Imagine if Betty lived near you

[Aserena]

Inspired by another thread.

Meet Betty:

• Betty earns £50k (pre tax) per year, with a stable career.
• She is mid-life and single with no children.
• She has no wealthy relatives.

What living conditions and lifestyle would you expect Betty to have, in the area where you live?

Tell us where she’s living and how she spends her dosh. Feel free to be imaginative!

Betty has a false door at the back of her wardrobe. You'll never guess what she keeps in there...

Is it Mr Tumnus and a red room of pain?

She’s probably really into crochet

Betty has paid of her mortgage.
She has new car replaced every few years.
Gym membership
Does yoga
Many short breaks around England/Scotland/wales inc spa breaks
One long haul &
One short holiday a year.
Eats out with friends often
Has hair done every 6 weeks
Nails monthly
Buys an item of clothing each month
Has some nice jewellery
Has savings about 30k

Sorry OP, I wasn't inferring you were dull, I just picked up on the "and want to know what my lifestyle would be liked if I lived somewhere else".

My income is higher but otherwise this is me.

One bed central London flat.
Eats out 1-2 nights/ week with friends/ colleagues.
Regular theatre (cheap seats) or cinema outings (at least once a week).
Regular holidays abroad - mostly city breaks via eurostar/ european train services mixed up with UK breaks
Longer long haul trips every few years.
Lots of cultural memberships - tate, V&A etc.
Food shopping Ocado/ Tesco metro/ M&S (the local options).
Nice gym membership which is used.

@DoItAgainPlz Is it a CCTV room, as she's MI5?

Ooh good for her! Where does this Betty live?

sokay 😁

Betty is actually 86, was widowed back in 1995 and is in surprisingly good health. She gets twinges in her hands nowadays but is otherwise well. She still drives and has a 1 year old Honda Jazz on a PCP. She likes the fold down seats in the Jazz because she can get all sorts in the back seat.

Betty's daughter Shirley lives locally and she sees her several times a week. Shirley is 62 and hasn't been able to retire. She still works full-time so she gets a bit frustrated with having to sort out Betty's problems for her.

Betty's son Paul emigrated to Canada just before his father died and rarely comes back to the UK. Shirley is highly resentful that Paul doesn't do his fair share of looking after Betty, especially since Betty thinks the sun shines out of his backside.

Betty's grandchildren are all in their 30s and she finds it odd that none of them are married or have any children. They all seem to spend a lot of money on nice cars and travel. The eldest girl Hannah is living with a decent sort of chap and they have a 4 bedroom detached house on a new estate by the coast. The eldest boy works in London - not quite sure as what - and seems to hang around with a very flamboyant man called Jeremy. Betty isn't quite sure whether her grandson is gay.

Paul's children are all doing terribly well, although she hasn't seen them for many years of course, not since she was able to fly out to Canada. They zoom call her at least once a week.

(sorry, got a bit carried away there)

Well it depends what Betty's hobbies and interests are, what she enjoys doing and what she prioritises in her life. I know it's a lighthearted thread but whilst being childfree means you don't have children of whom do affect lifestyle financially and in terms of freedom etc; it shouldn't define any woman and be an indicator of what they spend money and time on as a homogenous group. So many of my friends who have children say how if they didn't they'd be travelling all of the time and going out, they wouldn't because they didn't do it beforehand, yet lots of people think the 'freedom' should be justified ie travel the world and have amazing interests. Whether Betty likes spending all of her money on dominos pizzas and TV subscription services if she enjoys it that's just as valid as saving for holidays etc.

Here a single person at that age on that income could own a reasonable 2 bed flat or house and have a decent lifestyle.

If I'd not had an attempt at moving out of London then I could do my current lifestyle on a lower salary as my mortgage would be much lower/ almost paid off.

Moving out & then back in cost me 150K and a bedroom (urgh)

So many of my friends who have children say how if they didn't they'd be travelling all of the time and going out, they wouldn't because they didn't do it beforehand, yet lots of people think the 'freedom' should be justified ie travel the world and have amazing interests

They wouldn't. They'd be working. Just like the rest of us.

Norfolk
Diss

I know, hence the rest of my post that you've conveniently snipped off...

Betty is an odd name to choose, DM was a Betty, she would be 90 if she was alive.

Anyway, in my area, a semi detached house most likely, 3 year old car bought with savings, has a cash isa, clothes bought from M&S.

Betty probably wouldn't have been so dull if she didn't have my DMs name

Love it! Liking the family dramas 😁 Does she get by okay on her £50k, or is she taking out equity release to afford flights to visit Paul (to Shirley’s annoyance)?

Betty likes to drink sherry and enjoys crochet.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134115248#/?channel=RES_BUY

This is Betty's house.

Mortgage paid off.

This also applies to parents of older children FYI

She has invested £50k of savings into premium bonds and eagerly awaits the draw at the start of every month.

This is Betty's thread!
Can we remsin focused.

Betty was hot. She’s still holding up well.

She dodged a bullet with Nick. His poor wife…
Single now, but she did shag Robbie Williams in 1995.

Betty sometimes talks to her imaginary little girl, Tabitha.
She was pregnant, once but it didn’t work out…

Her scrappy little fella, Fred, is a great companion though!
And Betty loves chatting to other dog mums.

So lucky she got this place in North London at the time.
It’s small, but perfectly formed. It’s Betty’s haven.

Her hero is Jennifer Aniston.
if only Jen would do a GOOP, and share her secrets!

Betty has that wellness retreat in Koh Samui at Christmas.
Bliss! Yoga, sun & smoothies. Her family can fuck off…

She’s actually bendier now than she was at 25.
And she can still get into her Diesels if she lies on the bed.

Life’s not bad. A Birkin bag would be nice, though!

She’s done well! Norfolk suits her!

@Loadedbydeath but Betty doesn't have older children?