AIBU - We’re struggling to get by on £200,000 a year

[BreakingDad77]

next.ft.com/content/d6f1e58e-20c9-11e6-aa98-db1e01fabc0c

Just actually gobsmacked by her comments -

“In theory, with our household income, we are in the top 5 per cent of the UK population and yet it does not feel that way,” she says. “If you’re earning millions of pounds, then you’re OK — and at the other end of the spectrum you get everything paid for. We are caught in the middle where we are paying for everything.”

Yeah because you know those on benefits get such a cushy deal...WTAF

Just all feeds into why UK is one of the mist unequal countries in Europe.

Its ironic as with the EU ref Brexiters going on about how all the other EU countries are crap and yet we have some much bigger problems closer to home.

[sharknad0]

DH is a musician and earns maybe as much as 5K pa.

I am sorry, but this is a choice. Not the wrong choice, nothing negative in here, but it's a choice. Many people around me have given up their dream job, and are doing things they swear they would never do when they were younger, simply to pay the bills.

(please understand I am nowhere near saying that you have anything to do with your own disability! )

[EllsTeeth]

You talk a lot of sense Flamingflume. No one is saying it's "hard" to live on >£200k a year, just that that kind of income is in no way super rich. And the level of stress and commitment normally needed to sustain that sort of income, which doesn't provide a "rich" lifestyle, can be a sacrifice. Re tax, I do resent paying the nanny's salary and tax (and employer's national insurance) out of my already taxed income so that I can work, yes. Also, we can't just "move to a cheaper area" as we need to be able to commute to Central London (which itself costs a small fortune). So it's not all roses in that income bracket as some may think is all.

[ginorwine]

Bacon
Can you elaborate re your comment that people are dying due to cutbacks ? I know it's probably de railing the thread but am Intrested to know more please .

[GreatFuckability]

the vast majority of people in the UK are. globally speaking, rich. even those going to food banks are better off than the vast majority of other people on this planet.

when you are in the top 5% of earners in this country, you ARE rich. You are. ffs, if you can put a kid in private school you are rich. if you own a house worth £700,000 YOU ARE RICH. The absolute lack of understanding of the rest of the world outside of your bubble of wealth and entitlement of some people is fucking disgraceful and disgusting.

[GreatFuckability]

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/thousands-died-after-fit-for-work-assessment-dwp-figures

[Janecc]

Wouldn't it be nice if she agreed to do one of those budgeting shows, where the presenters come in and help them to live within their means?! Bet they'd manage to save loads a month. Why would you agree to such a damning article if you were on 200k a year. It's madness and embarrassing!

[e1y1]

ginorwine

HERE

[e1y1]

oops x post

[DailyMaui]

I don't see lots of vitriol - I do see frustration. And I can totally understand why.

The trouble is, most of the people who make decisions about what happens in this country ARE the in top 5% and, like this lady, have no idea of what it is to live on little money. Or indeed the average wage. You can't seriously moan that you are squeezed on £200k when you are able to make choices that can change your "squeezed" perception. They don't have to live in Croydon - the house is worth £700k so they could move to somewhere cheaper and release some funds. Both my husband and I work in central London and live in a nice area with a decent home but thats because we chose to commute. We earn nowhere near that amount and are very comfortable. I think we are incredibly lucky actually. Again she could ditch the private schools - there are loads of decent schools in the south east that aren't private. Round here the state schools are as good as the local private schools. She is choosing to spend all their money... she can't then moan that she hasn't got any left. Well she can but she looks a tit. Just like someone who moans about all those luxurious council houses that people live in. Imagine! A council house in Kensington! Actually I don't have to imagine as me and most of my school mates grew up on council estates in Kensington. My friend had a bath in her kitchen until she left home - no smeg, aga, wine cooler, dishwasher... no washing machine actually. Just a bath with a board on top and some old school wooden cupboards. It were THAT grand. And our homes were freezing cold in the winter - there was ice on the inside of my bedroom window.. I think (hope) that most have double glazing by now but these homes are not luxurious by any means.

There is so much inequality in this country, so many people genuinely struggling, genuinely living off very little that it is easy to see why people get so annoyed with deluded fools like this lady. She's not squeezed middle - she's someone who doesn't know how good she's got it.

I wonder if she pays as much tax as you think - most very well paid people I know have accountants and rarely pay the usual standard PAYE rates that lower earners deal with. I know several people who earn in excess of £70k but pay the tax of an average wage earner. Now that seriously boils my piss.

[TheABC]

I thought the headline was a typo! 20k, I can understand. 200k ? Er, no. Most of us cut our cloth according to our means. She needs to as well. Even halving that income would still put her well above the average wage in this country.

[ginorwine]

Shark - I agree with some of your comments regarding lifestyle choice . I'm not referring to vulnerable people here but it does infuriate me that some people I know work the system and clearly have decent lifestyles by keeping their working hours down and claiming max benefits . People who live near us have celebrated their lifestyle of getting up at 11 am , then doing a few hours work - self employed - making sure they don't earn too much . They have encouraged me to adopt same lifestyle .
It seems shocking to me that they openly work the system when friend s are working hard , paying their way etc .
Again this is seperate to vulnerable people - they openly told me to reduce earnings so that my ds would get help at uni etc .
I just can't agree with this and it's hard for the genuinely squeezed middle to hear I think .

