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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is mumsnet aimed at rich families ?

385 replies

starsparkle08 · 05/03/2019 15:30

I’ve seen quite a lot of threads on here where families seem to have a huge amount of disposable income .
Im a single parent without a huge amount and wondering if I am in the minority on here ?
I’ve noticed there seems to be more people with lower incomes on netmums ? Am I generalising or have others noticed this also

OP posts:
TatianaLarina · 06/03/2019 17:48

I find there’s a big mixture of incomes and backgrounds, that’s what makes it interesting. Definitely better educated than other forums generally and more of a middle class vibe.

And there are some posters who can’t believe some people have almost nothing and some posters who can’t believe some people have lots.

Sophisticatedsarcasm · 06/03/2019 18:04

I get that impression too...

Echobelly · 06/03/2019 18:08

I think it's just such a large site that it's going to take all sorts, and it's good that it's that way. You get everything from posts about not being able to manage on benefits or facing homeless, to people talking about applying for Eton, and that's kind of the site's raison d'etre

Offred2 · 06/03/2019 18:08

My overall impression of mumsnet v netmums demographics is not so much that mumsnetters are more wealthy (though some are obviously ridiculously wealthy!) but more that the average age of when people become mums is much higher on mumsnet.

In my head the average mumsnetter has her first child around 35, while the average net mum has her first child around 25.

Offred2 · 06/03/2019 18:09

Is ‘netmummer?’ a word?!

Banana1979 · 06/03/2019 18:18

Someone posted a question on here recently and i saw many mums posting thst they were doctors lawyers solicitors ect..does it matter though? Im grateful for advice wherever it is from and if its from a doc or lawyer even better!
I am a drug counsellor but not well off at all

busymomtoone · 06/03/2019 18:19

I love the fact that on my thread this post is just below one asking for advice on what to do with a “ surprise inheritance “ of £250k!!!The irony Wink

Ivy44 · 06/03/2019 18:36

I’ve noticed a lot of people seem wealthier/earn more than me but I don’t know if it’s because a lot of posters are in the South East. I’m in the NW and earn a higher than average salary. Live quite a nice life but not luxurious.

My observation is that the spelling is a lot better on MN than NM, indicates a higher level of education, wealthy or not.

DoraTheExplorer3 · 06/03/2019 18:38

With the top trending article of the day

Yes Mumsnet is aimed at the rich lol

CobaltRose96 · 06/03/2019 18:46

YANBU. I often feel rather poor on here, even though we get by fine and are in a similar financial situation to many of the people we know.

I often read threads were people claim to be struggling on more than triple our income and feel very Shock, but then again I don't know the ins and outs of their financial situation. They could be drowning in debt for all I know.

Namechangedbecauseiwantto · 06/03/2019 18:52

It has surprised me how many wealthy people there seem to be on here, it is like another world.

thedisorganisedmum · 06/03/2019 18:53

in the real world, there are A LOT wealthy people, some just try to ignore that.

Celledora · 06/03/2019 18:55

Wondering what a third site for uber wealthy or merely super posh procreators would be called...

IndieTara · 06/03/2019 18:56

Single parent of a 10 yr old here also. I'm 52 and scraping by!
But love MN 💙

maddiemookins16mum · 06/03/2019 18:59

All the people I know in rl (ranging from 19 to 60’s/70s) do not have a cleaner, I’ve only known 2 families in the past who had one and I was their Nanny. On MN, loads of people do.

Totaldogsbody · 06/03/2019 19:27

I've joined mumsnet quite recently and find that sometimes I'm flabbergasted at the amount some people will /can pay for all those little luxuries in life but then I read another post about how its possible to save /cut back on this and that or even help with your budget. So over all I would says its probably representative of society as a whole income wise.

Bunnyfuller · 06/03/2019 19:38

The amount of threads to do with cleaners certainly leads you to wonder.....

Ditto the shock horror at some things

Ginlovingmumof4 · 06/03/2019 19:53

Blimey, I’ve never heard of netmums! Mumsnet is my guilty pleasure when I have a few minutes- I love it! I suppose I can relate to it: degree educated, working with reasonable household income. Certainly not rich though (and overdrawn every month). Asset rich, cash poor.

Ginlovingmumof4 · 06/03/2019 19:56

SPUM - obviously! (Super Posh Uber-wealthy Mums!) don’t think I qualify though, sadly!

thedisorganisedmum · 06/03/2019 19:59

One of the constant request on my local FB groups is for reliable cleaners. I don't mean that everyone has a cleaner, but realistically many people do, it's hardly a sign of being wealthy. Of course, it means you have a spare £50 to £100 a month to spend, but that's not the sign of being upper class is it.

There was a thread where some irate posters had decided that having an au-pair meant you were rich - despite single mothers and people on low income explaining that they were everything but.

For some posters, being rich is just someone who has a few pounds more than they have themselves.

Justanotherlurker · 06/03/2019 20:01

When it first started yes, it has now become a self fulfilling situation that follows forum norms, so there is a lot on here that perpetuate the wider webs idea of it being full of middle class stay at home mums.

The ability to name change so much even in the same threads hasn't helped the situation.

There may be a wide section of people on this forum, same as any other, you have to understand the meta laws of any internet forum.

I consider myself a high earner at just under 100k a year but even I wouldn't jump onto threads and say 80K a year is not a lot to live on in London, especially when the meta of this site is one of left wing "socialist" routes, and then in a heartbeat look down on some site like NM.

It's the same as any other forum, the ideology and projection is what you are seeing.

CountFosco · 06/03/2019 20:14

The £250 inheritance thread is surely just a variation on the 'what would do if you won the lottery' but with a smaller amount. Concentrates the mind a bit more. Is it better to pay off the mortgage in full or split the money between the mortgage and pensions? How much is OK to spend on frivolous stuff? When you inherit some money at which point do you feel you have to spend it on 'sensible' things? I think we can all play that whatever our income.

Loreleigh · 06/03/2019 20:22

I thought it was for all sorts of people - plenty of variety, different opinions so healthy debates, I don't see why income is relevant unless specific income-related posts asked questions or wanted advice etc. I like that we seem to have people from skint and on benefits to those earning a good salary or wealthy enough not to have to work at all and everything in between. It is what makes Mumsnet (and Gransnet) interesting. I hope for honesty and integrity, but online, anonymous forums are like many other areas of life in general and open to abuse; there are bound to be a few fibbers and the odd CF'ers but they tend to get their arses spanked at some stage.

Applesaregreenandred · 06/03/2019 20:26

I think that there is quite a range of incomes and lifestyles - from very well off to those in great financial difficulty- with a few of us in between. I think we often notice posts from people who seem very different from us which is probably why I see people being one end if the scale or the other!

There was a thread this week about how long would it take you to save £50k with responses from 'never' to a number of months.

I also think re the holiday ones that people who can't afford a holiday just don't go on those threads . There was a recent holiday thread and I found some people's plans for one year to be pretty unbelievable- very different to anything affordable by anybody I know IRL.

Crappygilmore · 06/03/2019 20:31

I personally dont care who its aimed at. The upper middle classes or the benefit single mums. We are all the same at the end of the day. We've all come on to this forum as we have had children, tried to have children, had miscarriages, need people to talk to about other children in our lives. Who cares if u have money. Personally noone is better than anyone else. And if they think that they are, well then they're entitled morons.