Who are the people who are actually doing well financially in the UK right now?

[BeAlertBrickFinch]

I feel like I'm living in two parallel realities. Everyone I know — including dual-income households in London — is struggling. Struggling to pay rent or mortgage, worried about job security, cutting back on holidays, etc.
And yet... I see people who seem to be thriving. They’ve got two properties (sometimes more), their kids are in private school, they go on multiple holidays a year, and they don't seem particularly high-earning on paper — not doctors or bankers. Some even appear to have fairly average jobs or are self-employed.
So who are these people? Is it inheritance? Family money? Do they just hide their real incomes well? Or is social media creating illusions?
Genuinely curious — not bitter, just trying to understand the mechanics behind it all. Because in real life, everyone I talk to is barely staying afloat

Of course you do.

I have plenty of experience with DLA and in my experience it is a good indicator, especially high rates of both care and mobility which is difficult to get.

I can’t comment on DLA but half of applications are awarded so I wouldn’t call that very hard. Far from certain, but not very hard

As someone who actually went through the application and gathering the mounds of evidence needed at the same time as having a child in hospital and fearing for my job, it was far from easy. He did get awarded and considering his needs and all of the evidence provided, so he should.

I’m glad. But that’s your story.

Obviously.

Though I haven't met one person actually go through the DLA process and claim it to be easy. Only those who have no actual experience with DLA, funny that.

Possibly best not to get diverted on to the benefits bashing derail - the thread isn’t about benefits primarily.
After 520 posts in four days I’m sure the PP would benefit from a keyboard break as well.

If other people want to ignore it, that's perfectly fine. I won't.

I don't think pp will change their mind due to previous comments but maybe some others reading might. That's worth it to me.

Who is doing OK? Middle class professionals who didnt overspend on their house thinking interest rates would be 1% forever and who didnt run up big debts and who don’t live in London where everything is ridiculously expensive

Yes I fall into that category. Smallish house outside London, now mortgage-free. Live within means, drive an old car because don't need a new(er) one as a status symbol so have money in the bank and don't have to worry if the washing machine breaks down.

I did pay off the mortgage with an inheritance from my dad but it would have been paid off by now anyway.

I imagine your parents were quite likely middle class professionals who didn't overspend and lived fairly basically too? Mine are.

The prudent and cautious get a lot of flack, but literally all that happens normally is that the next generation also lives modestly and comfortably.

You'd think I was Rockefeller the way some posters comment on disposable income threads, but it should be the norm that we live lives of modest prosperity and security.