to believe the Mumsnet High Earners?

[LigPatin]

Every time there's a thread about earnings, there's always multiple posters who claim that most people on the thread must be inflating or plain lying about their salaries.

Whilst I recognise that people lie, especially on anonymous forums, I find it quite sad that people prefer to dismiss these posts as lies rather than take inspiration/education from them (or just not care).

I come from a poor background - we never had enough money to the point that food and electricity use was rationed. We weren't on the streets, but that was a looming possibility. We lived (mostly) within the midlands.

I fell into nannying as a career (having dreamed of being a primary school teacher) and my first job was in Kensington. The housekeeper had been gossiping about the rent on the house we worked in - it was £3k a WEEK. This was 2012-ish. I remember wondering how on Earth anyone could afford paying £200k+ a year on rent alone, when - in my mind - earning just £50k was amazingly rich.

I remember walking through Kensington and Knightsbridge and Chelsea and seeing thousands and thousands and thousands of these houses, all huge and grand and all presumably commanding similar rent or sale value than the one I worked in. They were all clearly lived in and used.

Perhaps it was arrogance, or naivety, but I figured that if there were enough people who could afford to pay £1k, £2k, £5k+ a week on rent (or buy million pound houses), then there must be a lot of money out there to be earned, and I couldn't see any reason as to why I couldn't find a way to get a share of that money.

That's sort of how I feel about these earning threads - hundreds of people are posting about their high salaries and instead of scoffing that they must be sad-sacks who hang out on Mumsnet to lie about their lifestyles - I think it's inspiring and encouraging to see so many women out there making amazing money and securing their futures.

FWIW - I was 21 back in Kensington, amazed at the £3k a week rent. I'm coming up to 30 now and my average yearly income is about £120k. I remind myself every day of how lucky I am, and how 21 year old me would have been incredulous. Though I'm, of course, absolutely nowhere near being able to rent a £3k a week house

And the actual point to this post is what? Well other than boasting how much you earn! Lol

Where is the Op?..., what f do I you do? How did you get to this at 30???

Some of the threads on MN are useless at times; predominantly because of the volume of idiots who can post.

You can go on OnlyFans and earn £100k.

It’s not that unachievable, just depends how far you are willing to go.

@Bard6817

Well done on your success.

It takes hard work, dedication, sometimes luck to find your niche.

Spot on.

@LipstickLou

Can I remind the op that your earnings will dip after 40/50. I earned a huge salary in - 1998-2003. We call it the Harry Enfield years! Save it now because age is a cruel master. I am lucky if earn 20% of my previous salary at 55.

Absolutely and income drops even further after retirement. Even having paid a lot of money into a good pension, my retirement income is 1/3 of my previous salary!

No pockets in a shroud! We are all 3 pay cheques away from being homeless

@Usernamerequired

No pockets in a shroud! We are all 3 pay cheques away from being homeless

Not really though.

@Usernamerequired not really. Plenty of ppl have no mortgage so they won't lose their homes

I never comment on salary threads because I cannot be bothered with some troll hunter who works in a coffee shop declaring that I am a liar.

@Usernamerequired

No pockets in a shroud! We are all 3 pay cheques away from being homeless

Speak for yourself. If you knew anything you’d know banks only repossess after 6th missed payment

This notion that we're all three paychecks from the gutter is bizarre!

As pp said - Speak for yourself .

@Usernamerequired

No pockets in a shroud! We are all 3 pay cheques away from being homeless

Whilst others on our pay have bought bigger posher houses and run big new cars we have been a bit stingier. It is nice to know the mortgage is paid of even though we are in our 40s. No we won’t take it with us but hopefully we will be able to leave something for our descendants.

Are you earning 120k being Samantha Brick?

