To think we're not rolling in it financially?

[FannyShmeller]

That's what we earn between us. I have a baby due in November. First DC. £45K a year between us.

A friend of mine thinks I must be rolling in it, as apparently 45K is beyond her wildest dreams. They're honest people - I can't imagine them cheating the system. Yet they earn considerably less, she works part time and they have money for treats, holidays etc. I'm a bit ... I obviously must be doing something wrong! Yet they live in the same area and their rent is the same.

Our rent is £1150 pcm. Including anything utility bill reacted, that's about £1350.. I have included council tax etc in that amount.

Childcare is £60 a day That is over £1200 a month.

We live and work within London, yet travel isn't cheap either. That's another £££ a week gone.

We shop a very basic Aldi shop, and even then will have to closely watch pennies when paying for childcare.

We have no money for treats. Not at all.

AIBU to say we're far from rolling in it? We would seriously consider moving out but DH just started a new career turn and he can't up sticks right now due to just starting, he needs to work in this job for a while. I can move jobs (NHS), fairly easily, I guess... I just hope it'll be easier when we are finally able to move out of the City.

£45k a year esp in London is not rolling in it! The acarrage wage is £27k I think so less than the average by nearly £10k.

that rent for a 1 bed flat!! Come to Yorkshire. We pay 600 a month for a large 3 bed house and think that's high. DH could commute? - there's a superfast train from where I live to London, assume similar is available elsewhere. Plenty of medical secretary jobs outside of London (I'm NHS and do see them come up on the jobs site). Good luck with it all whatever you do

Wriggler Bless you, thank you!

I would love to up sticks and move to Yorkshire But are you sure about DH going into London by train everyday, even on a fast train

Definitely agree that it's all relative. My yearly income including tax credits is about £16k, I'm a single parent. Sounds like peanuts but I'm in the east midlands, my bills are tiny (cheap rent, no travel or childcare costs as I work nights etc) so DS and I actually manage very comfortably. We go on lots of days out, have one foreign holiday a year and I can afford treats for myself like getting my nails done regularly. A wage of £45k in my circumstances would be a dream!

I'm always shocked at the cost of London living and a lot of people on a higher wage than me probably live way more frugally there.

Bitch Funny you should mention but I've started a new thread about where we should relocate. Midlands area seems to be going down well

If you're open to moving then I say go for it, money goes so much further here. I live in a commuter town between Nottingham and Derby and I love it here.

I did some sums for myself as my OH and I earn just a little under that and I'm due on maternity leave for our first, so wanted to know my options regards to returning to work, and its not great.
If I work 3 days a week I would only be £30 better off a week than if I went back full-time with childcare, according to the turn2us website. But I wouldn't be as that website doesn't factor in travel etc. So actually I would be the same, so I shall be going back to work part time initially as I'd rather spend more time with the LO.

nin, do you earn less than your husband (I earned more)? That obviously affects things. Secondly is it not a good idea to keep working so that when the children are at school your career is preserved?

20/25k per person? Lower than the national average isn't it ? That's a graduate level job pay so no not rolling in it.
That sounded really mean ... not suggesting you have crap jobs or anything just confirming the friend is a bit deluded
Rolling in it would be £100k plus combined