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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anyone else lost a bit of ambition now they’ve been taxed to the brink?

1000 replies

Peasontoastt · 04/07/2025 19:56

I used to be extremely ambitious and was really eager to reach some sort of financial security. As a consequence, I’m in what’s considered a highly paid career, I work hard and it took me many years to train.

Just as I paid off my student loan (which took many years), I then had a baby and returned to work to be stuck with the childcare dilemma. I struggled through that phase and have come out the other side but being taxed so much, no child benefit, still paying for nursery even though dd has ‘free’ hours now. It’s likely that savings are going to be bashed next, so what’s the point in even putting anything aside when there’s likely going to be a 4K cap on ISAs.

I used to feel so ambitious and of course I know money isn’t everything, not by a long shot. But having worked my way up the ladder and with huge responsibilities only to feel penalised financially for doing so…what is the point? Yes I have more financial security than someone claiming benefits but equally, I am not being flippant when I say a few years of resting and being at home and being frugal is starting to seem so much more attractive. Has anyone else started feeling this way? I feel taken the piss out of by every financial angle!

OP posts:
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WhisperGold · 04/07/2025 20:21

CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 20:09

See @Peasontoastt you're not allowed to mention that the level of tax people are being hit for is ridiculous.
We're meant to be full of 'ooh of COURSE!! I'm so ecstatic to work and pay fuck loads for child care so that those who are multi generational benefit claimants can continue to get their life style paid for forever! They're ENTITLED!!'

I'm just asking OP to justify their hyperbole. No-one is being silenced.
No need to shout.

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 04/07/2025 20:21

The ones bitching about the Op aren’t the ones who worked their arses off and made sacrifices elsewhere to fund someone else’s flat screen TV and KFC habit.
I’m also sick of looking at my pay slip and wondering why the fuck do I bother. Were the sleepless night and stress really worth this.

guerdyguatd · 04/07/2025 20:22

People underestimate the impact of frozen tax bands.

Summerhillsquare · 04/07/2025 20:23

Go on then, sack it off and 'go on benefits ', see how that works for you.

Sunshineandoranges · 04/07/2025 20:23

soupyspoon · 04/07/2025 20:02

We are a low tax economy

We are one of the highest taxed European economies. The Scandinavian countries are highly taxed but see good public services in return.

Midnightlove · 04/07/2025 20:23

Darragon · 04/07/2025 20:16

Yes OP I feel the same. I'm emigrating to somewhere that actually appreciates my job role, has room for upwards mobility, pays people in my sector a fair wage, gives childcare and medical as part of the package, and won't tax my arse off when I get paid what I should for the mandatory 70+ hour weeks.

I'm not a higher rate taxpayer and I still don't get any kind of warm fuzzy doright feels for "doing my bit" when the council charges to empty my brown bin now, when the police won't come out to a car theft and even if they do, they don't ever look for the culprit, where grooming has been covered up by people paid with my tax money, where useless PPE was bought with my money and dumped when found to be useless, where schools are not given the money for the payrises they're mandated to give teachers, and where you cannot get a GP appointment even if you ring at 8am because the lines go down every day for 2 hours without fail from the number of calls they get. What the turquoise fuck are we supposed to feel happy to pay tax for?!

Yep, many higher earners are fleeing.. people are getting sick of paying the lions share of money to pay for something they don't want/agree with.

KateMiskin · 04/07/2025 20:24

Summerhillsquare · 04/07/2025 20:23

Go on then, sack it off and 'go on benefits ', see how that works for you.

No. There are other options. Net contributors are leaving in droves. Because they can.My DS certainly can.

And no, he's not going to Dubai.

guerdyguatd · 04/07/2025 20:24

You're not at the "brink" if you're privileged enough to be in the higher rate bracket.

The bracket should be a lot higher though that's the point.

52k is the equivalent to 40k 5 years ago & 27k in early 00s.

CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 20:24

@REDB99 so you think it's funny that @MorningLarkEchoes is paying lots on a mortgage... no housing benefit provided..... paying for childcare.... no free childcare because only income benefits..has debt because having to take personal responsibility for life rather than reliant on state?.... yeah super funny..

HeddaGarbled · 04/07/2025 20:24

The ones bitching about the Op aren’t the ones who worked their arses off and made sacrifices elsewhere to fund someone else’s flat screen TV and KFC habit

Nope. You made that up to try and justify your horrible attitude.

IzzyN · 04/07/2025 20:25

businessflop25 · 04/07/2025 20:08

Get over it! There are many of us who are struggling to put food on the table, a roof over our head and keep the damned lights on! To be worrying about how much flipping tax you’re paying you frankly are bloody lucky.
I don’t give a damn about how hard you think you have worked to get where you are - join the flipping club! Try being grateful for the problems you don’t have!

