgage but I would say low for London. Average sized family with bills etc. Not many extravagances. We are definitely been squeezed to afford things we normally could, mostly kids clubs and holidays and savings. At the moment can cover bills and food and a minimal life but not much else. We are certainly not the worst off by a long way, but we will struggle to keep our heads above water with future price hikes. Luckily we are both in jobs where we can work and get paid for overtime, but this will just mean that between us we will be working like ships in the night. But I guess needs must when it gets to that.

AliceW89 · 23/08/2022 20:17

There is a definition. It’s along the lines of people whose income is too low to maintain them comfortably but not low enough to qualify for state benefits. There is no set amount because defining what ‘maintaining a comfortable quality of life’ means is difficult and dependent on many different factors. Where I live, 100K would be far too high to be ^the squeezed middle’ but sure, maybe in some places it would.

Marinamountainzoo · 23/08/2022 20:18

I dunno. Our household income is £50k. We're feeling the squeeze, but not as drastically as some on higher incomes. Although we don't have a £1k mortgage or a £1k monthly childcare bill.

Original poster

Thisisanewnamename · 23/08/2022 20:18

NameChangeLifeChange · 23/08/2022 20:14

Same here salary wise! One year ago would have been very comfortable! Mortgage due with htb at the end of the year… golly! Lucky fucking me, I desperately want to emigrate to France/ anywhere that will take me / us

OP posts:

LondonQueen · 23/08/2022 20:19

I haven't really noticed the squeeze too much, though have noticed the prices of just about everything have increased dramatically. I'd imagine 60-80k is the squeezed middle.

Badbadbunny · 23/08/2022 20:19

Your income range should be increased to £125k because of the punitive 63.25% marginal tax rate on incomes between £100-£125k due to the removal of the tax free personal allowance at that income level.

So I'd say the range is £50k to £125k, i.e. losing child benefits, losing tax free personal allowance, etc.

That's based on tax/nic deductions, but also student loan deductions, workplace pension deductions, etc. I'd say you're "squeezed" when you're losing more than half of every extra pound you to in deductions from your wages.

Of course that only applies to workers, as there's no NIC on property/investment income, dividends, pensions, etc., nor workplace pension deductions, and pensioners won't be paying off student loans!

NorthernPud · 23/08/2022 20:20

I think it depends on loads of variables including whether there are high mortgage and childcare costs

blacksax · 23/08/2022 20:20

If you read the Daily Mail and shop at Waitrose, you are the squeezed middle.

hth

SundayTeatime · 23/08/2022 20:21

We are in London with a joint salary of 60k pre-tax. I think we are squeezed middle.

Minikievs · 23/08/2022 20:21

I earn £45k and am a single parent with the entirety of housing costs falling on me. I'm a little boggled at the thought that people on a household income of £70-£80k think they are the squeezed middle

topcat2014 · 23/08/2022 20:22

Depends really on whether you include London, or not.

Household or individual income.

I earn 60k, which is of course a good income.

But, DW is sahm.

So the same as two people in the average 30k salary or one in 40 and one on 20.

So, not min wage heating or eating, but even so.

TheStarsDontShine · 23/08/2022 20:25

Considering only 5% earn over 80k I don't think wages in that bracket can be classed as middling

middling is less than 60k when you lose all child benefit but above average wage so between 30-60k

😂 at a wage of 125k being in the middle

Wouldloveanother · 23/08/2022 20:26

Minikievs · 23/08/2022 20:21

Where do you live? Do you claim any benefits etc? What are your outgoings? Kids in nursery?

StillMissV · 23/08/2022 20:29

I think it very much depends. For example, that average mortgage is not the same in all parts of the country so where £45k would be ok in some places, £45k where I live would be very tight and certainly wouldn't comfortable pay for example a mortgage on a pretty normal 3 bed house, with childcare costs. A 2 bedroom flat in my area is now £400k and childcare costs for one in full time and one in wraparound have been averaging £1350.

Azandme · 23/08/2022 20:29

These figures are hilarious!

I earn £36k a year, FE (so 8.30-5, 6 weeks a year leave) teacher and single parent homeowner with mortgage, wrap around childcare, no entitlement to anything but Child Benefit and a Childcare Account so the govt tops up 20p in the pound.

Having £250 each a month left after working full time does NOT make you the "squeezed middle" FFS.

Having NOTHING left a month, and no entitlement to any help does. If you've got money left, you aren't squeezed, you just have less than before.

People on a joint income of £75k plus feeling hard done to or struggling need to give their finances an overhaul.

ItsSnowJokes · 23/08/2022 20:29

Some of the privilege on display on this thread is astounding! Having £250 each spending money a month is not a squeezed middle! And also if nothing breaks for a month you would actually have £900 a month!

We have about £30 each a month! And when the bills keep going up and up that is getting eroded on a weekly basis!

We earn that little bit too much for any benefits but not enough to actually be OK. We have no savings and if our washing machine breaks it will be a credit card for replacement or the launderette! That's the fucking squeezed middle!

elliejjtiny · 23/08/2022 20:32

I think household income of £25-£50k is the squeezed middle.

Isahlo · 23/08/2022 20:32

We are homeowners with a joint salary of 35k we pay 815 on our mortgage have one child in childcare work 30 hours each a week (we live in SW of England where full time jobs are really hard to come by) I am at university retraining in a healthcare job that should hopefully mean that I can get a ft job when DD starts school and I graduate
we don’t qualify for any kind of UC/council tax do get tax free childcare but it’s still £££
our council tax is 233 a month (we live in a modest 2 bed semi, it’s batshit)
we have 31 quid a week after bills
sil lives in a rented house and works 2 days a week no childcare costs full rent paid 75% reduction in council tax and has £160 pw after all bills
im not bashing those entitled to help but I think there is a group who don’t earn enough to manage but who don’t get any help who are the squeezed middle

Isahlo · 23/08/2022 20:34

Just to add that £31 is for food, for fuel for emergency for squirrelling away etc

mummabubs · 23/08/2022 20:34

I think we're probably the squeezed middle. Joint income of ~£75k (pre tax), but then mortgage of £1500 a month due to rates and living somewhere prices have truly gone insane, then childcare for two kids. I only work 3 days a week and our childcare bill is £1500 a month. So to be honest we don't have much spare each month for anything beyond food and bills (definitely no holidays or treats, I'm worried about my car MOT this month which I need to get to work (work in a remote location with no easy transport access) and I'm genuinely terrified of what winter will bring with fuel costs). Then it boggles me that at our income I'm counting the pennies and I think how the fuck is anyone below our income with 2 kids and a mortgage coping?!

Original poster

Thisisanewnamename · 23/08/2022 20:36

ive calculated that by the end of the year my bills without changing anything will have gone up £700 a month…to me that’s a definite squeeze

OP posts:

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