Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To wonder how they afford it?

73 replies

louloutheshamed · 30/08/2012 07:42

Bil and sil are in their early 20s she is sahm to 2 dcs and he works in a call centre. So I imagine they are on a modest income, less so than dh and I who both work full time. But their lifestyle is just so lavish! In the last year they have had a new kitchen and two new bathrooms, the Christmas gifts they but their dcs are unbelievable, and yesterday they posted pics on fb of their new cars, an Audi tt and merc clk!?

We don't have credit cards so I am quite ignorant of how much you can get but I imagine that this is how they have done it? Or loans, other credit?? Also insurance as nil has dodgy driving record. Can anyone shed any light on how they might be affording this?

OP posts:

Softlysoftly · 30/08/2012 07:46

They are either in debt, amazing at budgeting and saving, have had a secret lottery/relative windfall.

In what way though does this affect your life enough to need to know?!

Tee2072 · 30/08/2012 07:47

They afford it because they find a way.

Do you really need to know any more than that? How is it your business how they chose to spend their money.

SomebodySaveMe · 30/08/2012 07:47

Finance probably. I'm not too sure it's your business though.

sleeplessinsuburbia · 30/08/2012 07:48

I know people like that, Id love to know cause I'm nosey.

ariane5 · 30/08/2012 07:48

Maybe a relative left them some money? Really, I wouldn't worry about how they are affording it though. Yes, it is frustrating when people have nice things that we don't and you cannot work out how they afford it but I would say just forget about it.

Original poster

louloutheshamed · 30/08/2012 07:48

I know, just curious!

OP posts:

Pozzled · 30/08/2012 07:50

Yanbu to wonder, but YABU if you want or expect answers. It really isn't your business.

DontmindifIdo · 30/08/2012 07:52

Finance, or could the other set of parents be supporting them? Or an inheritence from the other side of the family?

Or the 'work in a call centre' could be very well paid if it's a sales role he's a good salesman - they always advertise 'you could earn up to X' which is only what 1-2 people actually are able to earn, everyone else gets a fraction, he could be one of those amazing ones. Or he could be doing somehting technical or managerial in the call centre so earning a high base salary.

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 30/08/2012 08:00

Base rates in a call centre are average. However once you've added in overtime rates, comission, financial incentives and other perks you can get a good wage.

Plus some have other incentives. The thing I miss most about my old job were the discount schemes. I used to save around 50% on my weekly grocery bill.

Bumblequeen · 30/08/2012 08:15

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

carabos · 30/08/2012 08:20

I wondered the same as I walked through the small council housing estate round the corner from us last night and noticed a Ferrari parked in the drive of one of them.
None of my biz, but I admit I was curious.

givemeaclue · 30/08/2012 08:20

I don't blame you for being curious! I would ask them ' wow you're so lucky - you must share your financial tips with me!'

even accounting for overtime in a call centre and a potential grocery discount - it's not going to cover 2 x new cars, 2 new bathrooms etc is it? OR is he is a senior management position in reality, and where you think he's answering the phone he's actually running the place?

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 30/08/2012 08:51

That's what I'm saying, if you don't know his position or commission rate you can't assess what he earns.

Most people assume my dh is just a Sales rep (not his actual job title), his commission is often more than the average annual wage on top of a healthy base rate. However we are skint as we have other financial responsibilities for the moment although things will get get better in a few years hopefully

If this young couple are lucky enough to own their house out right through parental help or similar as well that would leave a healthy disposable income.

Mrsjay · 30/08/2012 08:54

maybe debt upto their eyeballs or maybe they won the lotto and keeping it secret . I suppose you are just being a nosy moo though and wondering I also wonder how people can afford things but nothing to do with me doesn't stop you being nosy though

wigglesrock · 30/08/2012 09:01

Depends what their outgoings are like? If they have no debt and a very low mortgage/rent then they probably could afford it. Maybe a relative helps them with their cars/works in the business. My parents in law have 5 holidays a year , they live really frugually the rest of the year and sit on travel websites/teletext etc to get the best deals.

Mrsjay · 30/08/2012 09:03

wiggle my mum pleads poverty yet has been abroad twice this year Ok mum if you say so

RuleBritannia · 30/08/2012 09:07

Do they claim benefits (because he's in a low-paid job and his income does not pay for all rent/mortgage, food, electricity, gas, water, Council tax etc)?

overmydeadbody · 30/08/2012 09:07

Perhaps he is on a very good wage in a top role in the call centre?

Perhaps they inherited some money and don't want to say.

Perhaps they are ridiculously in debt.

Or they're doing something dodgy on the side?

HoobleDooble · 30/08/2012 09:07

Some people spend every penny they get, live in their overdraft and get credit left right and centre, and are happy like that, nothing wrong with it at all. I used to be like that when I was with my ex, we had the big house and new cars, and huge debts, and it kept me awake at night. After we split and paid everything off (he was left with the house and a HUGE remortgage), I felt like I could breathe again, I'm more cautious now, and with someone of a like mind (if we can't afford it, we don't have it), hanging on to our savings and living in a tiny terrace. Totally jealous of my friends with their 4 bedroom, brand new homes, new cars and foreign holidays, but enjoy the peace of mind my revised way of living gives me.

GoldWithADragonTattoo · 30/08/2012 09:13

Could be that your BIL is more important than your realise or on commission and really good at his job. Could be that they've inherited money. Could be that that buy everything on finance (pretty common for cars, kitchens and bathrooms). Could be that your SIL has an evening job that you're not aware of especially if something like lap dancing that she might not want to discuss with family. Could be that one or both of them is involved in criminal activity such as fraud or drug dealing which are both potentially lucrative. A neighbour of ours always seemed to have new stuff and live better than the rest of us and he later went to prison for fraud. They were a normal family and I was good friends with the daughter and would never have suspected anything.

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 30/08/2012 09:16

I would wonder too op. No way that careful budgeting could pay for that kind of lifestyle.

I'm thinking massive debt or secret lottery win. More likely the former!

TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 30/08/2012 09:17

Drugs, smuggling, he's some mafia godfather, she's selling her body as a top class escort....

Are these the suggestions you were looking for?

How would we know what your BIL is doing for money. Mind your own business.

Hopeforever · 30/08/2012 09:22

The call centre may just be a cover story.....

LynetteScavo · 30/08/2012 09:27

Maybe the OP wants to know, so she can do it too....

BarredfromhavingStella · 30/08/2012 10:12

I used to wonder this about a friend until I discovered that she & her dh bought their original house with a mortgage of £55k & when they moved house a few years ago the mortgage stood at £115k.......

Flip

1 2 3