Page 32 | To ask if you have a wage/income that would shock people?

Newmumatlast · 2023-02-27T20:40:07+00:00

Inspired by the tipping hairdresser thread, and a post on there about people having no idea what some people earn with an anecdote about a London cabbie earning twice what his nurse wife did. I just wondered if anyone does a job where people would actually be shocked to know their true earnings based on stereotype- either way. For example cleaner earning loads or lawyer earning very little.

prinnycessa · 03/03/2023 09:03

Lawyer, 28, £85k plus bonus

DoodleDoo37 · 03/03/2023 09:50

Xenia · 02/03/2023 08:57

Doodle, we just have different political views - which is fine (and the UK continues to vote in high tax high spend parties wheher that be Blair "stealing the clothes" (policies) of the Tories or with more recent Tories very very high spending high tax Tories almost being a Labour party.).

My points about the loss of previous allowances we had in the 1970s very high tax UK (my doctor father paid 65% upper rate income tax on NHS salary and over 80% on interest on savings) was simply to show that although the UK upper rate is now 45% tax and 2% ni ie 47% if you add in loss of the single person allowance or large married man's allowance my father had back in the day, the child benefit - a universal payment to all (because some of men then even if rich gave their wives nothing to feed the children so it went to everyone), the loss of tax relief to covenant the money paid to university stage children, the 9% student loan tax the upper rate paid int he 1970s becomes very similar to now and indeed I think British history never have the highest earners paid so much tax. That will be gladden the heart of Labour supporters of course.

We now have massive debts due to the furlough payments etc (which I was against) and will have to live with it for a generation. As not that many people earn large sums the lower paid are paying too now.

Anyway it is what it is and plenty are choosing to work less as the state takes more than is worth working for once you reach a certain income level as I am sure the state knows - there is a tipping point. My doctor sibling at one stage stopped working extra on Sundays because the state was taking 50% (probably more given the pensions cap thing on high earners particularly NHS) - a fair choie ina democracy but an illustration of how high taxes mean less tax ultimately to help the less well off and onec you reach a ceratin level the game is not worth the candle as you might as well put your feet up and work less.

But what I'm saying is it's only higher earners who pay 47% and lose their tax free allowance. Is it not right that if higher earners have perhaps benefited from circumstances beyond their control to get them to be a higher earner pay tax to help others benefit?

Out of interest - if the Government wasn't to pay furlough payments to those whose places of work closed overnight - and were deprived of earnings - how do you think they would have survived? Paid their mortgage - rent - bought food etc? Would you prefer they just starve? Many people despite those payments are still struggling financially. And most other EU countries where lockdown was in place did similar. Would you rather a G7 country let its people fend for themselves in a global pandemic? All countries have debt now as it happens.

At the end of the day - we share this planet and we live in a society and surely our ultimate aim should be to make that society better and fairer for all. And those with the broadest shoulders financially must bear the greatest burdens. And I say this as one of those earners. Truss was going to give me almost £1300 extra per month based on her new 40% versus 45% on my total income - but someone at the bottom scale was getting £12 - how is that fair given how much I earn? Yes that increase would have been nice of course it would - but I didn't "need" it. I'd just save it as I don't need it for day to day spending - so it wouldn't have made it's way back into society the way someone who earns less and actually needs the extra cash to spend. There was no trickle down effect - it would just have been stashed! Others may have used that extra money to buy luxury goods or holidays abroad so again there was no guarantee it would find it's way back into the financial system! And why should the likes of me with an already nice lifestyle get more while others continue to stuggle - especially in these times!!! What is annoying - is that this Government wastes so much of my taxes - lines their own pockets and those of their Tory Party donors. If you're angry about tax - get angry at all the loopholes which allow the really wealthy to stash their earnings offshore and pay no tax - get angry at Amazon and Starbucks and many others like them who pay no tax in this country despite huge revenues. Get angry that Tesco pays crap wages and therefore the Government has to step in with credit top ups. Get angry at the GIG economy who give workers no rights and crap pay. Get anyry at the Bankers who crashed the economy in the first place - which meant Government bail outs and austerity and high taxes and massive debt...... not the poor worker who needed a furlough payment during lockdown! I'd much rather my taxes go to the workers than the bankers.

Your Brother doctor was probably at a tipping point - where yes 50% gets taken - but if you wprk thru that - then you will earn a lot more and 47% tax will still be ok.

LifeunderMarrs · 03/03/2023 10:09

Rainydayparade · 27/02/2023 22:19

My husband earns around £110k working 9 months a year as a self employed tradesman who’s specialised over the years.

We have the freedom to travel for the other 3 months of the year as a family while our son is too young for school.

I’ve witnessed plenty of people talk down to him (because of perceived wealth/job status) but he couldn’t care less and I couldn’t be prouder. If our son wants to do a trade at 16 we will definitely be encouraging it!

Love this!!

Kaiserchief · 03/03/2023 12:27

CeriB82 · 02/03/2023 06:57

I work in local government (finance) and i earn less PH than a cleaner.

I worked in local govt in a professional job (needing a degree, etc). I earned £34k a year, so roughly £17 an hour. I earn double that now as a cleaner (yet we’re always used as an example of the lowest of the low).

