Is £85k a good salary in London (family)?

[SleepDreamThinkHuge]

You may have been aware of a recent Twitter post where one guy was saying £85k a year in London for a family means you will still struggle. Other posters were saying it is not comfortable and definitely not rich. Others were also saying that £85k means your income is higher than 95 percent of the population in the UK. And some have mentioned just because you are £85k you do not need to send your child to private school it is a choice or buy a financed car.

Where do you stand? I can see both arguments but as someone who lives in London how I would love to earn £50k+ let alone £85k. Working in the public sector in a job I like means I earn just over £32k. In the near future, could earn closer to £50k in the next 5 years if I train, and take a more team leader/management responsibility. I think I am not the only one. A lot of people assume just because you live in London you are guaranteed to earn over £50k easily. Many professions are earning less than £50k in London (nurses, teachers, some doctors, police, public sector workers, banking staff in branches etc...

Banging your head off a brick wall - I wouldn’t bother.

@Botw1 as I’ve said before, I’m not talking about me, I’ve never complained about my position. I’m talking generally about families on £85k in London AS THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE FUCKING THREAD.

@Dibblydoodahdah

Oh dear.

Really far away from what people would class aa a ‘top up benefit’.

I earn 60k in south london and cannot afford to buy a property. 85k yes, it would be easier but it wouldn’t make someone rich around here

@Albiboba

Why?

That's what it is.

Replace top up with benefit if you want

You said you hadn’t seen any examples on this thread of people on that amount who were struggling. I merely showed how on that amount I was struggling. You are correct that not everyone could access private medical treatment. If I hadn’t, I would no longer be functioning or working - and probably not alive either - so I’m afraid I do consider it a basic until the NHS is properly funded again (a different thread entirely).

@AllTheChaos

It's not a basic. It's a luxury.

And saying people on 85 aren't struggling is not the same as saying they are rich.

Obviously

It isn't just that though it looks like the poster is quite modest with their outgoings.

We are always finding that we have limited savings on £95 and I'm looking for a better paid job (which I can do now as my youngest is 12 and DH will work at home 2 days a week) to save more for eldest to go to university in 2.5 years time. My list is more like this:

• drive a second hand car but seems to cost us endless money.

-season ticket train fair for DH

• we bought a small house in an expensive area 6 years ago have remortgaged for an extension but mortgage is fairly high

• holidays biggest outlay recently apartment sharing with friends with a family but still £3000, flights £1000 but holidays abroad are not a yearly thing but any means due to the environment but also money. That said UK holidays are not far off that.

-we eat out or have a takeaway once a week, although DH likes cooking so that has reduced to twice a month. Sometimes he spends more on ingredients for one meal than a takeaway so not always a savings.

• free days out, well the beach, lots of walking on the Downs but expensive extra curricular drama group for DD on Saturday as state school provisions for music and drama and Art lacking.

• expense on days out in London, getting there and at least one meal as it is an hour away.

No second hand clothes unless it is 16 year old DS who is buying retro jeans which cost more than new clothes!

When I write it down I see why we find it challenging to keep up a lifestyle we probably can no longer afford. Ultimately, we are much more considered now about purchases and food and drinks out etc, which is a good thing for waste and the environment.

Fare not train fair!

@Botw1 oh dear yourself. You haven’t given one actual example, you just put your fingers in your ears and say choices….

You’ve clearly never lived in London (as I have) and your life experience is so narrow that you think everyone on £85k is minted.

Anyway, I’m going back to my very comfortable life and packing to go on holiday tomorrow. Shame on me for thinking about those who are not in as comfortable position as me!

@Dibblydoodahdah

As I said, rightmove can help you find examples

Or ask some of the people posting on the thread who do live in London. (Not me)

If they're on 85k I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure they'll be fine

Unlike those on much less

It really is. Especially as you could buy at much lower prices. People now don’t have a choice but to pay higher rents if they can’t buy. Combine that with childcare - it’s hard. As I say - no skin in the game our household income is significantly higher and we don’t pay childcare.

However it amazes me that people who bought many years ago, now out of the childcare trap are so blissfully ignorant to the actual cost of living nowadays for a young family.

2 people on £85k, between them- let's say they earn £42.5k each, pay less tax than someone who earns the full 85k. Plus are entitled to child benefit.

My DH earns 92k in a public sector job, in London and we get by just fine. I also work very part-time but its not needed. Live on the edge of London.

You are seriously telling me that my being alive and my child not being orphaned is a luxury? Right, ok, your troll credentials have been established. Many thanks.

@AllTheChaos

No. I'm telling you expensive private medical care is a luxury.

Because it is.

One people on lower incomes won't have access to.

Don’t waste your time - you’re right. Any decent company now included private as part of the offer.

Exactly! The tax portion is paid by me (and is high enough), I dread to think what the actual insurance costs my company, but it comes as a standard part of the remuneration package thank goodness!

Er I've never had a job with private healthcare - again something that people in high income jobs take for granted.

A friend of mine was telling me about her cover and ease at seeing an online doctor/ actual psychologist / foot doctor - all things Id have to wait months to see at the moment if I even managed to get referred.

Exactly @TheWonderfulThingAboutTiggers

Back in the real world where the average salary is 30k with no private healthcare

85k in London is ok unless you have nursery fees to pay, you want to have a nice house in an affluent area, bmw x5 parked in the driveway, shop in Waitrose, socialise a lot, going to theatre/concert, going on holiday, skiing ? All inclusive or villas ? Lots of saving in the bank ?

Who are these people?

we rent a very small place at £2,200 inc bills… we can’t afford to buy but we love our neighbourhood and at the moment for us the smaller home is worth it because we enjoy London a lot. I’m a teacher & partner works in adult education.

@Lostinalibrary I'm not agreeing it's right but it's my situation at the minute so I get it
I can't afford a child so if I get pregnant there isn't a choice, I would have to terminate or go through pregnancy and give the child up for adoption

Do I want children? Yeah, absolutely I did but I didn't meet the right person and my wage doesn't allow for me to pay for nappies let alone childcare
Take home around £1500 in the NW, and my bills alone are £1000

The average salary in London is almost £42k

https://www.statista.com/statistics/416139/full-time-annual-salary-in-the-uk-by-region/