To have expected more in life from working to reach this salary?

[grethrow]

I’m early forties and earn 75k. I know this isn’t huge money but it’s well above average salaries in the uk. I worked hard to get to this point (I’m not saying people who earn less don’t work hard).

I guess along the way I always thought I would be able to have a really comfortable life on this salary. I have one ds who is 11 but his costs don’t really factor in much as his dad pays for most stuff (ds lives with me so dad pays a decent amount).

I assumed going on holiday would be easy but renting a cottage in Devon in a nice area for a week is around 1,500, then there’s travel costs and food etc when you’re there! Going abroad long haul is extortionate. I guess these things are just about doable for me but it’s not easy.

I am having a privileged whinge. I know that. But I do feel sometimes like maybe at 18 I shouldn’t have bothered. My parents had a similar income (taking into account inflation) and me and my brother both went to independent schools, grew up in a large home and parents had very nice cars. It wouldn’t be possible for me to go and buy a nice car outright. I know people have it much worse but I still feel cheated and like it is a slog for very little, fair of me to feel this? Do others feel this?

That is a very good salary and you should be proud of achieving it! Everything has become increasingly more expensive, especially in more affluent areas. You get attached to where you live, so moving to somewhere cheaper probably doesn't resonate, understandably.

We are a very populated country compared to many others so thay comes with high cost brackets for the most desirable areas. X

Your earning 75k & your whinging about not having enough to go abroad & by a car? There are people who earn the minimum wage; do three jobs just to feed their kids & all you can do is bleat on about a holiday & a fecking car Jesus I bet if someone offered your salary to s truly hard for work for a pittance they’d rip your privileged arm off & run like feck.
ge over yourself & be greatful for what you have

Oh poor you. Get a reality check

Exactly this!

I think it depends on how you spend your money.
£75000 is a good salary but technically it’s also two average salary’s (minus tax benefits!).
£1500 on holiday is a lot if you want to pay in full straight away. For many people including myself I would put the holiday on an interest free card and pay £500 for 3 months. I also don’t think most people could buy a car outright anymore depending on the car.

Agree with others it would be good to see how you spend if you were interest in advice.
After tax/pension/student loan etc I assume you get around £4000 per month?
£1200 mortgage
£560 food shop
£220 car
plus all your other outgoings I imagine you would still have about £1000 remaining?

You want to try self employed on 18-20k, working full time. Its great.

Two questions....)

1. Is this a genuine post?

2.Is it possible for you to stop moaning and list the positives?

if you pay a mortgage of 1500 let's say you are left with 2500 a month.... you have one child and your ex pays maintenance... so clearly you are spending like crazy ... i have 3 kids i earn less than you and we still go on holidays at least twice a year and we go places a lot. I was a crazy spender before then i got a reality check and now im more careful....I get what you say about our parents but all has changed... if you think now an 18 yo can become millionaire just with you tube makes you rethink loads....

I mean you have a young child. A week in New York for the pair of you, if you are going to do in a fair amount of luxury is going to cost a minimum of £5k, which is a significant chunk of your take home pay, even if other expenses were minimal that’s not something someone with kids on that salary has ever been able to do carefree. I used to go to NY a lot when I was single and on a similar salary and could really only afford it because trips were subsidised by work. Now, I could not even imagine doing a week in NY with one child. But these are luxuries that you do have to forfeit when you have a child.

If you want to claw back money, you need to look at the small stuff - that's what adds up!
I am a single parent with 2 kids (one teen who eats more than me and youngest put together), on a third of your income. My weekly shop is never over £80. Do it online and look for the cheaper options - own branded stuff is just as nice. Or better yet, go to aldi! If you saved £60 a week from your groceries, you would have over £3K a year for a lovely holiday

So you’re taking home £4.5k a month.

Mortgage of £1.2k
Tesco bill of about £600.

Where’s the other £2k a month going?
Thats £500 a week after food and accommodation.

That would seem like £2k a year for a fairly decent holiday should be realistic.

(Not sure the Devon example is a great one - that sounds like holiday cottage rental costs, UK cottage holiday carry a pretty hefty premium. European hotel holidays are far cheaper whilst being no where near a budget holiday).

I think the issue is that I think most of us don’t really ever feel comfortable when in fact we are. The money will be going on things, possibly unnecessary and luxury things but because you’re used to that way of living, it doesn’t really feel like a luxury.
I was having a similar moan to DH recently about the fact that we’re now earning nearly double what we were a few years ago but we don’t feel any better off. Then I stopped and thought about it, yes all our money is gone each month but that’s because we now have a better car, a cleaner, DD has a pony, we go on a foreign holiday every year, we go to more concerts/meals/nights away etc etc, we’re also investing more of our income. Basically you live to your means, we still feel skint half the time but it’s because we’re paying for more stuff.

Because of high taxes for the middle income earners and high benefits for the lower earners, there isn't a massive difference in quality of life between NMW with children and your £75k salary. I was shocked when I went on entitledto and found out that 16 hours NMW and 2 children is the same hourly wage as 40 hours per week, £130k annual income once tax and benefits are taken into account.

On £75k ,I am afraid to say you an only aford a low income lifestyle because of the high taxes you pay and you won't qualify for any benefits.

I rent a holiday cottage in a cheaper but equally beautiful part of England. More like £500 a week.

75k is a hefty wage. Twice what the average Joe earns. You need to manage it better. Maybe move to a smaller property or something

£1200 mortgage lol ! 31 October ours was £1492 a month now £2808 a month !

Mortgage 1.2k a month lol ! 31st October £1492 per month 1st November £2808 per month !

You have every right to complain, as do the rest of us. I agree, we have been led to believe that working hard, getting an education and doing the right thing would mean life would be easy and enjoyable. The government we have now, and the ones we have had, have ensured that life is only easy for the extraordinarily wealthy.

It isn’t an about being grateful for what you have, and don’t apologise for “being privileged”. On your income you are most certainly not. It’s time we started questioning our politicians and the state of affairs. Life should be easier than it is for most people in the Uk.

75k after tax is not a hefty wage. Stop listening to the government on this.

I'm not listening to the government? 75k is a hefty wage, most people I know earn between 20-40k.

@VickyPollard25
So according to Google 75k after tax is 53k, still a hefty sum considering most people make it work on half that.
Don't get me wrong it's crazy the government are taking over 20k off then but it's still a hefty sum

That is our household income, we don’t have a large mortgage (about £500 per month) but could realistically afford a larger mortgage. We both run cars (mine is 12 years old but still runs and does what we need) we go on holiday regularly and have mini breaks as well. Pay for extras etc and still have money left to save.

Unless you have a huge mortgage it would be fairly easy to live comfortably on that wage.

However, if you have a huge mortgage, car finance, designer clothes etc then it will feel like less!

Try a cruise from a UK port. You cannot get a better value for money, loads to do holiday for the price.

My last 4 cruises have been fees and taxes only because somehow I got into a programme that gave me mega deals - big gamblers get these deals but I've never spent any money in an onboard casino!

Anyways, if a cruise to Iceland or the Norweigan ffyords (both recommended) sound good, you will find they're around £1400 for both of you for a 8 to 12 day cruise. All meals, kids club and entertainment, tea, coffee, water and limited 'cordials' are free, just pay for speciality dining, barista drinks and alcohol.

Cruises are the best holidays to meet people to visit places with too so you won't be on your own.

£75k is a good income, well done for climbing the slippery career pole.

Good luck holidaying x