Page 2 | To think this site is obsessed with money?

YourFirmDuck · 2025-05-06T13:02:24+00:00

Every single time anything related to this comes up at least half the replies are clearly jealous/bitter and making unsubstantiated claims e.g. the original poster is getting cheated on by DH, is actually dumb and got lucky, inherited it etc. I can't think of anything which gets the same level of nastiness to appear, even threads about size or the use of weight loss jabs seem to be calmer than someone asking how to save more than the ISA limit. Am I wrong here?

Samslaundry · 06/05/2025 19:28

StClabberts · 06/05/2025 19:15

Agree.

There are definitely some fantasists and bullshitters on here, which over the years has included people claiming to be poor as well as rich. But also, it's not a representative demographic. And the sort of person who earns/is partnered with someone earning 100k+ is disproportionately likely to have the sort of traits that mean they might post on here.

Because if you think about it, anyone who's participating in discussion on MN can read and write English to at least early secondary level and has internet access. There are millions of the population who don't meet these criteria, but pretty much all higher earners do.

The 2% figure can be a bit misleading as well because it's as a percentage of the working age population. So pretty much no FE and uni students qualify, but they're still included in the stats once they're 18. They also don't post much on MN. MNers are disproportionately likely to be of the age where they and/or their partner are around peak earning years. I've also seen some claims this year it's actually 4%, which would make sense considering inflation, but not sure of the source.

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The average Mumsnet user is definitely wealthier than the average person in the real world it's so noticeable to regular users. But why? I think it needs to be studied more haha like someone said only 2% of people earn over 100k but on Mumsnet it seems to be every other poster. And I believe them.

I think there's more to it than being able to read and write and have internet access because I haven't noticed this on any other website eg Facebook, threads etc. There's got to be more to it.

And yes also noticed there aren't many younger posters I mean I know it's Mumsnet so it's mostly going to be mums but where are all the other mums in their 20s hiding?

StClabberts · 06/05/2025 19:34

Samslaundry · 06/05/2025 19:28

The average Mumsnet user is definitely wealthier than the average person in the real world it's so noticeable to regular users. But why? I think it needs to be studied more haha like someone said only 2% of people earn over 100k but on Mumsnet it seems to be every other poster. And I believe them.

I think there's more to it than being able to read and write and have internet access because I haven't noticed this on any other website eg Facebook, threads etc. There's got to be more to it.

And yes also noticed there aren't many younger posters I mean I know it's Mumsnet so it's mostly going to be mums but where are all the other mums in their 20s hiding?

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I think another part of it is that threads often not only attract the extremes, but those are what tend to stick in people's minds.

So very high and very low earners, but also those whose circumstances are out of the ordinary, or who think they are. People in lower income areas with low mortgages who feel they have a better quality of life than someone earning much more in the south east, or 100k earners who don't have much left at the end of the month because of housing and childcare. People who think their circumstances challenge norms and are more likely to inspire discussion.

My guess is those people are more likely to post than average, but also when they do I'm more likely to notice and remember them than I am Ms Slap Bang In The Middle and Ms Unremarkable Lifestyle For Her Income.

Samslaundry · 06/05/2025 19:49

StClabberts · 06/05/2025 19:34

I think another part of it is that threads often not only attract the extremes, but those are what tend to stick in people's minds.

So very high and very low earners, but also those whose circumstances are out of the ordinary, or who think they are. People in lower income areas with low mortgages who feel they have a better quality of life than someone earning much more in the south east, or 100k earners who don't have much left at the end of the month because of housing and childcare. People who think their circumstances challenge norms and are more likely to inspire discussion.

My guess is those people are more likely to post than average, but also when they do I'm more likely to notice and remember them than I am Ms Slap Bang In The Middle and Ms Unremarkable Lifestyle For Her Income.

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Aside from threads about finances I do genuinely think the user base of Mumsnet is by far on average the wealthiest compared to all other websites and real life.
When you've been lurking long enough you realise it, little things like every day there is multiple threads about private school (only 7% of kids go to private school and how often do you hear people talk about it irl). There's other little signs too can't think off the top of my head rn.

Its quite interesting really i wonder how the userbase came to skew this way

MidnightPatrol · 06/05/2025 21:14

Chiseltip · 06/05/2025 15:38

Because statistically, just shy of two percent of the population earn over 100k.

And I guess it seems that more than two percent of posters claim that they do earn £100k a year. Which goes against what the stats say.

Unless people mean that their shared income is over £100k, which is far more realistic.

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This tax year ~4% of earners will earn >£100k.

And it’s thought that’s heavily distorted within itself due to people trying to avoid the £100k cliff edges.