Seriously? This is The Times idea of an average family being squeezed for cash?

[ItchySnoof]

How fucking out of touch are these people? Given that some families literally can't feed themselves?

Genuinely thought this was a joke

@Thomasina79

Am I the only one who feels sorry for the soon to be redundant nanny?

Oh yes. Pretty sure she's going to have a harder time than the poor people who have to rent a Tesla.

@blameless

Not my area of expertise, but would employers, partners and business associates of a hedgie who can't make ends meet be less inclined to keep his company?

Did you even read the piece?

Never stated he can't make ends meat

It's simply discussing the raising costs of living, how the existing money coming in doesn't travel as far

Not my area of expertise, but would employers, partners and business associates of a hedgie who can't make ends meet be less inclined to keep his company?

Interesting question.

Click bait surely? No one would genuinely publish this

@ItchySnoof

The point is this family isn't fucking "squeezed" at all. They wouldn't know a squeeze if it slapped them repeatedly in the face!

Although I will admit that I thought I had seen the words "average family" within the article and was mistaken. My sincerest apologies to those who were so deeply offended by this

It's all relative, really. Even people living on benefits in the UK have a lot more compared to the majority of people in the world. I don't think these kinds of threads are helpful - they just create a race to the bottom.

It’s just a massive slap in the face for all those families who are in poverty, we only earn 23k a year and we are still better off than a lot of others who are struggling to get by on a lot less. It’s heartbreaking that children are going hungry, the gap between the rich and the poor just keeps growing

I am poor and read the times and financial times. I guess I am supposed to stick to the sun according to some on here.

We are all at different stages and places in life. What is worrying or even hardship to one is not to another.

Everyone is free to express their concerns and should not be put off because others have graver concerns.

@forcedfun

Firstly, I don't think they are claiming this is a representative family, just that this is how this family are having to trim costs.

Secondly, although I dislike the profoundly flawed theory of trickle down economics, when high spenders start trimming costs it does impact on others who earn far less - the nanny who now needs a new job, the fancy veg box company getting fewer orders etc.

I live in a community where a chunk of the economy is based on yachting (boatyards, caterers, sailing schools etc) and it was striking in the financial crisis in around 2009ish how many people we knew locally were very swiftly impacted by the job losses in London

This.

When people have less spending money because more of it goes on utility bills and other such unavoidable costs, it affects the restaurants, the small independent shops, the self-employed service providers, and then they in turn have less spending money and may have to make staff redundant or use fewer freelancers and so it affects everyone.

There is the concept of everything being relative and then there is tone deaf …….

Just to reassure those who are worried about the nanny - I don't think she has one at the moment. She just thinks she might get one instead of an au pair

I mean, my DH grew up in a country where he would grow vegetables in unclaimed patches of soil, forage for mushrooms, and spend all his childhood summers cherry picking to earn a bit of money, just to survive. He would sleep in coats and hats and at age 9 had to walk miles to buy some milk for his baby sister. According to your logic, people in the UK being given benefits living in council houses, with one meal a day, shouldn't be allowed to DARE complain about their situation, because there are people in their country who have had it worse than them. By his standards, these people are rolling in it. Do you see why your complaint makes no sense?

It's simply discussing the raising costs of living, how the existing money coming in doesn't travel as far

Especially if you decide to become a student health coach ? I have nothing against people trying to make their money go further, especially when the economy is against them, as it will be for most people over the next couple of years, but lets not pretend that these people are going to feel the same pressure that a lot of people are going to experience. Maybe he could set up a hedge fund for retail workers or care workers, spread the joy a bit ?

as a high earner you are highly unlikely to have to choose between heating and eating.

You’re right. But I also think you massively underestimate the number of high earners who mortgage themselves to the hilt. If you then add in school fees there are plenty of high earners that don’t have a lot of spare cash floating around.

I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for them by the way. But sometimes I think cluelessness cuts both ways.

Incidentally, I don't think it reflects most readers... the most recommended comment reads: "Is the first part of this article an attempted joke, or some kind of parody?"

@Wrongkindofovercoat

If she is re-training to become a health coach, then she has made a concious decision to become a student ? Which is a slightly different slant on needing to cut back because of inflation, fuel bills , increases in council tax etc, a financial squeeze because of circunstances beyond your control ? This is more how they are adjusting their personal finances to cover a short term deficit isn't it ?

@Wrongkindofovercoat

Her husband’s a HEDGE FUND MANAGER

Being a health coach is a hobby job, she does not need to work

It’s just clickbait, isn’t it?

My favourite ever article in the FT’s “how to spend it” was a review of best and worst yatchs with helipads. Imagine having a yatch without a helipad or buying an inferior one, like a fucking peasant.

She must have friends in the media: she shared more about her family’s financial situation in the Guardian: amp.theguardian.com/money/2021/jul/31/gender-pension-gap-how-women-can-boost-their-retirement-pot

And about her investment strategies here: www.ii.co.uk/ii-accounts/sipp/customer-stories/jessica

As a burned out nurse after a decade and the last two years of covid, perhaps I should look to being a nanny to improve my income! That’s more than most nurses are making.

Absolutely bloody tone deaf article, shame on the Times for publishing this.

@ItchySnoof

The point is this family isn't fucking "squeezed" at all. They wouldn't know a squeeze if it slapped them repeatedly in the face!

Although I will admit that I thought I had seen the words "average family" within the article and was mistaken. My sincerest apologies to those who were so deeply offended by this

I don’t think anyone is offended by you OP, just a bit puzzled by what you are raging about. It’s a click bate article about a very well off family who are planning to trim some spending. To them, that’s a squeeze.

Poor Au Pair who will be exploited.

I’m fed up with the attitude - which you see on here all the time - that people who are well off or even rich shouldn’t even be allowed to talk about their lifestyles and finances. Tone deaf is going on to a thread or into a conversation about council housing or some such and comparing that to problems you have with your £1m+ property or how you’re struggling on a six figure salary. Yet its use seems to have expanded to cover any mention of above average salaries or wealth, regardless of context. There was a poster on here last year who was heavily criticised for a thread about putting £2k per month towards her pension on a £60k salary - the usual cries about it being tone deaf, ‘read the room’, etc., despite it being her thread.

I’m not on six figures or saving £2k a month and fully agree that there is an inequality problem in this country, but sniping at people who are better off isn’t very edifying. The system is at fault, not individuals.

Besides, I didn’t even really register this article as financial clickbait. The telegraph do that far better ime!

I hope she’s not on Mumsnet!

@HermioneWeasley Heck imagine the shame of showing up with no helipad on your yacht, cringe !

@WinnersDinner not the point of the thread, but you can’t host an au pair from the states.
The only countries now are Canada, Australia, New Zealand (and randomly South Korea and Japan), they have to pay visa fees and huge advance NHS fees.
So, very few au pairs. Which is a shame as it’s actually quite a nice thing to do and we had a great time with our 7 au pairs. And if you have the space - they are a good childcare solution if you have school age children. We’ve stayed in touch with most of them and the kids still enjoy their visits.