Is MN middle class? Feeling inadequate and that my life is boring.

[sleaf]

Is MN mainly full of middle to upper class posters?

Having read through some of the threads, especially tonight's holiday thread where everyone appears to be having multiple holidays this year, I'm feeling very low and inadequate, and that there's something wrong in my life

Oh well, comparison is the thief of joy and all that.

I don’t think that only those in dire financial situations should be allowed to post, but I do find the [perceived] bragging pretty wanky at times.
I genuinely am happy for the success of others and find it quite inspirational but there’s a lack of self awareness at times.
Yes, many people swimming in savings whilst I have none can leave me feeling inadequate, but do I want people to be poor? No.
It’s just wanky to read for those of us out there who live from payday to pay day is all. Especially when it seems to be the majority.

@Sunshinedreaming2022

“ Pedants corner is a pedantic safe space! It's to keep keen grammar types away from the board at large because nobody likes having their writing criticised in public. Consider us banished and ignore us.”

And I appreciate that I do, but you wouldn’t find a pedants corner on a more working class forum like netmums for example. Mumsnet is very targeted towards the middle, and upper middle classes. Not always financially mind, being middle class is more then an income bracket, it’s more of a mindset. You can have a middle class mindset whilst living on benefits or holidaying may haven.

I know plenty of working class people who are well educated and have a good understanding of grammar. I don't think it's a class thing.

Yes. Most people here have large salaries I think (or at least they say they have ).

@mewkins

I'm not entering a class debate again but I also think plenty of people are lying. I live in a commuter town outside of London and know plenty of people with fancy houses and plenty of money. They don't go nuts on holidays. They may have an occasional big holiday every few years but are as likely to rent a cottage or camp in the UK. Absolutely NO ONE talks about how much money they have and no one brings up class or seems to have middle class aspirations. So I don't know where these people come from I honestly don't.

Agreed. Even the super rich couple (ex neighbours) I know who do go on a couple of nice holidays a year (mostly skiing and a beach holiday) they will rent a cottage or camp in the UK too and also a big thing (as mentioned to me recently if safe to do) is their DDs going on school trips abroad.

I know how much money they have sort of (only because I know her job title and where she works), she would say she's middle class but certainly doesn't bang on about it! As her DH works in creative industry where first year of Covid he lost almost all his work they've had to rely on her salary too - but he has got more work last year now, is catching up like a lot of creatives are.

I assume most people on MN without vast sums of money, simply do not look or comment on those threads. I also ignored the savings thread.
I actually don't care about rich people all talking amongst themselves about how much money they have or what they spend it on. I do care about the comments that it is about prioritising. As if everyone could afford to save big sums, pay school fees or go abroad if they prioritised different. And I have seen shock from other posters when someone posts that their personal situation has changed, this is how much they will get on benefits, and how are they going to manage. There are always shocked replies of are you sure, that cant be right, when I am thinking sure check it is correct, but it sounds right to me.

I also think there is a lot of snobbery on MN. A hell of a lot.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

Oh I see, a sort of fake K rather than a name that’s spelled that way already? So like being called Klive, Konnor or Kristine

Still seems odd to take against a letter though.

We put £600 per month into our savings, another £800 into the joint pension and a swift top up of the ISA”
right
ok

I’ll just carry on praying for payday

^^

Yes exactly! I was foolish enough to click on that one!

I think it’s a bit insensitive tbh. Very self congratulatory.

Doesn’t seem to matter to be honest, any excuse to look down on others is acceptable. Connor without a k is also extremely bashable because it’s a nasty common naughty boys name. It does not matter if your particular Connor is a shy and reserved boy who loves silent reading hour and is desperate to be a literature professor because he’s just into tweed jackets. By naming him Connor you have sealed his fate as a long time prison inmate.

Can I just add, that renting a cottage in the UK can be pretty expensive and more than I would spend if going abroad. It is only a cheaper option if you go pretty expensive holidays abroad.

@5128gap

Hmm, a staffy on a GREY soulless probably from b&ms rug? Might as well let him load up on I’m a celeb because Ken or Mabel that is not an appropriately middle class dog.

Why didn’t you adopt a greyhound called Titus? Sigh.

My rug us from Dunelm is that any better?

Dunelm??? No of course that’s not any better!

