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How are people affording this lifestyle?

311 replies

AmusedTaupePlayer · 23/06/2025 14:30

Just curious if anyone can shed liJust curious if anyone can shed light on this. I know a couple a few years older than me (late 20s/early 30s) living in Newton-le-Willows. He works as an admin/warehouse inventory clerk at some small frozen and she did not go to uni, she has no LinkedIn, never mentions any kind of work or side hustle.

And yet they’ve been on a couple of holidays in the last year, seem to eat out occasionally, and post pics of family days out etc. It’s not luxury by any means, but still — two kids and one modest income??

Are they just really good with money? Family help? Universal Credit top-ups?

Genuinely trying to understand how people make it work on paper when everything is so expensive these days.

OP posts:
didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 23/06/2025 14:31

Maybe they're selling drugs? Have you alerted the police?

MadamCholetsbonnet · 23/06/2025 14:32

Family support, inheritance? I’m not on LinkedIn. Doesn’t mean I don’t work 😂

You sound really jealous.

CountryQueen · 23/06/2025 14:33

Ask her what she does for a living? More likely to find out than asking us 🤣

MadamCholetsbonnet · 23/06/2025 14:33

Don’t be silly @didntlikeanyofthesuggestions. They are in 500k of debt and it will all come crumbling down around them soon.

SkintSingleMumm · 23/06/2025 14:33

Idk maybe they are just good with money? Have been left some money etc.

HellonHeels · 23/06/2025 14:34

Credit cards, loans, trust fund, benefits, criminal enterprise, inheritance, lottery win, extreme frugality?

fluffiphlox · 23/06/2025 14:34

Who knows? Credit cards?

MintTwirl · 23/06/2025 14:36

It doesn’t sound like a life of luxury? I’m guessing they are good at keeping money for the things that are important to them and being frugal elsewhere.

HeddaGarbled · 23/06/2025 14:37

That’s a bit stalkery of you. I’m not sure you should be thinking this much about their circumstances, let alone writing about them on Mumsnet.

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 23/06/2025 14:38

You sound creepy as fuck 😂

And what on earth does LinkedIn have to do with wealth? I’m not on LinkedIn and you’ve no idea what I earn

Swampdonkey123 · 23/06/2025 14:39

I don’t have a degree and don’t have a LinkedIn account. Neither does DH. We still earn enough to eat out occasionally and go on a couple of holidays a year. I’m not sure I get your point.

ghostyslovesheets · 23/06/2025 14:39

I’m not on LinkedIn either didn’t realise it was a red flag!

maybe they are just careful with money

Sofiewoo · 23/06/2025 14:40

Go on holiday and eat out occasionally? The horror! Don’t think know they should only be on gruel?

Bjorkdidit · 23/06/2025 14:41

Well she's obviously selling her used underwear online and doing OnlyFans while he's at work and DC are at school/nursery or neglected at home if younger.

Or it could be all manner of reasons already mentioned.

IrishMist78 · 23/06/2025 14:43

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 23/06/2025 14:38

You sound creepy as fuck 😂

And what on earth does LinkedIn have to do with wealth? I’m not on LinkedIn and you’ve no idea what I earn

Exactly! I’m not on Lindkedin, nor is DH. Between us we have a 6 figure household income so it’s hardly an indication of not having a good job🤣 For many industries it’s just not necessary (thank god)

OP - how do you know that she doesn’t have a job? She could be working from home or just does antisocial hours.

Please stop stalking your poor neighbours and let them live.

GoldDuster · 23/06/2025 14:43

I have got a degree and I'm doing more than alright for nice holidays. I'm not on LinkedIn.

Whiteframe · 23/06/2025 14:45

People make all sorts of assumptions about my finances. The fact is when I travel I do it very cheaply and my mortgage is paid off because of some big sacrifices I made when very young.

I'm very good at vouchers and discount codes for meals out etc and also do some online market research bits which "pay" in restaurant vouchers. The vast majority of the time I live very frugally. I also have never borrowed anything except the mortgage and over time that makes a huge difference to outgoings. The whole look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves thing really does make a difference too. Reduce your food shopping by £20 pw by sacrificing luxuries, and don't spend £5 twice a week on coffees and you've saved £1500 pa. More than enough for some cheap.fligjts and an AirBNB somewhere lovely.

If you also "save" £70pm on haircuts and manicures and £100 pm on SkyTV/gym membership/make up/contact lenses/fancy moisturiser/regular clothes shopping, or whatever luxuries you enjoy, that's another £2000pa. That's not to say one way is better than the other, but demonstrates the impact of your choices.

I don't have financial help from parents, but they are very supportive with no doubt saves money over time.

Also the snapshot of my life you see on SM doesn't really reflect the reality 😂 and no one would find my linked in profile because there isn't one, and I didn't go to Uni, but throughout our marriage I was the higher earner! You don't even know if she works or not.

Growlybear83 · 23/06/2025 14:46

What has LinkedIn got to do with anything? Neither of us has ever used LinkedIn and neither of us went to university - my husband left school at 15 and I left at 16. It’s certainly never damaged my career 😆. I’ve worked in local government all my life, so not a typical Mumsnet career or income, but we used to go on two or three holidays a year before we had a child, courtesy of credit cards, we ate out regularly, and have owned our own property since I was 21. You prioritise the things that are important to you and ignore the nosey parkers who speculate on how you manage it.

maddiemookins16mum · 23/06/2025 14:46

How dare she not go to Uni and still be able to afford little luxuries.

IrishMist78 · 23/06/2025 14:52

maddiemookins16mum · 23/06/2025 14:46

How dare she not go to Uni and still be able to afford little luxuries.

I went to university, DH did not (in fact he barely has a GCSE to his name) yet he earns triple my AHP wage. It’s really not the be all and end all OP.

Midnightlove · 23/06/2025 14:55

Dh didn't go to uni, we spend a lot more money than that..

StMarie4me · 23/06/2025 14:59

Why do you care? Jealousy is not a good look…

PrioritisePleasure24 · 23/06/2025 15:01

Well linked in doesn’t mean you don’t work. I’ve been working near on 30 years and i’ve never been on there. I didn’t go to Uni…. people can and do have careers without that?!

It’s almost like people prioritise what they spend money on. I love eating out and short breaks through the year. I mostly buy my clothes on vinted. I don’t have nails, eyebrows, botox etc etc done. we don’t buy loads of ‘stuff’. I do home workouts on my own equipment no gym fees. We budget our bills and savings we have no debt bar mortgage. I don’t go to all the gigs i’d like to but choose a few.

You sound very judgey on something you know nothing about tbh.

Starlight1984 · 23/06/2025 15:01

She's not got LinkedIn yet she can afford to eat out AND go on holidays?!

I think you need to ring the police and bring this to their attention....

RichPetuniaAgain · 23/06/2025 15:02

Perception. Some of my family think I’m pretty well off. I’m not, but I’m a good money manager with what I’ve got. Perhaps it’s that.

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