Would you class this family as average, comfortable or well off?

[Greyorcream]

Curious what people would class as “well off” these days?

Couple in late 30s with 2 dc (late primary/early secondary age). Not in London.
Partner A earns £52k and Partner B earns £74k. So fairly average wage. Neither majorly stressful roles. Both work full time. Home by 5 each evening. Both can wfh 2 days a week.

Both get annual bonuses of around 8% and usually salary increases of about 4% each year.

Mortgage outstanding is £339k on a house worth around £500k (5-bedroom house).

Pension contributions (employee + employer combined):

• Partner A: 17% (this will be increasing)
• Partner B: 21%

Savings:
usually save a third of income each month.

• £130k joint savings
• £40k saved separately for the dc.

No inheritance or family help received. No loans, car finance, credit card debt or student loans.
No childcare or private school costs.
Lifestyle-wise, usually one big family holiday a year plus a couple of weekends away.

Would you consider this comfortably well off, average, affluent, or something else? Genuinely interested as perceptions seem wildly different depending on area and social circle.

I'd say quite well off. Good level of savings, kids are privileged having that much saved for them already, still plenty of saving years ahead, good pension, good salaries. Better than a great deal of other people.

Why are they keeping so much in savings while also having a massive mortgage?

I don't see how a joint income of £126k plus 8% bonuses could be described as 'fairly average wage

Quite

I’d say very comfortably off. Certainly well above average, but not as much as wealthy.

It's quite obviously quite a bit above average.

A quick Google would tell you that.

As of the financial year ending (FYE) 2025, the median weekly household net disposable income in the UK was £719 before housing costs, equating to approximately £37,388 per year. After housing costs, the median weekly income was £623, or around £32,396 annually. 1, 2]

HTH @Greyorcream 🙄

You're taking the piss surely?

A bit above average 🤣

That's affluent in my books.

that is the UK life standard for mid middle class. Nothing amazing nothing awful. Hopefully you enjoy your jobs and where you live. For me thats not living it’s just going through the motions of existing. But if it makes you happy for your one life do it.

Remember also these salaries are both taxed heavily in the UK

I’d say you are comfortable. Very comfortable, but not quite well off. You could get there though. I think the interesting aspect is the guaranteed (or is it) increase which is currently above inflation, the bonus and the fact these are not stressful jobs and both home by 5pm. I know quite a few people who earn around £75k but they are pretty stressful jobs, have to work long hours and often away or weekends. No guarantee of annual rises either.

I’d say you are comfortable. Very comfortable, but not quite well off. You could get there though. I think the interesting aspect is the guaranteed (or is it) increase which is currently above inflation, the bonus and the fact these are not stressful jobs and both home by 5pm. I know quite a few people who earn around £75k but they are pretty stressful jobs, have to work long hours and often away or weekends. No guarantee of annual rises either.

I’d say you are comfortable. Very comfortable, but not quite well off. You could get there though. I think the interesting aspect is the guaranteed (or is it) increase which is currently above inflation, the bonus and the fact these are not stressful jobs and both home by 5pm. I know quite a few people who earn around £75k but they are pretty stressful jobs, have to work long hours and often away or weekends. No guarantee of annual rises either.

Is mortgage fixed at a low rate? I don't know how you'd be able to save so much on a £339k mortgage with an interest rate of around 4%..

I think people are being harsh on here because as usual MN is only the place for people who have lower household incomes. The reality in my world is that the OP describes a comfortable life. Its similar to mine in terms of salaries but we have a lot less in savings (but a lot smaller mortgage with living in the north). If you looked at our annual income, people might think we were rich but we certainly dont feel so. We don't have to worry about paying the bills and putting some savings away but I would describe us as having a pretty standard life, nothing flash. Grateful for the financial security we have though. I think this couple are doing well and have a nice , comfortable life

Average is a literal calculation.

If you want the answer to that, as many have said already, compare to average wages in the U.K., average house prices etc.

If you want a subjective answer that’s not actually based on average, I would describe you as doing ok, but you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the lifestyles that are normal among my friends. Many people wealthier than us would describe us as exactly the way I would describe you…and so on.

Average is an actual figure. No, you do not represent an average U.K. household salary. Google would tell you that. You also aren’t affluent or wealthy. But I would imagine you live a very comfortable lifestyle and as others have rushed to tell you, the figures you list are ones many people could only dream of.

I really don’t understand the point of your post.

Possible they still have a pre 2022 interest rate fix? Lots of people are still on like 1%, so theres plenty of room for the savings to be more effective that way.

Partner A earns £52k and Partner B earns £74k. So fairly average wage.

This is actually offensive.

I'd go with well off/borderline affluent. But then, we brought up 3 kids on one basic rate salary and felt comfortable, so what do I know 🤷‍♀️

Well above average.

As PP has said Average is a literal definition, it's not up for interpretation.

So yes those are both well above average wages.

they are well off from a socioeconomic ranking perspective and comparison to average etc.

Crucially, they probably don't feel well off. The combined salary is not enough to really do stuff without thinking, have super luxe holidays AND regularly eat out. Easy to burn through that amount.

I loathe these stealth boast questions.

Perhaps you could google the average salary and house prices in your area, although I'm surprised you don't already know that

Above average and a financially easy life so far.