To think I don't belong on mumsnet

[Jollygoodsnow]

Is mumsnet thoroughly middle class? Often I feel out of my depth on here. People talking about what to do with their £50k inheritance or where to buy to get the most out of their £1.5mil. And here I am with DH living in the south in a rented home trying so hard to get a foot on the ladder because you'd be lucky to get anything worthwhile round here for less that £250k

Then there's the people asking do you like this dress/top/bag and I open the link and it's an item of £80 £200 or more etc etc. Who is spending that sort of money on themselves? And how? I want in on it!

Then there's those on a good salary. I earn minimum wage. Going all over the world on holiday, we go to Butlins

Posts about problems with the nanny, the cleaner bla bla

Life is not a conparison game but how do others seem to just land on their feet so well or people on here just lying through their teeth? I work hard for my money and so does DH , we've not much debt and money in the bank but I just have this nagging feeling others are galloping through life whilst I'm sort of trotting catching up behind?

Feel free to enlighten me with your stories of 'normalness'

Either than or perhaps I should pop over to netmums

If you can afford butlins prices in the holidays yr doing better than us honey

guilty can I have that in English please?

Have you ever seen that scene from Black Books where Bernard is attempting to understand and complete his tax return? I look like that right now...

It's where you got £5000 cash back and we used it as the deposit . There was a loophole . The only reason we are lucky is yes the house prices were lower but we got on the ladder instead of renting .

Truthfully the divide between rich and poor is massive now. Living down in the south east it's incredible.
My friends have grown increasingly wealthy and just little things like the causal chats about Majestic wine and the third holiday summer just make you realise that though you are both in Aldi you are worlds apart.

Mums net doesn't piss me off but the "we work hard for our money " attitude does. No we ALL work hard - you get paid three times more than me.

I have been very, very poor - in childhood through until i married. Just getting by when the two boys arrived, could run one car, but had to choose between a microwave and a tumble drier shows how old I am
Well off, combined salaries 100k+ (in the NE)
Now? Retired very early, comfortable but not 'rich'.
I could never, even in my rich days spend 1k on a handbag or 40k on a holiday. It would scare me rigid. No problem with those who do though, fgs, it's personal choice!
So....at various times in my life, i could have been looking for help to stretch a chicken to feed 4 for a week, questioning Butlins v Haven, wondering what to do with a surplus 40k, and now, planning a luxurious (to us) holiday.

So, yes, MN is for everyone, no matter what the financial situation is.

I must admit though, i think the 'type' of person on here is of the more middle class, liberal persuasion- nothing to do with money, more an attitude of mind.

As an average earning household who are lucky to live in a cheapish part of the country so have been able to buy, Mumsnet has really opened my eyes to both ends of the spectrum as most of my friends are in a similar income bracket to us.

Smoking, drinking and having kids can ruin a person lol.

OP can I let you into a little secret? We're all a bunch of paupers, staring in at the bakers window, wondering what life would be like if we had the things we don't.

I know it probably sounds very wishy-washy, but don't let your life pass you by while you stare at other people's lives, wondering or wishing. It doesn't matter what you have, it will never be enough. We're flawed humans and we're constantly in search of greener grass - chasing that mystical 'more'. As somebody who used to spend a lot of time watching other people and wishing, I can put my hand on my heart and say this: For every person you watch and for every life you think is somehow 'better' or more prosperous than your own, there will be somebody doing the exact same to you, thinking how wonderful YOUR life seems in comparison to theirs. Some people have more, some people have less. It's just the way it goes.

It's one thing to dream, but quite another to wish life away. It sounds silly, but I go and read Dr Seuss quotes whenever I need a boost or a reality check. Works every time and I regain my 'balance', so to speak.

Take what you read on the tinterweb with a pinch of salt. And ignore social media altogether. It's a mirage built upon an ocean of utter cack!

DH earns a ridiculous amount. His daily rate is enormous. He earns more in a week than I earn in a month teaching.

We work no harder than any other family. We're just incredibly fortunate that his business does well and he earns a good salary. I'm cautious of telling anyone that in real life because it's ridiculous when I've colleagues at school who are single parents with tighter-than-tight-outgoings.

MN is like a world of two extremes to me. You've either got the middle class, high-earning, private school, Sainsburys/Waitrose/Boden shoppers who want your opinion on a £3,000 bag, or those who are trying to make a few tins of soup last the week.

We're a single-income household at the moment; I'm earning just over £16,000 a year in the NHS. Private renting, no intention of ever owning a home, can't be doing with the faff. Probably won't ever pay our student loans off. Not hugely fussed. The "work hard and you'll earn more" argument doesn't wash with me, though.

Wino, well said.

Vino, rather.

I haven't read all 8 pages..But I grew up in a rich abusive family.

I left my abusive ex h...

I am now a LP with a child with disabilities, living in HA house. We had battered fish, chips and coleslaw for tea and DS had a toffee apple for pudding.

We are both sat in Pj's both are from primark...

I am far happier than living with someone who makes me miserable and the money does not change that either.

This evening our entertainment has revolved around going to the library as DS is a bookworm, homework and now he watched TV while I mum's net..

I would say something someone said to me..He said you are always doing lovely things with your DS...I do some nice things...However what I don't post on FB is we have had a rubbish day and getting dressed has seemed like too much effort.

While there will be some people in a different price bracket who wouldn't dream of stepping in Aldi or primark there will be others for who it is the only way they can afford to shop.

Sorry but wealthy people are allowed to come on here with their issues just like poor people. Statistically there will be some people who are rich, being resentful about that won't make you happier. None of the people talking about their 'first world problems' are responsible for you and your DH being in MW jobs.

What a load of old soapy nonsense vino.

Do you watch Disney films a lot?

Even this thread is a magnet for the not so stealthy boasters. Some folk just can't resist.

Who said they were, Capricorn?

It is a little bit vulgar to boast about how much money you've got even if it's only online. IMHO.

And that idea of vulgarity keeps low paid workers in the dark about just how low paid they are in comparison to others they work with.

I'm skint I have sfa but I'm still on Mn
I just treat the boasting with a pinch of salt and laugh. I'm happy healthy and have a lovely dd and a roof over my head so I'm fortunate

Millions in this world don't have those things

I can take all the stealth boasting on here - its when its done in real life i tend to cringe. I hate people that boast, its a pet hate of mine.

Boasting doesn't equal happiness

Just enjoy what you have, tonight, for me, thats a cuppa and a packet of ginger nuts

Its the simple things