Its good to know a lot of people are safe. Sadly i have friends who have lost their jobs/businesses and subsequently rented home within 3 months. Not everyone owns their family home or has job security, worse now due to Covid-19

@Usernamerequired

No pockets in a shroud! We are all 3 pay cheques away from being homeless

We really aren't. That's a big part of why, as a lone parent, I do focus on earning enough to have a very comfortable rainy day fund. It's also why I do share my salary anonymously on these types of threads - because too many women think that higher paid jobs are not possible when you have kids, or would never leave you with time to post on a forum. It's just not true.

I was made redundant earlier this year, thanks to covid, and was out of work for 4 months with no drop in living standards for me or my kids (I wasn't booking a holiday or buying new clothes for me, but we had the same food, they had new shoes when their feet grew, we didn't have to sell anything or drop subscriptions they love) because I had after-tax salary saved, and knew that there is a lack of talent in my area (in tech on the commercial side, business background and some numeracy required but no STEM degree), so I would find something. I've certainly been lucky and worked hard, but not luckier or worked harder than many other who also went to my university, however perhaps because I grew up with broke parents who came to the UK with no money and no connections, I have focussed on finding jobs that are well paid and in demand, and building up my network. I think it's great if you have a passion or vocation over money, or actively choose a different life balance or to be at home completely, but many of my uni friends did none of that. They've ended up with compromises in the name of 'family friendly' careers like teaching or accountancy, but often found that actually the hours are not that great but the pay isn't enough to.either compensate or to pay for help so you can enjoy more family or leisure time outside work. It is good if our daughters can know that if they want to, because most of the pathways people talk about here to really high salaries started right after school or at least by mid-twenties. Of course there are some who turn things around later, but it gets harder and harder.

www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/north-shropshire/whitchurch/2020/01/16/we-are-all-one-paycheck-away-from-a-crisis-shropshire-foodbank-tells-of-the-tragedy-of-poverty-and-the-joy-of-helping/

Perhaps where i live is more deprived and poorer

There is definitely a defining point in one's late 40s/early 50s where it is advantageous to be within an organisation. For me, it was when I was the parent of a young child, and living the perfect COVID life (in 2003) working remotely from Cornwall but going to important meetings and presentations. Gradually, it shifted. I was out of town so didn't go for drinks meets with the rising stars, and the clients/account managers I knew were starting their own families, so they didn't either. I lost touch with the people commissioning new work for new clients. And people do prefer to work with their own generation so age has a bearing.

Did OP return to the thread?

@Usernamerequired, that is a media article trawling for traffic. Yes, there is hardship (and lots of hardship) but it is identical to articles posted about Cornwall. Hoardes of holidaymakers are going to head here this year, making lots of NMW jobs for cleaners and ice-cream-scoopers but come November, those jobs end until the next Easter. I have lived a lot of my life in Cornwall, and love it deeply, but while people have money to buy a familly home just to use it for six weeks a year, then it does gouge the heart out of village life.

It's true there are plenty of homes for high earners, and so there are presumably lots of high earning people living in them. I guess the question is what proportion of the population do they represent.

Sometimes I do think that if you come from a poor background, that type of life seems a little as if it's not real, just for tv etc. So it could be a real change of perspective to realise that some people really live like that, and they aren't completely oddballs or people who grew up rich, they are basically pretty normal.

When I got to the part where you shared your salary, I felt embarrassed for you. I wasn't sure what the point of it all was until then. I was thinking "is merely knowing how much someone else earns inspiring? Could we all earn six figures if only we tried hard enough?" But finally I got to the last paragraph and it became clear: you want to 'inspire' us all with your incredible salary 😂

I don't think so @PusheenLove. But it has been interesting without her input.

This information shared by The Simon Community gives a lot of perspective. We are all very lucky to have a roof over our heads, be able to clothe and feed our children. Many rented homes near me were put up for sale as landlords needed the money. Facing hardship through illness, relationship breakdowns death of breadwinner or having to fight for benefits is a huge issue. I know a lot of people now having to claim Universal Credit as their business have shut down.
All we can do is be kind to each other and count our blessings 💐
www.simoncommunity.org/assets/pdfs/VIEW-Digital-Homelessness-Issue.pdf