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Original poster

Is everyone rich?

128 replies

Led921900 · 03/01/2024 05:52

Is it just me or is everyone minted? I think I’m the only one of my friends bar a sahm who isn’t on over £100k?! We were talking about kids free hours and we seem to be the only family able to qualify, everyone else earns too much.

My partner earns £38k and is by far the lowest earner I know.
I come from merseyside, it’s not like any of us come from money.

When did everyone get so rich?
And yes I’m totally jealous!

OP posts:
fuckssaaaaake · 03/01/2024 08:40

JaninaDuszejko · 03/01/2024 08:32

@fuckssaaaaake I'd say your salary disparity with your DH makes you an outlier. You could have two people on £135k each, paying £40K into their pension, they'd still get free childcare and they'd be able to get a mortgage big enough to buy a £1M house.

For the person who claims people who have PhDs and work in pharmaceuticals earn over £100K, I'd say you have to be very very senior to earn that, the average salary (even for PhDs) at my work is below that.

Hey, I don't get this comment. Not in an argumentative way, I just honestly don't know what you mean. Personally yes I've never earned that much , was on around 45/50 before I started my own business, but we've always been jointly in this bracket for a long time so it's not like I'm removed from the norm in my local area. I don't need or get the 30 hours, and I'm wondering why the other comfortably off in the area do. I'm not explaining myself well I realise 🤣

fuckssaaaaake · 03/01/2024 08:41

@JaninaDuszejko wait, are you saying is two people earned 135k EACH they would still get 30 hours if they paid into their pension!?

VivienneDelacroix · 03/01/2024 08:42

I live in the South East, but in my area the average salary is 32k according to latest figures. I know a couple of people on 100k+ but more people on minimum wage.

Original poster
Led921900 · 03/01/2024 08:42

MintJulia · 03/01/2024 08:35

@fuckssaaaaake Ask any RAC man. Volvo has always been a good car. Whether it is trendy or not is a different question. 😀

Yes I think the point is the price of them. The xc90’a they’re driving start at £59k!

OP posts:
Original poster
Led921900 · 03/01/2024 08:43

MintJulia · 03/01/2024 08:32

No, single mum here with a bit less than £60k coming in, which isn't high given the price of housing in Hampshire.

The differences I notice most are:

I go on very few holidays
I do my own decorating, make my own curtains
Buy secondhand furniture
Keep my cars for 12 years
Cook from scratch, never have takeaways
Feed an adult & a teen on £50 a week
No gym, no subscriptions, ParkRun & Freeview work for us
Budget for everything

But we are fed & warm and generally life is good so I'm not envious. The greasy pole can get very tedious.

Yep basically same as us.

OP posts:
ValerieMoore · 03/01/2024 08:43

Honestly if you have your health it’s more valuable than money

Patriciaspantry · 03/01/2024 08:44

I don’t know but (using an entirely unscientific criteria on which to judge) having left my Christmas shopping late this year, I was surprised by how many expensive items were “sold out” and also now, when I am researching holidays, how many are already booked out. Someone must be doing all this spending without too many financial worries! It really surprised me given the current economic climate.

Danikm151 · 03/01/2024 08:44

Nope. £27k - no partner but a UC top up and child benefit.
janua is the longest month ever.
bills and rent are paid and freezer is stocked so to some that is rich but I really wish my disposable income was higher to enjoy life a bit more.

Original poster
Led921900 · 03/01/2024 08:45

fuckssaaaaake · 03/01/2024 08:41

@JaninaDuszejko wait, are you saying is two people earned 135k EACH they would still get 30 hours if they paid into their pension!?

This is what one of the over £100k onrd does. She’s overpaying her pension to get her salary down under £100k so she gets the free hours…. Then when the kids go to school she’ll reign that right back having saved more into her pension earlier and have more disposable income again.
As I say the rich get richer…

OP posts:
sunflowerpinks · 03/01/2024 08:46

Is everyone rich?

If everyone was rich then the average salary wouldn't be £35K?!

