In thinking 40k income really isn't a fortune??

[mummymacbeth]

Yes, a thread about a thread kind of. And I am fairly sure it has been done before but still!

I really don't think a forty grand gross income is a fortune. Our income with two kids is currently a bit less than that, though has been that in the fairly recent past. It is - and was - a bit of a struggle. We are not in the south east, we do not have a huge mortgage, expensive cars, kids are at state school and we don't manage to get abroad every year. We are living from month to month. A "fortune" it ain't!! (ref the post about someone wondering whether to have a fourth child)

No one would buy my house anyway. It's 100m from the m3!

My mistake - there are some 3 bed flats/houses. Again, most are more London which may work for some but not all.

but Laurie, you have a very very good income. Much higher than average.

Caitlin, I'm happy with choices. I worry about money but I didn't come on here to moan. Just to answer the question of the op, no I don't think 40k is a lot if you live and work in the SE.

Yes I'd be rolling if we had a smaller mortgage.

I have 3 dc of mixed sexes, a 1 or 2 bed flat will not work soooooo Krum could you perhaps list the vast amount of property in Surrey or areas that we could commute into London from so dp can live near his family.Obviously it will needs to have affordable train costs too.

It cost us 14K to move last time which I don't have.

On that note I'm off for a bath in my marble bath. The bath butler will turn on those gold taps for me and pour me a glass of champers

It won't link but I already posted how to get to whst I'm looking at. 3 bed houses in Surrey.

Bulletproof. Others maybe not but you really are wealthy so that's not funny.

well I looked Krum, and there were flats, in really shit areas, mobile homes, but no houses. I live in Surrey and dont know of any 3 bed houses for less than £200k

Where,near which stations and schools?

It cost us 16k to move! 16 fecking k!

And we also live and work in the SE, 10 miles out of London. Our income is much less than 40k too. We live comfortably though and go on holiday twice a year, as do most of our friends and family.

A good income means less if your outgoings are high due to house prices.

We have about 4k a month - house and cars take up 3k, other bills 500, leaving 500 a month disposable income (roughly) for food/clothes/everything else etc.

My best friend (unable to work) and gets various financial help has more than that disposable a month. The main difference being housing costs obviously.

I've searched rightmove under your criteria krumbum and it's still not coming up with any 3 bed houses for £150k

emsyj

if family has 2 kids paying 300 a week childcare

2 parents combined income 40k ctc 4755.
2 parents i sahp 40k ctc 3085.
2 parents 1 sahp 20k ctc 3085.

both the second ones obviously had no child care costs

this is using hmrc's calculator and assuming the salerys are befor deductions

to the poster who replied they needed a bigger home because of mixed siblings. ha ha ha.i have 2 dds and a ds on 1 room. i grew up in a 2 bed property with gps?mum,2 sisters and an uncle.their is no rule about mixed genders sharing.well only in your head ha ha. did the banks force you to buy half a million pound houses then?...

Pink that would be me and I certainly don't have a half a million house,why on earth do you think that?

Krum - see mr earlier posts. I accept I have a good salary, but I also have very high outgoings. Most of which are unavoidable. I am not wealthy but do live in a nice area of the country in a nice house.

Now when I stop paying child care, I will be rich beyond my wildest dreams

I had more disposable income at university

And I was paying a mortgage then too

People feel poor when they start considering things that really are luxuries as necessities.

See-
Insurance (excluding buildings and 3rd party car)
Travel
A big chunk of gas/electric/water
New clothes
Pets
Extra rooms
Sky/cable
Home pc/laptops/consoles/most appliances/electrical goods
Luxury food/takeaways
Cigarettes/alcohol/lottery
Holidays
Haircuts/beauty
Contact lenses
Cosmetic dentistry
Lots of medicines/painkillers/vitamins etc
Most cleaning products
Gym membership
Most baby equipment
Jewellery and perfume
Christmas/birthdays

Now I'm not saying we should all live without all of these but if we learn to be HAPPY to be able to afford them we will be more contented than when we see them as essential and thus feel broke

Affuenza is a very good book on this subject.

Whst about the one in Dorking for £130k?

Prairie - in not very nice areas and near not very good schools. There are no magical 3 bed houses in nice areas with good schools. Not that I've found anyway!

Krum

Au pairs are not supposed to have sole charge all day of pre-schoolers. Au pairs can be a good option:

A) if your kids are at school most of the day, they can do drop off and pick up
B) as a support to a mum on maternity or a SAHM

but they are untrained, young, being paid buttons and really not meant to have sole charge of babies / toddlers whilst parents work all day.

affluence is dreadful book
oj is bumptious and pretentious
and he opines dreadfully on working mums