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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

High earner - but unsettled

426 replies

Iprobap · 19/08/2020 19:50

Annual pay about £250k, between 16% - 50% discretionary bonus and shares. Overseas based for UK global financial services company.

Personally still earn full salary, but possible no increase, bonuses and shares this year and next few maybe? I foresee retrenchments in future because of COVID-19.

I know we are on different scales on here and this is no brag. Curious to know if others are as unsettled by possibility of losing benefits because of impact of COVID-19 on global economy?

OP posts:
Original poster
Iprobap · 19/08/2020 21:01

Trinkents

  1. Name-changed for this. Been here for over 10 years - on and off.
  2. Not financially struggling. Only that I wanted to buy DC a house and pay it off in quicker.
OP posts:
Morgan12 · 19/08/2020 21:02

@riteaid 😁😁😁

Drivingdownthe101 · 19/08/2020 21:02

@Iprobap

Trinkents
  1. Name-changed for this. Been here for over 10 years - on and off.
  2. Not financially struggling. Only that I wanted to buy DC a house and pay it off in quicker.
Well maybe you won’t be able to now. Shame, but these things happen and plans change.
category12 · 19/08/2020 21:04

Well, of course it's a bummer for you. A crimp in your plans.

But try being grateful for what you've got, hey? You have a house, a huge wage, and your health, probably your own teeth and hair too.

Imworthit · 19/08/2020 21:04

Awesome trollin!

TeamLannister · 19/08/2020 21:06

This is an incredibly dull boast post, have you no imagination?! Did you think everyone would be awed or impressed, or just fancied winding people up? Maybe you're sitting in a shit tip making it up because you're bored and lonely. I'd have more sympathy for that.

Butchyrestingface · 19/08/2020 21:06

I thought this thread was going to be about high earner OP fearing the loss of her job and lifestyle and having to go and work in Tesco to make ends meet.

In which case, I would sympathise.

But this is just vulgar.

Mummadeeze · 19/08/2020 21:07

If this is a real post (struggling to believe it), I am pretty sure I won’t get my bonus next year which will probably mean I won’t be able to afford a nice holiday. I would NEVER dream of complaining about this. I am a bit worried about redundancy but I intend to continue to work as hard as I did before (bonus or no bonus), stay positive and grateful and also start trying to spend less and make sure I have some savings to fall back on worse case scenario. I just feel so fortunate I have a good job I can do from home and to be pissed off about losing my bonus when people are losing their businesses and their lives would make me into a person I wouldn’t want to be. Life and happiness is not all about money.

Enough4me · 19/08/2020 21:07

Hmmm what to believe...name changed or new fascinating first post?

MadgeMak · 19/08/2020 21:09

It gets worse every time you post, OP. I plan to help my kids buy a house when the time comes too. If I'm not able to then so be it, they are incredibly privileged already. They'll live and will in all probability be successful anyway given their cushy upbringing. Get some perspective.

PlanDeRaccordement · 19/08/2020 21:11

If you don’t like your quarter million a year pittance, you can always go on strike and live off JSA.

Original poster
Iprobap · 19/08/2020 21:11

To make it all easy, I reported this thread. If it not genuine, MN will act swiftly.

To move on from this, possibly ill judged, but does not invalidate my feelings.

OP posts:
Wherrsmaclickypen · 19/08/2020 21:11

As a (now retired) high earner I am really struggling to understand how this inane question could possibly have been posted in good faith here, and what you thought would be the response.

You are presumably reasonably smart, and (jaw-droppingly) working in financial services where job security and rewards have always been related to both personal performance and market conditions, (including in recent times austerity, global instability, Brexit etc etc).

But to answer your question I imagine everyone with an iota of awareness that there is daily evidence of significant global economic downturn is unsettled. But for many people here 'unsettled' means worrying about losing their home, and having enough to feed their family. People who will hitherto have been used to a certain standard of living and security (just not perhaps to your standard, obviously).

Every day I wake up grateful that a) I dont have covid b) I have kept a roof over my head and can feed my family. Suggest you do the same, do some worst case financial planning and have the decency to STFU.

Diceroll · 19/08/2020 21:12

Oh goodness how on earth will you survive without your bonus during a global recession. Have to start stocking up on the tinned beans and gruel.

Original poster
Iprobap · 19/08/2020 21:12

I know it is hard to believe given the usual MN poverty olympics.

OP posts:
Flatpackback · 19/08/2020 21:13

Well that’s really sad about the house for DC perhaps you could just contribute a deposit instead & they could take out their own mortgage like millions of others.

Echobelly · 19/08/2020 21:13

Husband and I and most people we know have never been anywhere near a job with bonuses (and we're well paid), so I can't say what it feels like, but I am sure it is unsettling for anyone who is used to them. We may not be able to get out our little violins for someone who is losing 5 figures on top of their 6-fig salary, but everything is relative and it doesn't mean it isn't a worry.

I'm sure OP knows other people have worse problems but she is entitled to talk about them here, just as people are entitled to talk about 'Eton or Winchester?' when other parents are worrying about whether their child will get into the best or the worst local comprehensive

Brieminewine · 19/08/2020 21:14

Lol what a dick

Waxonwaxoff0 · 19/08/2020 21:16

@Echobelly and other posters are entitled to tell OP they're being ridiculous and to get some perspective.

amieejust · 19/08/2020 21:17

My DH was a three figure earner until recently. So yes, it could happen to you too @Iprobap - there is no such thing anymore as a job for life.

Your post is in very poor taste at the moment btw.

LonginesPrime · 19/08/2020 21:17

Personally still earn full salary, but possible no increase, bonuses and shares this year and next few maybe?

Well a bonus is usually discretionary, so it would be unwise to spend it before it's been confirmed each year.

It probably does feel terrifying if you're relying on money that you're not guaranteed to receive, regardless of the actual figures involved.

My advice is to treat it like a bonus and not rely on that or any salary increases, in future at least.

PatriciaPerch · 19/08/2020 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadgeMak · 19/08/2020 21:18

@Iprobap

I know it is hard to believe given the usual MN poverty olympics.
You're true colours are showing now, OP.
Butchyrestingface · 19/08/2020 21:20

I know it is hard to believe given the usual MN poverty olympics.

If being an arsehole was an Olympic sport, you'd have Usain Bolted that baby straight out the gate.

Flatpackback · 19/08/2020 21:20

Wherrsmaclickypen absolutely agree with you, every word. Good to see a high earner who has retained their humanity and acknowledges the privileged position they are in.

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