[WriteforFun1]

The person who says this is about pitching wealth management services, I doubt it, this woman doesn't see herself as having any wealth left to invest!!

[ginorwine]

Thanks for replies and articles re death rates and cuts .

[littlepippip]

We have an income around that and pay 50% tax rate which tbh is disheartening because for about 6 months of the year it feels like you're working for nothing but more importantly I'm proud that we can contribute to the UK in our own little way - paying tax is part of being a good citizen. We don't struggle at all but then we aren't very materialistic....the woman sounds like a t*at!

[CelticPromise]

There will always be people who play the system, rich and poor. The rich (eg through tax avoidance) have more impact on the rest of us surely?

[MargaretCavendish]

"We have an income around that and pay 50% tax rate which tbh is disheartening because for about 6 months of the year it feels like you're working for nothing"

Well, nothing apart from schools, hospitals, roads, a society where neither the unemployed nor the elderly starve to death, and quite a few of the other trappings of civilisation.

[SemiNormal]

I'm about to leave college and will be going to Uni in Sept.
During college, as my son is now 5, I haven't had Job Seekers (full time education) and not eligible for Income Support so we've been living on £80 per week - that's for food/utilities/clothing etc.
When I finish college I will be signing back on Job Seekers until I start Uni in Sept ....... oh how I wish I could trade with this woman. She clearly doesn't know the joys of standing in the Job Centre being able to feel the sweat accumulating in my palms from the looks of the Job Centre workers making feel like I'm something on the bottom of their shoe, I cannot wait to anxiously hear their decision as to if they feel I've done enough in a given week to not be sanctioned. I enjoy that sick feeling in my stomach when people ask where I live (council estate), what I do (single mum), then how do you survive (benefits) .... oh those labels and all the wonderful stigma that comes with them. I remember free school meals and how the other children treated me like divorce was catching, not wanting the same for my son I insist on packed lunch because although I cannot to pay for school meals surely packed lunches are less stigma inducing than free school meals! The other children made no hiding of the fact that their parents were disgusted that my mum paid less for me to go on school trips because we were 'poor' ... but yes, benefits, lovely lovely benefits, they sure do make all this stigma sooo much more palatable and life is just fucking dandy!

As a side note, I am actually happy, I am trying my hardest to create a better life for myself and my son - and I will do it. I may not have monetary wealth but I feel rich as can be with a happy, healthy child and lovely friends.

“Some people are so poor, all they have is money.”
― Patrick Meagher

[Philoslothy]

I am sure that statistics show that higher earners often get more out of the state than lower earners who may not be claiming benefits -so the real squeezed middle. I know when I have gone to my local children's centre it is often crammed with women who appear to be quite affluent all accessing subsidised courses and support. As a family we attend lots of subsidised arts and sports events. We use our libraries do rarely have to buy books. Tax relief on pensions and investments.

Of course I could be wrong - creeps under rock and waits to be corrected. It was just something I remember reading.

[Philoslothy]

Having money also enables you to make your money go further. I don't know if this still happens but it used to cost more to have utilities on one of those key things than paying monthly or periodically.

We are able to bulk buy and save money. We earn money in interest from savings which is literally money for nothing whereas others are facing bank charges. If you have spare money you can invest it , again making money by not doing very much whereas others have to work damn hard just to make ends meet - if that.

If we need credit we can get it cheap and easily rather than using a payday lender.

IMO it is cheaper to be "rich" than poor as long as you are realistic about how rich you actually are.

[Janecc]

SemiNormal. I'm sorry you had this when you were growing up. The adults were appalling bullies. Please be assured if you do want free school meals for you child, this will be treated in the strictest confidence. I have no idea who is on free meals. I suspect there is one to my knowledge and maybe several more. She is a divorcee and a very nice lady, who wants the best for her children. Yes, she is made to feel like a second class citizen by some mums because her child used to have behavioural issues but not by everyone - and definitely not by me. And we certainly don't fall into the low income bracket. I just don't value people by the size of their house or wallet. Please enquire at the school. You could always request they take you to a side office if you feel nervous.

[Kpo58]

If someone on 200k is "struggling" then they really need to sort out their finances and learn how to budget.

[annielostit]

Someone direct the lady to the frugal section she need help

[GreatFuckability]

people who think they work 6 months of the year 'for nothing' have a very poor grasp of how taxation works. no one pays 40% tax on all of their earnings. you only pay 40% on the bit that exceeds the tax bracket!

[luellabelle]

I'm sorry but I've said it before, £200k is not poor and it's not struggling. She is clearly going wrong somewhere. She's paying one set of school fees and doesn't have a bit mortgage. £200K doesn't buy you first class flights and a fully staffed household but it buys you a bloody good lifestyle. Anyone who can't manage on that with one child even with one set of school fees is doing something very very wrong. I mentioned previously that this is similar to our income in the same part of the country and we really do feel that we've a really excellent standard of living.