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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be amazed at how much money some people seem to have?

275 replies

EverythingTurnsToSkittles · 01/02/2016 16:25

I'm talking about people who just do totally normal, average/low paid jobs, but just seem to have money coming out of their ears!

Someone that I know has one child and lives with her partner, who works in a manual low skilled job. She doesn't work. In the past year they have been to Dubai, flying first class, Cyprus, Center Parcs three times, plus several foreign weekend mini breaks in Europe. They also live in a really nice house and certainly don't seem to go without in terms of clothes, eating out, cars, etc.

Do a lot of people who live like this on a seemingly low income have family money? I have come across quite a lot of people like this recently and am intrigued about how they do it?!

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 01/02/2016 16:51

A lot of those low-skill manual jobs pay much more than anybody without insider info would guess- specially if it's physically hard work.

I know a guy who makes about a thousand a week for a job of a fairly-specific,but non technical, home improvement nature.

cjt110 · 01/02/2016 16:51

I put away 75% of my salary per month into a savings account. I'm only on 17k a year. We have 2 cars, a bike, a house, private nursery, have holidayed 2.3 times a year before DS, ate our at least once a week..... Our bills are pennies - Our mortgage is £220 a month whereas the neighbours who rent next door pay £600 per month. Perhaps they are good with budgeting? And saving?

frogletsproglets · 01/02/2016 16:51

its often they've had help from family or some other kind of financial luck, you really don't know

I know a couple like this, massive (owned) house, new cars each, nice things. he is a cashier in a bank and she doesn't work

their parents basically paid their (huge) deposit on their house so they only have a smallish mortgage to pay

BoffinMum · 01/02/2016 16:52

There are people in my area who carry on like this and I got so baffled I asked my accountant about it.

He said not to look for them for an example as many of them are spending well beyond their means. It was quite reassuring, actually.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 01/02/2016 16:52

autumn

What credit do you reckon is availible for people on benefits?

rubyblue · 01/02/2016 16:52

I reckon folks get themselves into massive credit card debt. We are really cautious financially. We earn good salaries but have a big mortgage, childcare etc. It wouldn't occur to me to put a holiday on a credit card that we couldn't pay, but I grew up in a poor family so I'm very debt averse as it was touch and go at times as to whether we'd lose the house. My sister on the other hand earns far less but lives for today and can't hold onto any money - she takes the attitude of why bother worrying about it.

rubyblue · 01/02/2016 16:53

....which fills me with fear on her behalf as they are so precarious..

RhodaBull · 01/02/2016 16:54

Because of the rise in house prices, a lot of people I know are inheriting very decent amounts of money (not us, sadly!). Dn's bf has just been able to buy himself a house outright aged 25 because his granny died and owned a rather ordinary bungalow but in a desirable town.

Kennington · 01/02/2016 16:55

Well if they don't own or haven't paid off their mortgage they may have income from now spending it on a money pit of a house or it is just additional money to be paid off on the never-never at ridiculous interest rates.
But I agree: inheritance and rental income boosts salary a lot.

AMouseLivedinaWindMill · 01/02/2016 16:57

maybe they just got upgraded on flight to dubai, even wealthy people dont splurge on first class unless someone else is paying

ivejusthadacake · 01/02/2016 16:59

do they have a stunning house with high end kitchens/bathrooms/sofas etc?
are they renting in a less desirable area?
are they spending £80 or less a week on food for their family?
do they drive 10 year old cars and only have one car in the house?
do they budget?
might their parents give them £500 for a christmas present and then £500 for a birthday?
agree with doesanyoneread, i know some salespeople who get paid very well indeed when you include bonus, not £200k well paid, but like £70k well paid.

it could be a number of things and you'll never really know.

ChristmasCabbage · 01/02/2016 17:00

I always suspect that these sort of people (normal jobs yet crazy holidays, huge houses etc) are having everything on credit. I always think they're insecure about their completely average lives and want to try and convince the world they've got money. They're mortgaged up to the eyeballs and take loans and credit cards for everything. They will be working well into their 70s and it's likely they'll never pay off everything.