Your rug should have been handed down from your great grandmother and be an antique. If that’s not possible it should have been bought from an independent rug weaver to support small local businesses. And if it’s grey it honestly doesn’t matter, it’s ‘common.’ Grey is soulless. Mrs Hinch has grey things. It’s WRONG!

All the pogs. I yank the opposite - only if you rent expensive cottages! We usually pay 500ish 650 this year for one we really like. Cant see how 4 of us can travel abroad for a week on that?

Yank. Think?

l had to Google this. I got told I was “elite”

So did I. Let’s just say the result doesn’t reflect the perception I have of myself.

I work as a GP - but probably earn comparatively little as work only “part time “ - although my part time is actually 35 to 40 hrs per week - and not a practice owner.
On paper I am definately MC but my income and spending are definately not!

Ha at this. I know several GPs working part term and they are on £50 or £60k despite only working 3 days a week. So its only really comparatively little if you are comparing to very highly paid jobs in law, finance & the like.

@Kanaloa

I know a Connor through work. He is a lovely, quiet, good looking young lad, was privately educated, and is doing well in his career as a pilot.

He’s about as far from a prison inmate as you could possibly get

@Kanaloa 😇🤣

It’s a bizarre place and certainly doesn’t reflect what I see in life around me. We have a good income, childless (for the next 2 months!) and low outgoings but our lives are a million miles away from people on here who have lots of holidays, paid off mortgages in mid 30s etc. All my friends are professionals and it’s certainly not reflective of their lives either.
On top of it all, how do people have so much holiday off a year?!

The thing is Op, holidays dont make people any happier, temporarily maybe, if it goes to plan , but you find like at Xmas, there is a huge expectation, alot of stress beforehand, and inevitably alot of things are out of your control.
Already on here the threads are starting re hassell of even trying to book a holiday, nevermind the competition of where everyone is off too, and how often. Let them get on with it, l csn already visualise the holiday complaints threads being inflicted upon us further down the line.
I dont care if l am boring, give me a book and a lovely glass of wine in my peaceful beautiful garden, surrounded by my pets, l am happy. The secret for me, is to create a life you have no desire to escape from.

I think there's a fair mix

I think when reading MN you should remember that as per the rest of the internet very sufficient portions of what people write on here are fully made up and pretending to be super wealthy, pretending to be a woman, pretending to be incredibly proficient in your chosen field, are the bread and butter of internet fantasy

So should people on high incomes not comment on threads then? I don't understand the problem here, why are a lot of people criticising wealthy people for contributing?

I have always been the poor relation in my friendship group and my family, mainly because of the job I chose. My best friend owns 4 properties outright, lives in a 2 million pound house but she has had some tough things happen, would she not be allowed to post on Mumsnet according to some of the comments on this thread?

*significant not sufficient

@coogee

l had to Google this. I got told I was “elite”

So did I. Let’s just say the result doesn’t reflect the perception I have of myself.

I have no idea who you are or your background, but lots of well off people don't think they are as well off as they really are.

[quote Minfilia]@Kanaloa

I know a Connor through work. He is a lovely, quiet, good looking young lad, was privately educated, and is doing well in his career as a pilot.

He’s about as far from a prison inmate as you could possibly get [/quote]
I’m afraid not

He is a naughty boy and possible even a chav or a criminal. Unless possibly his name is actually Thomas or Wilfred and you’ve misheard it? Or perhaps Connors is his last name. HTH.

[quote Kanaloa]@5128gap

Hmm, a staffy on a GREY soulless probably from b&ms rug? Might as well let him load up on I’m a celeb because Ken or Mabel that is not an appropriately middle class dog.

Why didn’t you adopt a greyhound called Titus? Sigh.[/quote]
Lol. My neighbours dog is actually called Titus! They call him Tits for short.

@DeepaBeesKit

*I work as a GP - but probably earn comparatively little as work only “part time “ - although my part time is actually 35 to 40 hrs per week - and not a practice owner. On paper I am definately MC but my income and spending are definately not!*

Ha at this. I know several GPs working part term and they are on £50 or £60k despite only working 3 days a week. So its only really comparatively little if you are comparing to very highly paid jobs in law, finance & the like.

That is interesting. So yes a high salary.