To think there must be dodgy financial activity going on with this couple?

[TurkeyTeethLookAwful]

A couple that we know (but are not friends with as such) both seem to have a very extravagant lifestyle that is totally at odds with the jobs that they do.

The husband works as an assistant manager at a shop; not a superstore or anything like that, just a small branch of a chain store in the local town. The wife works two days a week as a hairdresser. They have four children aged between 16 and 2.

In the past five years they have:

Totally renovated their semi detached house to a very high standard. They have an instagram account about their home (not many followers, less than 200 so are not earning from that) and have tagged many high end products and tradesmen, such as a bespoke bed and 2k chandelier type light for the bedroom.

Taken multiple luxury foreign holidays per year; not budget holidays but five star holidays. And regular weekends away at Disney Paris, too.

They, and the kids always have very high end designer clothes; the woman wears dresses that cost £400+ when she goes on nights out, and on the holiday they are currently on she has posted on social media that she and her two daughters are all wearing matching swimsuits that cost £100+ each.

The woman has hair extensions, brow lamination, lash extensions, botox, fillers, nail extensions, and probably loads more stuff on a regular basis. All done at high end salons.

They have very regular expensive family days out and weekends away, such as travelling on the train first class to London to see a musical and then staying overnight in an expensive hotel.

In the past, I've known of a few other couples who live that kind of lifestyle and it's turned out that they are earning money drug dealing. This couple both absolutely do not have rich families; both of their families live in council housing. I feel like they probably have not had a lottery win as I feel that if they did, they'd buy a massive house, seeing as they like extravagance. I can't imagine a mortgage could be obtained or a house bought on drug money...

And yes, I know it's none of my business, but I'm curious.

AIBU to think they must surely be doing something illegal to have this lifestyle?

Drugs. I know a family like this. It's so obvious they are up to no good. She doesn't work at all. He has a 'business' but when you search it's not an actual business. She drives a big 4 x 4 cad, in fact that have one each with personalised number plates, holidays, home renovations, the lot. I mean they could try and hide it a bit because it so obvious they are involved in drugs or laundering money for them.

Surely not? That's a lot of pugs to fund their building project and all of those children.

They'll receive money for their media work won't they.

🤣

Yes I am panicked, panicked about the level of interest you are showing in complete strangers, who aren't here to defend themselves and how you are relishing accusing them of all sorts. Modern day pitchforks and witch hunt. It's weird and unsettling.

No one would look at me and think I was running a side hustle, I don't have two pennies to rub together, but I don't besmirch those that do.

no! But apart from that.

This is interesting. I 'pretend' I still work or still have a day job, because I don't want those close to me to expect handouts because they know, I earned a big sum a few years ago. Yes, enough for me to never have to work again. So, good I invested the whole lot of it, I still think and slightly behave like someone living month end to month end - although travelled for 2 years as I then got married, but haven't alerted my spending behaviours although I already flew business class then so some things didn't need improving to be fair. So I pretend I am still like all of us, just so I know I don't make life too comfortable for others, to then find myself having spent the whole lot with nothing to show for it. That is easily done and people can be lazy.

I even had to kick my brother out of my rented property which he asked to rent from me to do a business, but seemingly 'decided' unilaterally that he won't be paying me rent. Luckily I know the law and told him I would have to pay tax on the benefit he is getting as it is classed as a gift to him. He soon got the message and started paying some rent ( I gave him a really low sum) almost over a year in.

Left bad atmosphere between us for a few years ( were always close) and we are now fine.

I did need that rental to support other investments I had just made and had not planned for zero rent from it. However, my plan was to get the rent for 3-5 years max and then ask him to put the rent away for his daughter's uni. I later thought that as he has study policies, he didn't seem to think like me, but somehow felt I should hand anything directly to him for him, which I still cannot get my head around. He is married so I know anything to him is anything to his wife with whom they have no kids.

So, money brings out all sorts of theories in people's heads so, this thread has again confirmed it and I am glad I give no info away.

If it was drug money, why would the H be working full time in a shop? Surely he would be self employed” in some kind of “front” business. And if it’s the wife who’s the drug dealer he still wouldn’t be working full time in a shop.