It’s like a different world on here at times, isn’t it!

Alpacahacker · 04/07/2025 20:25

SunnyFTM567 · 04/07/2025 20:03

Go abroad. We moved offshore in 2022 partly because of Covid. Always intended to come back. Now I have a baby, our parents are begging us to come back. But I'm looking at the tax in the UK, the cost of childcare, the salaries, the healthcare....no way. I gave birth in private healthcare, my son has a paedetrician that knows him since birth, and I make more money than I ever could for the hours I work in particular. I am home at 5pm every day!

Look offshore. Plenty of places to go to.

Like where 🤣 save me!

TeenLifeMum · 04/07/2025 20:25

Controversially, I feel it's a privilege to earn well and be able to give back to society more than you take. But then I have no desire to have a flash car or massive house. Who the fuck needs 14 bedrooms even if you can afford it. However, living a nice life knowing you’ve given to society and helping others? Much better achievement than a flash car imo.

JHound · 04/07/2025 20:25

Nope. Burnout impacted my ambition now I want more life/balance but still want more money and working for that.

Yes I am taxed but still more money.

faffadoodledo · 04/07/2025 20:25

ARainyNightInSoho · 04/07/2025 20:05

No, I don’t feel the same as you. You must be quite a low energy, unmotivated person if paying taxes makes you less ambitious.

My husband and I have been high earners and tax payers all our working lives. I am pleased that we have been able to contribute to society.

Same.
I mean I would prefer public services were more effective. But on the whole I’m happy to be paying, and still have a comfortable life. It’s important to me that society operates well, and an unequal society doesn’t tend to

guerdyguatd · 04/07/2025 20:26

It’s important to me that society operates well, and an unequal society doesn’t tend to

I don't think it is operating well & services are crumbling. Things have become more unequal!

CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 20:27

Summerhillsquare · 04/07/2025 20:23

Go on then, sack it off and 'go on benefits ', see how that works for you.

Not having to work, being able to take and collect my kids from school every day, spend all school hols with them, get to go to every parent night, school play, sports day? Have my housing paid for, no council tax?

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 04/07/2025 20:27

I think child care should be tax deductible, but it’s not for ever - other than child care costs, our main issues are wage stagnation and ludicrous house prices - our taxes are pretty low

ThisIsALow25 · 04/07/2025 20:27

guerdyguatd · 04/07/2025 20:03

We are a low tax economy

not for high earners on PAYE

Exactly and our living costs are high.

Wolmando · 04/07/2025 20:27

Could you go part time

L1ghyn1ngBug · 04/07/2025 20:28

KateMiskin · 04/07/2025 20:24

No. There are other options. Net contributors are leaving in droves. Because they can.My DS certainly can.

And no, he's not going to Dubai.

Link please with data

REDB99 · 04/07/2025 20:28

CaptainFuture · 04/07/2025 20:24

@REDB99 so you think it's funny that @MorningLarkEchoes is paying lots on a mortgage... no housing benefit provided..... paying for childcare.... no free childcare because only income benefits..has debt because having to take personal responsibility for life rather than reliant on state?.... yeah super funny..

No, but it is bloody hilarious that they think they haven’t been on holiday for 10 years because they pay tax 😂

I haven’t got a brand new car - because I pay tax!

I haven’t been to Australia - because I pay tax!

I haven’t eaten at the new Michelin star restaurant - because I pay tax!

I know, let’s not pay tax then we can all have what we want!

JHound · 04/07/2025 20:28

Don’t get me wrong - my tax level is depressing and I want to keep more of my own money (I know better than the government what my needs are).

I think the entire way we fund things and we tax needs an overhaul but in the interim I still
strive to earn more.

CircusofPuffins · 04/07/2025 20:28

Yes, I can relate to this feeling. In school there was this belief drummed into us that if we worked hard and were careful with money, we'd be in a position where we could have a comfortable existence, buy our own home, etc. But that increasingly no longer seems to the case.

Taxes are going up, but the country is not getting any demonstrably better for it. Roads are falling apart, trains never run on time, it's impossible to see a doctor most of the time. Owning a house is a mere pipedream, as for retirement? You'll probably be dead before you can think of doing that.

At the same time, more and more people are checking out of society, and it just makes you feel like what's the point? What's the point of trying, because even when you do you're now earning less, being able to save less, everything's more expensive...

I can see why more and more skilled workers are choosing to leave the country.

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