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 03/03/2023 14:47

I have 30 years of a trade under my belt now

Specialise in certain things and use a very niche product

Salary around £65,000 after expenses for around 25-30 hours per week

whatadayforadaydream · 03/03/2023 14:51

I am a relatively senior commercial lawyer. I earn well, but I think people would assume that I would earn a lot more than I do. I could earn more, but work in house and for not a super well paying company - mainly because my priority so far as been a good work life balance - but even so I don't think I would make what people assume commercial lawyers make.

Elodie09 · 03/03/2023 17:07

@DoodleDoo37 "All countries have debt now as it happens. "
As it happens , who are we all paying the debt to? Money is just a made up thing anyway so can't we just call a halt amongst all countries,
wipe the debts, wipe the slate clean and start again.
(Only half joking btw , I have read all the "A borrows from B who borrows from C who yadyadayada ...........rinse and repeat)
Everything is a mess.

AllDayBreakfast92 · 03/03/2023 20:17

Elodie09 · 03/03/2023 17:07

@DoodleDoo37 "All countries have debt now as it happens. "
As it happens , who are we all paying the debt to? Money is just a made up thing anyway so can't we just call a halt amongst all countries,
wipe the debts, wipe the slate clean and start again.
(Only half joking btw , I have read all the "A borrows from B who borrows from C who yadyadayada ...........rinse and repeat)
Everything is a mess.

I've sometimes thought similar things but always reflect that somewhere down the line somebody loses out on an amount they can't afford to.

Money might be made up but it was only really ever an alternative to bartering. If somebody has provided physical goods or their time as a service they need the payment to in turn buy the products and services they need to run their lives and feed their families.

Elodie09 · 03/03/2023 20:32

We could bring back bartering, see what these CEO's can offer in the real world.

AllDayBreakfast92 · 03/03/2023 20:44

Elodie09 · 03/03/2023 20:32

We could bring back bartering, see what these CEO's can offer in the real world.

Would be interesting at the checkout in Lidl!

LifeunderMarrs · 04/03/2023 04:09

Blurryeyedbeast · 28/02/2023 06:53

Landlord of four properties and made a large loss last year. Profits years before are minimal too.
My job is a counselling Tutor (BTEC/HNC). I don't know if it'll surprise anyone on here but others seem surprised that that only brings in £27k.

How did you make a loss and why have your profits been so minimal previously?

I rent out two properties and have always made good money.

chumperty · 04/03/2023 07:21

@LifeunderMarrs it's really easy to make a loss. Only takes a tenant not paying for a fee months or a big job coming up. I made money as a LL but I could see how easy it was to fall into non earning territory. Sold up in 2020 like many have.

chumperty · 04/03/2023 07:21

Few

Cococomellonn · 04/03/2023 15:05

AnuSTart · 27/02/2023 23:12

We both earn around £5k take home each a month (I'm on slightly higher) and the parents and teachers at school treat us like crap because we 'look scruffy ' and they think us poor. And actually we out-earn everyone there.
Funny..

But why do you look "scruffy" and it what way? If you look dirty etc then they're not necessarily making judgments about your earnings but in that you take no care in your appearance (and maybe hygiene?). I'm not judging, genuinely asking.

Zipps · 04/03/2023 18:30

AnuSTart
How come you know what everyone's income is?

boboshmobo · 04/03/2023 18:52

@KatKoot that's more like £75 as you aren't paying tax the way someone else would be if they were taking home £50!

boboshmobo · 04/03/2023 18:53

@todaystoday is it only fans ? 🤔

poppettypop · 05/03/2023 00:11

ibunofit · 01/03/2023 07:44

But the renumeration is not just about immediate pay, is it? NHS staff have absolutely excellent pensions ( which would cost an absolute fortune to achieve for those on private pension, good contract conditions and other perks, working for a large employer which offers advancement and career progression, as well as being completely proofed against forced redundancy and extremely hard to sack.

The pressures in the job seem to be from understaffing and I know that stress is tough. But the contractual terms and conditions are really good, even compared to many other public sector employers.

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Not now I'm fraid.

The NHS pension scheme has finished and all new starters must go with Scottish widows.
The pensions our parents had we can only dream about.

Mushroo · 05/03/2023 08:32

poppettypop · 05/03/2023 00:11

Not now I'm fraid.

The NHS pension scheme has finished and all new starters must go with Scottish widows.
The pensions our parents had we can only dream about.

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Is that true? I thought it was still a defined benefit scheme (the 2015 scheme).

If it’s moved the defined contribution, what do the NHS put in? I’ve not heard anything about this!

LookingOldTheseDays · 05/03/2023 09:11

Mushroo · 05/03/2023 08:32

Is that true? I thought it was still a defined benefit scheme (the 2015 scheme).

If it’s moved the defined contribution, what do the NHS put in? I’ve not heard anything about this!

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That poster is totally wrong. It's still a defined benefit scheme, calculated on a career average basis.

Mushroo · 05/03/2023 09:16

LookingOldTheseDays · 05/03/2023 09:11

That poster is totally wrong. It's still a defined benefit scheme, calculated on a career average basis.

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Thanks! That would have been the biggest shock of the thread!