Original poster
Led921900 · 03/01/2024 08:46

ValerieMoore · 03/01/2024 08:43

Honestly if you have your health it’s more valuable than money

They have health too and probably better at maintaining it given they can jump on their peloton each night! 😂🙈

OP posts:
Pootlepattle · 03/01/2024 08:47

My husband and his siblings are high achievers and now all in 50s earn over 100k with combined incomes I think all the males earn over 100k

they have all been in their line of work for a long time and have not had career changes

MintJulia · 03/01/2024 08:47

Re: the Volvo. Company car? Or on a balloon payment plan. If they have a high income, they can choose an expensive car. It goes with the territory.

But it's just a car. It goes from A to B. Given the traffic, it won't get there much faster than someone driving a Ford Fiesta. It's all just 'stuff'. Who cares? Hardly environmentlly sound, is it !

AnneValentine · 03/01/2024 08:48

JubileeJumps · 03/01/2024 06:26

Are you sure they do? I’m always staggered at the credit card debt some people have in order to keep up a certain lifestyle.

If they aren’t eligible for childcare due to earnings that’s salary not credit card debt.

Confidentialinfo · 03/01/2024 08:48

I am the treasurer for a preschool near Oxford and in a cohort of 40 kids only 5 don’t qualify for 30hours or tax free childcare - few of those are SAHMs and a few of those are 100k+ earners - it’s not a majority even in an affluent area

fuckssaaaaake · 03/01/2024 08:49

@Led921900 wow I had no idea you coins do that. Seems a little bit of a piss take to me. They do not need those house! Others do

fuckssaaaaake · 03/01/2024 08:49

Hours

AnneValentine · 03/01/2024 08:51

Threadreplier · 03/01/2024 06:34

Hmmm interesting. It depends what field you're in. Your friends must earn significantly over to not qualify as pension payments take most in that region, under the threshold. So I do think your friends are unusual if lots don't qualify. I think it often depends on bonuses- so people in banking, pharmaceuticals, sales, computing, these sorts of industries and contractors are often quite high earners now. But a lot of these jobs aren't that safe and you earn a lot for a couple of years, are made redundant or contract ends and end up earning less for a few years.

Contracting bubble burst with IR35.

Confidentialinfo · 03/01/2024 08:54

I completely disagree that children of parents that earn over 100k shouldn’t qualify for 30hours or tax free childcare. It’s such an unfair system. People that earn this much mostly work long hours, don’t get child benefit and pay a ton of tax. Fucking hate this government - thought they wanted to incentivise people to work hard and make money

Scottishskifun · 03/01/2024 08:55

Comparison is a joy thief as they say!

I do have a few friends on that sort of money but it's definitely not the norm and tbh I see how stressed they can be with work and think no thank you! I used to be in high pressure high paid industry and although I was good at my job and could be on 100k+ by now, I could easily have to do 70 hours a week for a few months of the year in the end for me it wasn't worth it!

I'm much happier with a better work life balance and less stress!

AnneValentine · 03/01/2024 08:57

It depends where you live. Where I am we have household income of £280 - £30 of that is mine, I earn the lowest of everyone I know by a large amount.

We aren’t people from wealthy backgrounds, no deposits handed down etc but we are all those who went to uni and qualified in professional services, made smart choices in terms of saving, when to have children, blowing money etc. There is also the typical gap between the two - one earns more than the other as has been enabled to progress. I am under no illusion that we are the norm.

ValerieMoore · 03/01/2024 08:57

I’ve thought about this recently. I’ve got a working class income, mid thirties and wondering if it’s still possible to become rich

Mazuslongtoenail · 03/01/2024 08:58

I’m from a similar area yet I have a wide group of friends and we all earn near there, if not quite.

I’ve thought the same how it seems to be everyone and also doesn’t seem particularly wealthy but statistically it’s the top 10%.

AnneValentine · 03/01/2024 08:58

Confidentialinfo · 03/01/2024 08:54

I completely disagree that children of parents that earn over 100k shouldn’t qualify for 30hours or tax free childcare. It’s such an unfair system. People that earn this much mostly work long hours, don’t get child benefit and pay a ton of tax. Fucking hate this government - thought they wanted to incentivise people to work hard and make money

As someone who doesn’t qualify we don’t need the same nor should we get the same as those earning £30K. And if you think the loss of free childcare is a reason people aren’t progressing you need to think twice. Seriously.

Original poster
Led921900 · 03/01/2024 09:02

Yeah she’s paying her tax so why not claim the 30 hours and overpay her pension?! I think as well when it’s not a household calculation then it’s not really that fair anyway.

OP posts:
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