Do you feel guilty about being well off?

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Inspired by the thread about big houses. Growing inequality within developed societies is becoming a global issue and was arguably a key factor in Brexit and the election of Trump etc

Many of us have more than we need, much more than others. I say I believe in societal inequality - and I sincerely believe that I do - but apart from reasonable donations to charity and votes for the left of centre candidates (Green, in my case) I'm not really doing anything to disrupt the status quo.

I'm well off, partly because I've worked hard, but mostly (if I'm honest) because I'm lucky and I feel guilty about it.

AIBU? Or is greed just a fundamental part of human nature?

So are you saying people who Are well off are basically greedy? Quite the sweeping statement.

I don't feel guilty, definitely not.

Like you, work bloody hard, Have done so for 20 years plus.

To many, we are middle of the road, to us, from our poor backgrounds, dh & I are well off.
Our bills are paid, we take holidays, we have a house, car each and can afford to keep our two children.
We have savings, earn decent money.

No guilt whatsoever.

Nope, not for a second

No. I dragged myself up from nothing and I'm unapologetically proud of that.

I'm just being nosey

I say I believe in societal inequality - and I sincerely believe that I do so you believe its right for there to be a rich and poor, a haves and have nots? So why do you feel guilty?

Why should I?

I don't feel guilty about the life I have, Me & dh both have good jobs but most of what we have has been inherited so some would say we are just lucky although most of our families are dead.

Our bills are paid, nice cars, we've a very nice house, go on a few holidays a year, can afford the dc we have, have savings.

I refuse to feel guilty for all we have

I don't feel guilty but I try to use it to help others.

YANBU. I'm well off because I've worked hard yes, but I have also been lucky. I come from a loving and supportive family, I went to a good school, when I've made mistakes my family have been there for me, loads of things that mean I've been able to make the most of opportunities as they have arisen.

Perhaps guilty is a bit strong for it, but I certainly don't think I'm anything special just because I live in a nice house blah blah blah!

MommaGee sorry - that was a typo! Or perhaps a Freudian slip!?

I meant to write that I believe in tackling societal inequality...

I earn 62k for doing a job I don't find hugely hard, with regular 9-5 hours. I feel absolutely minted, BTW (I know to some people 62k might not seem "rich", while to others it is). I own a home, have a car, never have to budget, flew first class on my last holiday.

I do feel guilty sometimes as I know people who work much harder than me who will never earn what I earn. I'm thinking nurses, charity workers, other public servants etc. A nurse can work far harder than me (and I'm sure they all do) plus they have to work unsocial hours. So yes I feel bad.

Sadly hard work doesn't always get you a ton of money. Garment workers, for example, work extremely hard and will never be rich.

I try to make up for it by donating to food banks, I've done the last 9 Christmases at Crisis Christmas etc.

I don't feel guilty

We've been very lucky. Ive lost a couple of friends who expect me to feel guilty because they are on low wage and can't afford the stuff I do/places I go etc..

Although I do feel a little guilty when admitting my child goes to private school - when I absolutely shouldn't.

I think it's because I come from a very hard working class family.

OP, working hard doesn't mean much these days. Many people work hard. But they're still hard up...some are lucky like you...and work hard too.

I worked terribly hard when I lived in the UK, as did DH. We got nowhere. Since moving to Australia, we have something to show for our work.

I'm not knocking the UK...I love it so much. But it's VERY hard to get anywhere there unless you know the right people.

I don't feel guilty no. Because I come from an extremely long line of working class people.

If I'd been born into some wealth then I might have the odd bout of guilt. Now I have concern for those less well off but no guilt.

I am very aware that my relatively pleasant circumstances now are a combination of luck AND hard work.

I do not like that there is such large social inequality, and I don't like the 'othering' that people do to justify to themselves why they have lots and other people don't.

I feel bad enough to donate some to charity. But not bad enough to stop having awesome holidays etc.

So I can't be THAT bothered or I would give away a lot more of my income.

I'm not well off compared to many on here, but I'm better off than alot of people. So, I suppose I'm well off but not

I do feel bad that I have had so much government help over the years, you know when tc wasn't a benefit
However, now I'm doing my best to do my bit and work pt.
I don't need the money but as my dd benefits hugely from the tax payer the least I can do is work pt.

Yes.

I earn six figures in a job in the City for basically fannying around in meetings.

I don't think what I do should be paid so much compared to nurses, doctors, paramedics, etc.

I think it's a bit obscene and also means we are rewarding the wrong things in society (making money for investors who are already rich is more important than those dealing with human lives).

No! I feel relieved and lucky. I grew up in poverty and sometimes I'm just suffused with joy and relief that I never have to live through poverty again.

I get the impression that most of us who are comfortable feel that we simply have what we deserve, whilst recognising that there is only so much to go around - and that others will invariably have less. We seem somehow programmed to want more than average, and to regard 'too much' as an amount that exceeds whatever it is that we have.

I work very hard as a carer for the disabled (assaulted on a regular basis) and I'm on £7.50 an hour

Jazzy

That's social mobility from working class to middle class, you shouldn't feel guilty for that.

No.

I grew up poor, and enjoying our wealth if you want to call it that, now.

However, I've always been happy with my lot; both the poor upbringing and the more affluent life I'm having now. I don't take it for granted, but if we lost it all tomorrow I wouldn't be devastated.

Kokusai yes, that's sort of the way I feel. I feel guilty but can;t seem to give up the holidays

Nope. I worked really hard to get here. I work really long hours in a v demanding job. And i pay a shitload of tax every month.

I don't feel guilty - but I do give a lot of time and money to charity.

Wow! What do you do, coffeeslave? If it's not outing.

I think it's a bit obscene and also means we are rewarding the wrong things in society (making money for investors who are already rich is more important than those dealing with human lives).

Yep that's how I feel too. All I'm doing is helping rich people get richer. When I worked at a well-known newspaper I used to think about how I was just helping the brother owners afford yet another island!