To wonder how people are coping?

[CobbleWobble]

We are very lucky, I know this.

We are "Mumsnet rich" both have professional jobs with good salaries (£170k household income) and yet this last 12 months:

• removed children from private school
• changed how we do the weekly shop to reduce costs
• cut subscriptions (like Disney+ etc)
• reduced what I bought in the back to school shop
• decided against a holiday in October half term
• concerned about our usual Christmas food order

What is going on? I just don't understand why or how prices are rising as they are or how people on less than us are coping!

I'm extremely grateful we have the things to cut that we have but we've also had to remortgage this year which has doubled our mortgage payments and then our utilities have increased and the food shop has just got insane.

We have other things we can cut - a holiday in the UK, Netflix, the monthly takeaway but its just miserable to think we may need to do that just not to be living.

Happy to post spending particulars if people are finding it hard to see where I'm coming from.

So AIBU to think that as a country we cannot go on with prices rising like this? How are others coping?

You really can’t complain on that amount of money. Ridiculous, sorrh

"Mumsnet rich" household here, too. Income from rentals, domestic and commercial properties.
I absolutely understand where you come from.

I’m coping. I gave up buying a new pair of Jimmy Choos each week and we only drink Laurent Perrier now instead of Dom Perignon. I briefly considered exchanging my Bentley for a simple Range Rover but just can’t bear it.

170k household income. Poor you! It would take me nearly 10 years to earn that! Some people don’t know they are born!

Expected responses from mumsnet.

I think the point OP is trying to make is that with a joint income of such an amount, one would expect to feel very comfortable, if not wealthy, but this is not the case. You get told that if you work hard, make sacrifices and you climb the career ladder, life will be good, but it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

I agree with you, OP. My DH and I are not making £170k but we both work in demanding professions with higher range salaries. Higher salaries often come with higher outgoings. I know that we pay a fortune on mortgage, council tax, insurance. With the amount we make, I would expect us to feel comfortable, have holidays and be able to save, but we only go on holiday once a year on staycations, and we always run out of money at the end of the month.

Everything feels more expensive, we get taxed out of the wazoo, services are of poorer quality, potholes, poor healthcare services, school struggling to deal with SEND kids, it all just feels like a shambles.

Where did your money go that you’re saving from the private school fees? This doesn’t really add up, unless there’s a debt issue

Barely managing only for the kindness of a friend. It makes me sick to my stomach when people can't afford the basics yet fukwits like Trump are being given banquets.

Not really, we have a 3 bedroom house on a housing estate and who pays lots of council tax to keep up with the Jones'?

You’re not MN rich, you’re rich. Is this a weird stealth boast?

But the point other posters are making is that they are feeling very comfortable with a small fraction of what OP has. Indeed I feel positively wealthy with a small fraction of what OP has.

The main difference might be housing costs. Or it might be carelessness with money . Or greed. But it is certainly possible to feel very comfortable on a lot less

🥱 another boring thread how they can’t possibly survive boo hoo 😭 maybe contact citizens advice see if they can help you budget abit better 😶

“Mumsnet rich”
What is that?

Is this really about how the working poor are coping in this country?

We are coping very well thanks.
No kids at private school.
No subscriptions ( other than NF)
We eat well.
Both kids are earning/ studying and earning.
No mortgage.
Live in the NW.

“Higher salaries often come with higher outgoings. I know that we pay a fortune on mortgage, council tax, insurance”

Thats the mistake. Why would you take on higher commitments without adequate margins for inflation and interest rate rises?

Please tell us what you spend your money on, I'm intrigued to see what is costing you so much?

We take home just over 4k a month, £1800 is disposable (after groceries). we have 3-4 holidays a year and I buy pretty much what I want for groceries.

I don’t believe this. The savings you’re making from taking your children out of their schools must be considerable. If you’re still not managing there is something wrong.

OP- please, just don't do this.

You have no idea what poverty is.

This.

Do you buy two real ponies in your Christmas shop?

£170k and can’t afford Disney+ … lol … nice try !

Hopefully Tattle will be ripping this one the shreds

Because we bought before interest rates went bonkers and have had a 5% increase on council tax every year we have lived here, but no wage rises?

It’s a fucking piss taking joke thread!

🤣

OP doesn’t have an earthly clue!!