I earn a 6 figure salary...

[herehearher]

Just reading another thread and pretty much every post is going on about "6 figure salary" - as if this is some sort of meaningful marker.

But obviously there's a massive difference between someone on £100k and someone on £900k. So by "6 figure salary" are they just essentially saying they earn around £100k? If they earned £250k, how is it acceptable to describe that?

Who cares? What I like about Mumsnet is that it doesn’t really matter what you earn.. it’s how you express yourself. Years ago I was a prolific mumsnetter under another name and was probably quite well known. I was also broke and on benefits at that time. I didn’t promote it but I didn’t hide it.. I just posted.. a lot.. about a lot of subjects.. and enjoyed the fact that I was able to converse with a wide range of people with different circumstances, financial and otherwise but all who had something to say, at a time when socially in RL, this wasn’t the case.

There were always, then and now, those who needed to get their “six figure salary” into the conversation though. God knows why in some cases

Very true. Lifestyle moves up and with that so does cost.

Keep your russell group whatever’s and X digit salaries. Been there, done that and it is not a measure of intellect, education, effort, happiness or success.

Discusing income is not much different to Two slaves discussing who has the better life.

A more preferable discussions is how to achieve financial independence that will lay the groundwork and the same path for your descendants, without ruining them as people.

Lifestyle changes if you choose to do so

If you have that choice that's luxury living

Either way, it’s just a really bizarre way to brag.
I was raised to never discuss money-with friends, family of strangers on an Internet forum. Why would anyone else care what myself or my husband makes?
How does it improve their life knowing they make more or less than us?

I might earn 100k, I might earn 10k, whichever it is, it doesn’t alter the validity of my thoughts or opinions

I know of someone who was earning £120k some 15 - 20 years ago, bankrupted themselves putting three children through private schools. A 6 figure salary, whilst making one far more comfortable than most, is no indicator of great wealth these days. One needs to be earning in excess of half a million a year to run with the super rich crowd.

Only if that’s what you choose.

I went to a Russel group uni and earn less then £30K as a teacher. My husband didn't even pass his GCSE's and earns £80k

Really it dosn’t after tax. Depends on what country u live in. Mortgage, 2 cars on the rd creche and pre school fees for 3 children, then other bills on top of that 100k after tax depending on where you are living is not great.

Prep school fees after all are crucial - mustn't mix with the kids at the comp must one

Three kids under five isn’t mandatory @Crystalvas.

I really don't like the idea of private schools. We could afford it, but kids won't be going to one. Many reasons, but neither DP nor I went to one and have done just fine, also hate the idea that a "better" education can be paid for and not just available to everyone. I work in education and will only work in state institutions for the same reason.

And this is one of the reasons women don’t know what their salary potential is. There is nothing good or classy about being all cloak and dagger about pay. We should be discussing it so that pay disparity can end.

I think this is why people think we’re poor. We don’t live the six figure salary. Dc are in state school, cars are from 2011 and 2014, house is on the bigger side of average but not by much. We love comfortably within our means and are happy. Our money is usually for travel as that’s what dh and I choose to prioritise. An ex df seems to see her lease 4X4 as some kind of brag which I find bizarre but we’re all different.

Whats the point if your post?

They said pre school not prep school...

Once you get passed 250k I think you Couid go with,
a fck ton
Are you in the fck ton category ?

Some definitely don’t get a chance in life, perhaps being a parent when still a child or having a genuine SEN. Many many do get opportunities and don’t use the chance.
Im thinking of those working hard at school using the opportunity available. Doing more homework, not the minimum. Some don’t even do the minimum. What are parents thinking!
Decent parenting is often lacking.
Drug/ alcohol misuse is a regular distraction.
some, many children don’t have positive role models.
Sadly too many don’t take advantage of the free education in UK. (Ok it’s not free and is paid for from our taxes)
Lots of babies born will get chances in life to earn a really great salary. Poor parenting is often the reason they don’t. Poor education gets the blame, let the parents demand better teaching.
for that to happen, we need parents who give a dam.
It saddens me to write this but it’s true.

Just under 60pc of people with household incomes of £80-£100k believe they are ‘about average’. The real average household income is around £31k. Our household income is about £175k - I think we’re well off. Objectively we are. We live in London and are still well off. We’re both working class origin and I think it was harder for us than people born to privilege. We’re very much the exception in our families and home communities. However, most people we know think we’re paupers, which we are in comparison to them as they are proper wealthy. I think people on £100k don’t usually perceive themselves as well off because their peer groups are similar. I think not everyone on £100k owes it to ‘knowing people’ etc but it’s tougher if you don’t. And if you are working class and achieve it, you probably have other fortunate qualities such as intelligence, persistence, social skills. I think people back home think we’re ridiculously privileged and people in our circles in London feel sorry for us! Basically, we shrug at both and enjoy our life.

What you get after tax is still probably a lot higher than most get before tax.
You don't have to live in London and could get more bang for your buck outside of London and either WFH or do a commute.
A lot of people are worrying how to pay for fuel or energy. Some are even worrying how to buy food so be grateful you don't have any of these issues to worry about

There will always be someone better of than just about anyone and it doesn't really matter. I am content with how things are (as long as I don't get ill) and most people who earn decent sums after tax know there are plenty of people struggling. If we encourage one mumsnetter only to go after higher paid work that will be a win.

Eg I live in an Indian area and a majority non white London borough. May of the immigrants work extremely hard and pay for school fees or go to state grammars out of borough and the like and there are about 4 or 5 careers many of them are allowed to choose - medicine, law, dentistry and being a pharmacist. If you man one of the school career stands these are the subjects where the children are taken because the parents know professional qualifications which are hard to obtain are a better route out of poverty than some other jobs which may be a bit more hit and miss. Wise parents I say. The fact you may not date as a teenager and perhaps attend a single sex school also helps. (We are white and I and 4 of my children are lawyers and my father was and sibling is a doctor. )

Basically, what they are saying is - I'm rich, you're poor, I need a cleaner, come clean for me.

In my experience people that bragg about money, don’t have it. Most people that are extremely wealthy that I have meet over the years, you wouldn’t guess, they fly completely under the radar. I suppose the old adage applies, a fool and his money are soon parted. So many people like to project an illusion of wealth, but it’s a fools paradise and they are usually in debt unto the hilt, have the amazing house fully mortgaged and stunning car on lease, quite sad really.

"we're not rich"

Yes you are. You really are.

When I left my city career a decade ago, I was earning close to 6 figures. Now working in education, my recent graduate daughter, now earns more than me! OH earns 6 figures…but living in Home County SE, that most certainly does not make us rich. We live in a modest home, and are lucky if we take one holiday a year. It’s all relative….