Whatdoidohelp · 01/02/2016 17:00

Amouselived -
Wealthy people don't splurge on first class
*
Really, who are you basing that on* Hmm

228agreenend · 01/02/2016 17:01

I agree. I went through our finances yesterday, working out a budget etc, and it leaves virtually no money for unexpected expenditures, let alone flights to Dubai. Quite depressing really, as I know this year will be tough financially, and I'm going to have to be extra careful.

stumblymonkey · 01/02/2016 17:01

Drug dealers? Grin

To be honest this doesn't sound right for the amount he would be earning.

There could be all sorts of reasons though which are none of your business you wouldn't be aware of.

They could have come into an inheritance, they could have saved or invested well early and now be reaping the benefits, either of them could have an additional business they run from home.

sootica · 01/02/2016 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AcrossthePond55 · 01/02/2016 17:05

A lot of those low-skill manual jobs pay much more than anybody without insider info would guess- specially if it's physically hard work.

Yep, this. My DH (now retired) and his best mate work in a field that many turn their noses up at; wastewater treatment. Excellent pay. DH's mate makes 6 figures. DH retired at 55 and his income was almost that.

NewLife4Me · 01/02/2016 17:06

A lot of people have credit and live monthly, I don't know how they do it tbh.
Everything goes on the credit card and they pay an amount per month.
They don't own anything, the credit company does.
It's amazing (not in a nice way) though when something happens and they can't afford payments anymore.
Their houses soon become empty, along with their garage or driveway and the holidays stop. Sad

sohackedoff · 01/02/2016 17:08

I have an acquaintance like this. She grows popular plants.

teejayem · 01/02/2016 17:08

Yep, my brother is this person!! He seems to have a knack of putting his hand in a bucket of shit and pulling up a Mars bar. Him and his gf bought a house with a lot of help from both families and are selling it with a £100k profit, getting married abroad, two new cars on lease, 3 yo is spoiled rotten, gadgets, iPhones, electric cars.... last year they had two centre parks breaks, one weekend to New York, one holiday to Greece and another to Spain. They are on significantly less than us salary wise and I know that a lot of it has been paid for on credit which is secured against the house.
I also know that they don't have the best relationship, which is sad, because they use material stuff to fill the void. I keep reminding myself and OH that we are richer for being happier, but it's still a kick in the teeth seeing them with ALL THE THINGS when we have both rented since the year dot, have no hope of saving for a deposit now we have ds, have one car on its last legs and have scraped (and I mean I'm selling my clothes on eBay scrape) together enough (£400!)to go on a 10 day camping holiday to France, which is our first holiday in three years!
I often what I'm doing wrong....

InspectorMontalbano · 01/02/2016 17:10

When you say a manual job though, carpenter, electrician, plumber, what are you meaning? Because those jobs can be extremely well paid. I have a friend who's a joiner, he has his own business and sends his kids to private school. Another friends buys bulk jewellery from China and sells individual pieces on eBay and pays her mortgage that way (mind you she's up to her ears in tiny packets at the post office every day!). So how do you really know what someone earns just because they seem working class to you?

HackerFucker22 · 01/02/2016 17:10

Ha ha. So it took 4 posts before benefit fraud was mentioned!! Is that a record?

OurBlanche · 01/02/2016 17:11

Sort of Piper It's a long and convoluted story that starts with them refusing to pay MIL the final £30K on the house they bought from her and ended after her suicide and a repeat request for tens of thousands of pounds that were weren't 'using'

First request: Sunday lunch, quiet request, turned down. Then lots of wailing that we were meanies, selfish and nasty.

SIL cried.

BL spat at me (actually spat in my face), apparently I am a controlling bitch as his brother loved him and would have given him the money if it weren't for me!

We left. MIL died and we went very LC.

Second request: Asked to meet us for a drink to make things right between us. Asked for £20K as they feared BI would be made redundant - note feared. We said no and left. They told family we had left them in the lurch and had deliberately let them face losing a holiday deposit - note face losing. They lost neither the job nor the holiday!

DHs family have repeatedly asked him if he is OK? Uncle asked outright if he needs a place to stay, away from me.

We are, obviously, NC and have been for some time. DH took a long time to stopped feeling guilty, now he wonders what it was he ever felt guilty for.

I have brainwashed him well Smile

InspectorMontalbano · 01/02/2016 17:12
fastingmum123 · 01/02/2016 17:13

Maybe they are meth dealers?