To feel depressed at financial talk on MN?

[FluffyPotato]

I understand that people sometimes have to talk salaries for context but I think some people just like to throw out numbers so that they show their middle class status to the rest of MN.

A thread I've just seen 'DH works 30 hours a week earning 60k' and someone commenting 'oh my DH earns 100k'.

I work bloody hard 40 hours a week and get about 1200 a month before tax.

AIBU to think that some MNers just like to boast their household income figures to others? Getting quite sick at how middle class mums net is.

Lucky to get one post a week on Gransnet! So I stay here, distorting the demographics and talking about interesting stuff.

😆😆

Most people who earn a lot do work fairly long hours. I agree that some are retired or have investments but that is not most posters who have high earnings. There is usually never an easy option to have a lot of money unless you win the lottery (or I suppose marry for money but even that is not that easy particularly to keep the spouse interested as you age before he moves on to the younger model).

What someone is worth is always fascinating. It tends in economic terms to reflect skill shortage - eg most people could not play footbal like David Beckham could; most people can't do brain surgery; not that many can do my law job. Just about anyone with legs and arms could do my son's evening shift for deliveroo or the ocado driving job my other son is waiting go hear about so not surprisingly those two jobs are about minimum wage or not much abov (or probably even under for Deliveroo as it's self employed).

Anitidae, that is very true. I am highly skilled but it is not a skill that will make me rich.

When I worked in my "REAL" job, I worked 7 days a week for six months a year and 5 days for another three months. I travelled at the drop of a hat to go to meetings, and often got up at 3.00 am to be in London for a meeting at 7.30 or 8.00 am, turned round, came home and turned in a revised version by mid afternoon. I was extremely highly paid, and I used price to turn away excess work or work I didn't want to do. Then the Internet moved the goal posts on me. It's all history now so I do part time work in the family business, which (I think) generally benefits from my perspective and experience, although I would concede that I tend to over complicate some things.

I have no problem with people earning huge incomes, good for them. I don't sit seething with envy when I see someone living in a bigger house than me or whatever. We have a nice house and a reasonable disposable income, so that's probably easy for me to say.

The one and only thing about it all that pisses me off is people who insist that anyone can do it and you're just lazy if you don't. Opportunities are not equal for all people, no matter how much we want them to be. And whilst some people can come through very adverse circumstances to become very rich, they still needed access to certain opportunities to achieve that. Even getting a job is entirely dependent on having a good day at the interview. You could apply for a job where you meet all the criteria but still not get an interview because it just so happens that 30 other people met the criteria too, so you didn't get an interview, but if the same job were advertised a month later and a different group of people apply you might be one of only five who meet the criteria, so you get an interview. All of those things are completely outside an individual's control, and are not a reflection on their work ethic.

From my experience people who earn high figures tend to work long hours. That's not to say people who are paid less don't also work long hours. I've just noticed on Mumsnet theres a fair few posters who seem to earn lots but work few hours. I do not know any of those people in real life.

Totally agree, Treaclesoda. So many value competition but don't recognise their advantage.

I just read comment about nurse's being paid well. That is not even remotely true, I know nurses who have gone through uni got a degree then got a job with the NHS and now have to use a food bank. I'm a nurse and I'm about further urge ladder due to promotion, which by the way took me working 56 hours a week but only being paid for 37.5 hours. I live in a tiny house in the south west. My salary is OK I can't afford takeaways and buy second hand clothes but that's because I save for a cheap abroad holiday every year.

treacle, I agere with you and most people would. However nor am I in the camp that people have no ability to improve their financial situation and life just happens to them and they cannot make anythnig happen. That is equally as untrue. You won't be on that list of 100 applicants for the 1 top job unless you have good exam results for a start. You don't get that deliveroo job one of my 18 year olds started this week unless you apply. We do have some agency and say so in our lives, not everyone has a lot of choices but we have some.

Lucysky yes, I agree, I didn't mean to imply that I think that no one has any control over things.

I just mean that you can do all the right things, work hard at school etc, and apply for all the jobs under the sun but there are certain aspects of the whole thing that you can not control no matter how good your work ethic.

I agree and some is luck always. My son was saying why can't everyone be a deliveroo rider rather than not work (he got the job so easily last week). I had to point out that we live in an area where people can afford to have meals delivered. In some areas people can bardly afford a white sliced loaf for the week never mind restaurant meals deliveredto their homes! Secondly he has a bike. Not everyone can afford a bike. (Mind you some people have a bike but are too lazy to use it much.... thinking of mine here... may be becoming deliveroo cyclists could be a solution to my trying to lose 7 pounds issue.... I'm too lazy)

Of course, and then you have to be physically able to cycle too!

Indeed. As I said to him some people don't have legs. However his basic point was not wrong . he can also subcontract his round to his brothers and he will. it has been a very good experience in self employment just for a ew months between school and university and indeed hopefully he can carry on in his university city.

One the biggest issues for those on benefits however is the impact of getting a bit of extra money - very hard to come off and go back on benefits - although vast numbers of people just take a risk and keep that massive black economy going.

Aah, I always suspect that some posters just pluck a figure out of the air to make themselves "look better". As for the class issue... mumsnet is the only place I've ever known folk to aspire to be MC, or even mention class at all!

I suspect any conversation involving money will raise all sorts of feelings in people. Money isn't a marker for happiness and doesn't really always show disposable income. Someone with a larger salary might have more outgoings than someone who earns less. Some people are talented in making a little do a lot. As a society we seem to have fallen into a way of thinking where we throw money at our children's activities rather than just spend time with them for example. I see that mentality where I live. I'd say OP that if you're happy in what you do and it gives you a sense of pride in yourself, be that your life makes you happy or that your earnings mean you can mark your contribution to your family, then don't worry. A conversation rarely gives the whole story rather like photos on Facebook. Xx