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?

Yes some of them were. The multi-city Europe trip and our holidays to other European cities were in August. It’s probably cheaper to do short haul to Europe than it is to go to Center Parcs

We don’t bite in Norwood Junction, I promise. We’ve even got an artisanal cheese shop!

30k isnt low enough to get universal credit. We earn around that much and the only benefit we get is child benefit (everyone gets this). There's a lot of shit talking on this thread, people claiming that someone earning half of 75k is somehow richer because they get benefits and the person on 75k has to pay so much tax it works out less. It's complete bullshit!

Right? Food bill is excessive. We are vegetarian so not the best to advice, but we spend about £35 per person per week including basic toiletries, and I can't imagine adding meat would double that. There are 3 adults in my home and sometimes 4.

Last time I went shopping I spent 50 pounds myself for the week. I don't eat meat either.
I don't eat meat by choice.

But looking at meat prices, I do think the price of meat these days is a bit ridiculous. And you don't get much for your money for it.

I’m not saying someone earning half is richer at all

I earn more than £30k and I get universal credit….

Oh, I have found some 3 beds in SW London within your budget, to the PP - Collier’s Wood or Tooting should fit your requirements https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E85269&minBedrooms=3&maxPrice=550000&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Yes you can get great value for your money in Spain, france and Portugal during the school holidays.

UC doesn't have one absolute income limit. That's not how it works. It depends on your childcare and private rental costs too.

People absolutely can be earning low amounts and not be entitled, or high amounts and still be entitled. There is no point putting one's own details into a benefits calculator and extrapolating the result to the general population.

That sounds absolutely lovely. What kind of website was that cottage on. Was it on something like booking.com

I have a ‘good salary’ and get UC. Because of my circumstances. It isn’t a huge amount per month. But it gets me a couple of Lidl shops

This is definitely a privileged whinge. I think people put up these posts just to upset people really in financial trouble.

You have to meal prep which once a month is a pain in the ass. But we spend £300 a month (the budget is £200 but I haven’t increased it in 8 years and obviously everything’s gone up!) for the 2 of us (not including our 8mo DD’s stuff) but that is everything from a supermarket, toiletries, cleaning bits, bin bags, washing liquid etc.

If you shop at Tesco OP, join Clubcard plus, it’s £8 a month but 10% savings on Fred and flo, go cook, f&f and off 2 shops a month up to £200.

Shop for more than a week at a time. Of course you need top ups like bread milk etc. But I do one big shop around payday and we freeze/split everything for later in the month. Batch cook, use a slow cooker. £140 a week is an average of £606 a month and that’s excluding extras for Christmas/ocassions/take aways and eating out. Thats insane.

I am fully aware of how much tougher it would be for many. But the feeling is valid nevertheless.

Also cheaper to go Long Haul in a fair few cases!

10nights in Mauritius is often cheaper than 7 in Greece!

That's a good idea aswell.

I hate airports and long haul flights so I often go to countries with shorter flight times.

I think in the future they will have worldwide remote jobs, and people will constantly move from country to country every months. So one month in france, one month in Austria etc.

I know some people do it now. But it's still not the norm. But I think it will be in the future.

Completely agree
So many comments assuming everyone on a lower income, are eligible for UC and would then be on the same level as high earners, bridging the gap.Ridiculous.

All in saying is mine and the other halfs Income combined is about 30k and we don't get universal credit and yeah we have a lot of rent to pay. I used to get it when I was single so I know how it works.

There must be some rare reason for someone on 30k to get UC I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But then you get threads like these were people on 75k bitch that they have less money than someone on 30k because they pay so much tax and believe everyone on 30k is getting oodles of benefits and don't have to pay for school meals etc. (newsflash you have to earn less than 7.5k to get free school meals that's no where near 30k is it )

@grethrow OP I get you! I have longed stopped comparing myself to my parents who had 4 kids are seem to be very similar to yours. Their generation won the jackpot in terms of living and we (I’m 40) have to carve our own way. Our kids will have it even harder I imagine!

however in terms of holidays you are only giving yourself two options and no in between. We go on an Aug summer holiday to Greece or Italy (beautiful countries), a week in Cornwall (st Ives) in May half term and usually centre Parcs in Oct half term.

we are a two income household but probs similar to you (as your ex clearly pays his way). We have three children and one of those is at uni and we pay those fees.

so I feel you must be over spending on something (and yes i take your points about it should be xyz - but it’s not). We are where we are in 2024 so put £400 (or more) a month aside for a holiday fund and you will have enough - and get your ex to pay for your dc too!

we are heading to st Ives in May half term for a week there are 5 of us and Air b&b was less than £1k and it looks lovely and great location with parking.

Depends where you live and rent or mortgage. 75k will go much further in the north or NI than it would in SE or London

I live in the south east and 75k is still a hefty salary

That is definitely the case. We had to do UK holidays for a couple years tho, but now that’s changed I’ll be looking elsewhere.

This is your problem @grethrow .

You're saying you shouldn't have to cut back because you're on a "higher salary than many".

That's a silly notion to have. People on higher salaries don't have endless money. You still have to budget.

You said you can't afford a holiday. Someone then said to you - if you really want a holiday, get your food expenses down a little bit every week.

You then said "why should I have to get my food expenses down , I'm on a higher salary
"
I think you need to go on a money management course. You don't have infinite money.

I used to be in a job where I earned more than I do now. I still budgeted what I spent every month.

You don’t get quantity nor quality