Does it matter?

The ONLY reason they know about my earning was because of the press, which I still haven't forgiven them for although the press seemed to think it as being a 'praise'. I knew the implications of that instantly.

So if you think there is some dodgy or illegal earnings, do something. Ask them how the Only Fans account is going and see their reaction, or ask HMRC to investigate. I would think if there was drugs involved the times that they leave the house or people visit would be a clue, nothing you have suggested supports this.

This with bells on

The preoccupation with someone else's lifestyle is just weird !

What's it for to do with you where their money comes from ? If you're that nosey just ask them . And be prepared to be told where to go .

My guess would be:

No housing costs
Someone gets PIP/DLA
Only fans
Porn/sex work
Drug dealing
Self employed business not paying tax
High debts
Stuff is second hand
Hidden things are low budget ie eat cheap Aldi food

Do you not feel guilty?

Why would somebody feel guilty for that? What a weird question.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the OP to be wondering and be invested . Human nature to be curious and forums like this are to have a discussion about it that doesn’t impact anyone!
I know of a woman , not close friends and mainly through Facebook I see her life - she is a single mom, has 5 children . 2 of them I know have recently left school and one goes to college the other doesn’t so she wouldn’t get benefits for that one. I know she used to live in a deprived area , struggled with money , used food banks . All of a sudden in the past few years she seems to always be on holiday or days out , photos you can see the difference in how her and her children dress ( all designer ) . She doesn’t work and just in the 6 weeks holiday alone she has been on 3 holidays. After the first holiday ( 2 weeks abroad in a 5 star resort ) , she posted that she missed the holiday and was thinking of booking another . The following week she was on a caravan holiday , then next thing she was on another 2 week holiday abroad , again in a 5 star resort. I wish her all the best and I’m happy her life has turned around , her kids are making amazing memories but I won’t lie I wonder how on earth she does it , I’m so curious and also I am 100% jealous ! I work in a career that I trained 5 years for , my husband has a good job and we barely afforded a week in Devon in the most basic caravan… so I of course I wonder how it’s possible It’s just human nature . It’s completely none of my business but I’m not affecting anyone by wondering and being jealous ( except maybe myself lol ) x

If they do work in a salon it could be aesthetics related. It can be very lucrative. One beautician I know has just bought a new house and is frequently going on holiday.

@ginnytin she doesn't do aesthetics. She's a hairdresser

Could be a modest lottery win. Enough to renovate and for them to afford all of this as long as they keep working ?

I think they’ve won some money or had an inheritance

@LanaL only fans or other sex work?

yes, it drugs. Why would they still keep their average job if it wasn’t to try to disguise the truth? Probably that’s how they do their real work.

I think she can only work part time in her salon because she's a highly successful writer of crime novels in which all the characters in a small town spy on each other and get finished off in ways appropriate to their curtain twitching. She's currently on book 7 and has had a huge advance on book 8. Watch out OP!

Oh I’m a right nosey so and so so my thoughts are
he’s doing something dodgy in the shop he works for, theft saying that surely that would quickly be found out but sometime not for months and months
something on social medial people earn a decent living off tiktok ,
possibly only fans
gambling
fraud
drugs
could be anything, could be entirely innocent.

You do realise it's not 'spying' if you tell everyone your business right? LOL/
Even a child could work all of that out

I’m one of these people 🤣

Working 3 days a week in a rubbish job, single mum to 4 kids.
we have a great lifestyle because I am extremely sensible with the boring stuff to fund the fun stuff. Holidays, days out, house being done up (on a budget, doing lots of donkey work myself to save money), kids go without nothing. Not a penny is wasted on boring stuff (bills etc), I claim everything I am entitled to, I search for hours to get the best deals, i utilise every freebie and discount code. I sell everything and throw away nothing! I enter a lot of competitions, which has proved to be very lucrative. Had a few compensation claims. A mediocre inheritance a few years ago. And my dad helps me out.

I’m not a drug dealer. Or a people trafficker 🤣

Your last phrase.
'my dad helps me out'
'How I became CEO at 25 - got a job at dad's company'