6 figure incomes and can't afford a load of bread?

[LemonyFresh]

Is it just me or has there been a influx of posts about household incomes of over 100k or similar and complaining or wondering how they're skint at the end of the month and struggling? Is it a stealth boast or do these people actually struggle?

Am I really in the minority with a household income of less than half of this?!

I know we tend to spend to our means but even when DP and I are having a flush month I don't see the point in over spending for the sake of it.

There were a spate of threads/links to newspaper articles with people earning ludicrous money and "struggling". Last year? But not really recently I think. Before the JAM thing.

You namechanged just to ask us about some imaginary threads?

No people on low incomes don't get discounted electricity or anything like that. You can get benefits if you are on a low income, but these have been reduced, and are being reduced further. If you are on a low income and have children, the chance is you will get some benefit. But those without children have to be very poor to get anything.

We live fairly comfortably on 30k after tax SanityAssassin. We are careful with money though and overpay the mortgage and count every penny.

www.mumsnet.com/.../2652736-AIBU-We-re-struggling-to-get-by-on-200- 000-a-year

That was one. I think there were a few others around the same time.

But hardly a recent avalanche.

If anyone actually WANTS to place details of their finances in the media, there are ways to at least get paid for the disclosure;

sellmystory.co.uk

In the UK there are tax credits for low income families with children. However, thousands that are entitled to don't claim them now. Unfortunately over the last few years there has been so much negative press about claiming tax credits (or any benefits) plus stigma, thousands of families being unfairly accused of defrauding the system, having to repay tax credits, sanctioning, change after change, private companies getting involved etc. Plus tax credits are supposed to be replaced with universal credit soon. Our welfare system has almost fallen apart.

People very recently have been talking about the NHS falling apart, but very little was said about the welfare system falling apart.

Thanks for replying brasty

I agree with a PP that part of the issue is expectations about what a £100K salary means in terms of lifestyle. People think it means caviar for breakfast, skiing and caribbean holidays etc. It doesn't any more. That doesn't mean people with a £100K income aren't well off, its just they aren't living the lifestyle they thought they would be.

I also think people start viewing discretionary spending as necessities. I pay school fees, I view it as a luxury spend but I have heard people talk about it as if it was the only real option they had.

And another one for balance (I'm not connected with these -I just googled them)(

www.talktothepress.co.uk/sell-my-story/

Oh and NameChanger.

We are starting to see the government crack down on what they are claiming as "welfare cheats" here too at the minute. I guess it's a sign of the times since they've not managed their own budgets so well

If I had such a high income I'd be ashamed to post about being hard up tbh.
It just shouts of being a bit thick and unable to manage money, when some families earn less than a quarter of this.
Maybe because they earn so much, living within their means isn't something they feel they should have to do.

I don't get the obsession on here with Ocado being the preserve of those who waste money. They price match and refund the difference if your shopping would be cheaper at elsewhere. They always have a huge range of basics on offer. I have a delivery pass so each delivery costs me less than £2. Much cheaper than the bus.

I think what annoys me os people who insist they earn a lot because they work hard, without recognising the amount of luck involved. We are a family of 4 living on about £25k in the south east. We are careful but comfortable and feel fortunate. I don't doubt that lots of people who earn big salaries work very hard, but lots of poor people work very hard too, people working stupid hours over two or more jobs isn't uncommon. Effort isn't necessarily linked to income. Despite what Mr Cameron insisted at one time.

I've seen threads like the op describes. The one that stands out was just before Christmas with someone complaining how skint they were with their £100k income. They were just about to move house and she was on mat leave I think. I just remember thinking all the choices they had made had put them in that situation. And if they had actually thought the plan through and saved and planned accordingly, they wouldn't have been in such a financial mess.
There was a discussion on the radio last week about people struggling. One woman from an inner city, struggling to do two jobs, single mum, couldn't afford even an NHS dentist, struggling to feed her dc then a bloke came on who had his children in private schools, but couldn't afford the childcare costs for the younger one and moaning about how much it cost to get shopping delivered
I could not believe the second caller was comparing his 'poverty' to the first person. Absolutely no comparison and I was really annoyed by the whole thing.

We don't really overspend, if there's any left over it's saved for doing house improvements or for a month when there is an unexpected bill or something needs replacing.

You're right cherry. I sometimes use Ocado as shorthand. I suppose what I mean is that I spend £50/week on there, and friends spend £250 - I guess to me it's a sort of shorthand for time-poor/convenience food/Charlie bloody Bigham/expensive stuff/no relation to what a basic shop costs (which is a whole other thread).

But, yeah, there's nothing inherently wasteful about Ocado imo.

Yikes what are you buying for 250 a week?

I think it depends on your lifestyle choices as well as luck or lack of it.
Chaz post above, to us 100k would be living the life of riley, it would be pretty much disposable income.
We would have cavier, holidays and tbh, we'd find it difficult spending the money without feeling sick with greed.
Others it would barely give them a minimal frugal lifestyle because their outgoings are so high.

Household income of over 100k. We pay for prep school, have a mortgage, pay for dd's activities, food etc and still manage to save 50% of our income every month. Trick is to spend on what you feel are essentials and not fritter money away on multiple expensive holidays/devices you dont need etc.

tomorrow it didn't even seem to be alcohol what done it. I've no idea how a family with a toddler and BF baby can spend north of £200 p/w on food. I'll sneak a peak at their Ocado order next time I'm round there

Noticed a couple. Deninitely not an influx. Probably DM trying to get a story on the poor rich people somewhere in all this.

Essential Hummus yikes. Theres three off us (2 adults and a 5year old) and I can't imagine spending that.
Please be nosey... thats always fun.

We get about £25,000 a year between us

2 children

£600 rent

We spend about £50 a week online shopping at Sainsbury's.

It's tight sometimes but we actually still have money left for luxuries

Maryann

I just remember thinking all the choices they had made had put them in that situation.

Can the same not be said about the lives of many people?

Kazmerelda Thu 12-Jan-17 11:29:53
"Not seen an influx either, but there are more people talking generally about how they are struggling.

I wonder though if our parents/older generation did have similar but never spoke about it as freely as people do now?"

It's a very middle class thing, isn't it? It used to be considered vulgar to talk about money. At the same time the lower end of the middle classes were struggling terribly after WW1 to keep up with all the trappings you had to have to retain caste: private school fees, a servant (before WW2), a stay-at-home wife. But you had to pretend it wasn't happening.