Cant live on 50k? (article)

[BlancheBlue]

I know these sort of things are designed to annoy and are probably twisted but families with £50k + income complaining about "no foreign holidays" and "oh my god I buy clothes in supermarkets" need to realise they are pretty lucky

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3759081/Why-families-earning-50-000-broke-end-month-figures-say-couldn-t-pay-unexpected-bill-500-four-explain-money-goes.html

There's nothing more I like to do than judge and feel smug about idiots who agree to pull a sad face whilst wearing primary colour dresses, nude tights and shit shoes in the Daily Fail.
I don't even need to read the article, it's bound to be some factually inaccurate rubbish perfectly written to antagonise.

It is totally fine to have gym membership. They can spend money on what they like but then appearing in an article saying they struggle with money.

They have the funds to pay £150 a month for gym and yoga which does not indicate a huge problem.

Not as if they using food banks.

They're not claiming to be living in poverty, that's not the point, the point is there's no buffer after normal expenses. And that's on almost twice the national average wage.

when you don't have a safetly net then it's more important than ever to stay well so you can keep working, so IMO gym = a health expense not a luxury

That third couple from Brentwood really need to weed their front garden.

I am inwardly shuddering at the thought of appearing in the national press standing outside my house with the garden in such a state.

[HyancinthBucketEmoticon]

Someone said they didn't understand what was meant by an unexpected bill. I had a leak recently because of inadequate flashing and had to cough up about £100 for that to be fixed. If you need a new washing machine etc. That's what I took from it (unexpected expenditure). If you have no buffer in what you bring in monthly or savings, it is going to be bloody had to find that money.

Jesus christ, they are supposed to be professional people, how bloody dense.
£0 on children's clothes, buying second hand for the kids yet gym membership, too many haircuts and feeding a rodent.
What a pair of numpties.

Written to make people riled.
They are not high earners, they are couples both with average salaries (£25kish) with a combined income of £50kish. As both work they need childcare which will take up one salary.

So a SAHM with a partner on £25k saying "we'd live like kings on £50k", well clearly but you don't have the same expenses.

The difference being that childcare will eventually end.

My childcare bill is currently £1500-1600 a month (one at school, one at nursery). So equivalent to a £25k salary. Will drop to £600-700pcm when both at school.

SandyPantz - I agree you should keep yourself in shape. I do but I don't spend £150 a month doing so and neither does my partner.

Walking, hiking and running - all cost very little as do HIIT circuits. I spend about £16 on Yoga as a treat to myself.

You can't be in an article saying you are broke then say you spend £150 on fitness plus Sky etc. Sure pay it if you want to but you can't then complain!

being on an above average income in the UK doesn't comfortably allow families to save for the odd luxury like a non UK holiday
That's your assumption then because we have been 2 or 3 times a year every year since youngest was about 4 years old and always in the school holidays.

gilly Rabbits aren't rodents
I'm refusing to froth on command at the DM, but I have decided I don't like them if they are keeping a rabbit alone not a pair. Food not expensive for rabbits but vet can be so maybe that's why cost seems high?

Stupid thing is, how do they think people on lower incomes manage?

Why is everyone talking about £150 on gym membership? They're spending £90 total (and, again, she's training to be a yoga teacher!):

CLUBS/GYM MEMBERSHIP/SWIMMING: £90 (£40 for Alex’s gym membership, £50 a month on yoga classes for Michelle).

I earn £50k myself and I'm "skint" but that's because I saddled myself with a lot of debt to buy shiny stuff, so I'm repaying/overpaying that as much as possible each month. I wouldn't have the gall to go to feature in a woe-is-me daily mail article about how I can't afford to live on a £50k salary/combined £75k salary.

Also how are the last family of 4 spending £664 a month on groceries, are they having steak & lobster and Bollinger for breakfast every day or something?

The first couple have a 2 week old baby yet are spending nearly 1k on childcare. The mother will be on maternity leave so why doesn't she look after them?

to be fair Housewife if she's planning on going back to work soonish then she'd be daft to give up good childcare and risk losing their place to other children for the sake of saving some money for a while when ultimately she's going to have to start paying it again anyway but to a childcare provider she doesn't already know and trust.

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus Fri 26-Aug-16 12:12:29
"They hit more than 2 demographics. They are brilliantly calculated to hit the people with similar incomes who can look at it and feel smug because they've made better choices/manage better etc than those featured. They can read it and say, "Well, you don't need that gym membership/you shouldn't drive a Mini Countryman/you should have stopped at 2 children/why are you spending £300 a month on going to weddings, and so on'.

This also works for people earning a bit more or less than the featured people. It's an ingenious strategy to get just about everyone frothing. "

This. I don't even have to click on the link to know that it would have that effect on me (though in a lower income bracket).

Also how are the last family of 4 spending £664 a month on groceries, are they having steak & lobster and Bollinger for breakfast every day or something?

Due to multiple allergies in our house we never get it under £100 whilst still being healthy and buying enough to not need "top up" shops in the week, and we cook from scratch, analyse each recipt to see what we can cut back on for next time etc.

I've been on threads with people who say a family of 4 should spend no more than £70/week on groceries, which I understand isn't an option for some, but when you ask how on those threads, they mean £70 for FOOD ALONE! our £100 /week grocery shop included toiletries, whatever household bits we need like batteries, gifts, greeting cards. Its all in!

Some people who say they do a month on £300 aren't counting toiletries and their top-ups and other bits n pieces that all add up!

They should holiday abroad, not in UK. Cheaper and you'd get nicer weather

My violin's broke, sorry
There are hard working people out there having to go to food banks.
How dare they and the DM expect us to feel sorry for them.

It's quite helpful IF people then link the two ideas together though ghost; "we/they are struggling on £50k so how on earth are retail/care/administrative workers coping in this economy, let alone those unlucky enough not to be working?"

Alex from the first couple is flippin gorgeous

50K in the South East is not a lot of both work and have to pay childcare. That will wipe out one salary right there.. I also get the reasons for 2 cars and paying for transport. The commutes are long so having one drop to nursery then hop on a train, with the other picking up later, is again pretty usual as it's nigh on impossible to commute into London and drop drop-off and collections. School will help of course.

It really is much cheaper to live outside the S.E.

Our income is above £50k but I don't see supermarket clothes shopping as something to be ashamed of. As a time poor family, I'd much prefer to throw things in with the groceries rather than waste a day trawling the high street. I don't think that Next is really any higher quality than the supermarkets anyway.
I'm amazed that the first family spends so much on bills. I think we spend £325 per month on bills. Childcare is £1400 though at present.

Bloody hell what bollocks. We live on a combined income of 25k before tax in the South East. Some people have utterly no fucking idea of the extent of their good fortune

Our income is half of this and we manage, you cut your cloth accordingly.
A jog around your local park is free and if they weren't spending money on childcare they'd be loads better off.
Some people don't see childcare as the luxury it is if it is costing a full salary.