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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think British people just hate anyone making good money

195 replies

Newusernameeeee · 07/10/2025 15:11

I have seen countless posts where a poster who is high earner and will mention struggling and then they will get barrage of hate on being a high earner.
Most people on MN support the fact that anyone making over 100k shouldn't get free funded hours or child benefit as if their DC don't deserve anything.

Similarly seen so much hate on landlords and landladies as if everyone should give away their homes for free to other people. Even if they did sell it all, then there won't be much houses available for the renters.

Have seen hatred on big corporation and tech and even small businesses for charging £5 for a coffee.
Why do British people hate anyone making decent money or doing entrepreneurship? Are we in a race to bottom? Why can't we take inspiration from others who are doing well and try to do better for ourselves than the endless envy?

OP posts:
beaniebabby · 07/10/2025 21:11

@Papyrophile get rid of the cliff edges, I would probably get rid of NI and just have one income tax.
Property tax needs overhauling too, council tax is completely outdated, I like annual property taxes that they have in many other countries.
We also have the ageing demographic issue so people need to pay more for their care, I thought Teresa Mays idea was quite good but of course no one wants to pay anymore.

beaniebabby · 07/10/2025 21:13

@Papyrophile my parents were hard working immigrants but much of their wealth was because the very rough area of London they bought in became ridiculously gentrified.

beaniebabby · 07/10/2025 21:15

High housing costs are so damaging for younger people of every income level in this country.

They really are and they impact productivity which has been shit for years.

Papyrophile · 07/10/2025 21:16

Nice progress, our area is too far from London to benefit from such gains. But it is beautiful and people seem to want to live here.

DdraigGoch · 07/10/2025 21:17

Newusernameeeee · 07/10/2025 15:23

I have lived in US and the culture is so different there, entrepreneur and money is celebrated there and they have such different relationship to wealth and success.

Yay oligarchy!

Dymaxion · 07/10/2025 21:20

Er ... teachers, nurses and other people working in the public interest. Not everyone sets out just to earn as much as possible but they still need to study and go to university.

Top of band 5 nurse here with over 20 years experience, earn 37k. I love my job, but it is incredibly hard and stressful work. I work largely autonomously as a lone worker. I am highly skilled, compassionate and unfazed by just about every life or death situation you can throw at me.

beaniebabby · 07/10/2025 21:24

Nice progress

I think it's ridiculous tbh, a lot of families on my road had one parent working in a range of jobs eg teacher, doctor, police, etc now you need a income of 300k plus

SL2924 · 07/10/2025 21:38

British society is a race to the bottom. The general public hate success or ambition (especially in women). You see it subtly weaved into the culture of Britain - big support for the “underdog”, the way the press build people up and then spectacularly knock them down again, politics of envy and the disdain for private schooling, cultural obsession with self deprecation and banter. Could go on.

We’re becoming a cynical nation of mediocrity.

ThisTicklishFatball · 07/10/2025 22:04

You're not being unreasonable, OP. You're actually being quite reasonable.

If you're even slightly above the breadline, you'll get torn apart. Expressing frustrations about managing money often sparks replies like "read the room," "check your privilege," and other overused phrases. I notice it happening all the time in different threads.

I used to believe that earning a lot was great because it allowed me to support my family and take pride in contributing through taxes (even though more than half goes to them, with potential plans for even more). But dealing with resentment, anger, envy, jealousy, and entitlement aimed at high earners has made me question if I had it all wrong. Now, I'm starting to think that maybe I did see it the wrong way.

I've reached a point in life where avoiding toxic or abusive people, even online, is a top priority. I've turned off notifications, and when I comment on threads, I intentionally avoid checking back for replies to dodge unpleasant interactions. Over time, I've started using AI platforms for questions I'd rather not discuss in person, replacing forums like Mumsnet to protect my peace of mind. AI has become a dependable resource for me, and I often recommend it to others.

JoeSikoraTommysStory · 07/10/2025 22:16

Why do poster (like OP) assume Mumsnet is strictly British posters?

Why are you so sure it’s British posters bitching about other peoples wealth?

Pickledpoppetpickle · 07/10/2025 22:24

Newusernameeeee · 07/10/2025 20:35

Absolutely agree with you. Its unbelievable that so many people act so ignorant of the fact at one UK millionaire will create more jobs and pay more taxes than at least 3-4 families from the lower quadrant and essentially subsidise their livelihood by contributing more to government coffers

And those ‘lower quadrant’ families support the rest of us with hard work in jobs most of us would rather not think about. If they’re working, what of it if it’s lower paid and taxes are not as much as the higher paid? You clearly expect those ‘lower quadrant’ families to respect your contribution, but do you respect theirs?

TheDenimPoet · 07/10/2025 22:38

People are not bitter about people earning a lot of money.

But you have posters on here crying because they're only earning £650k and need their free childcare.

I'm counting pennies and living on Aldi beans.

We're not the same.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 07/10/2025 23:24

Pootles34 · 07/10/2025 15:33

I don't really want to celebrate money thanks! Much rather celebrate kindness, creativity or intelligence.

As to the 100k childcare thing - those of us lucky enough to earn that don't need assistance, it's not about deserving.

A single parent or single earning family with two kids in full time nursery on 100k a year would really struggle to pay for home and bills after full time nursery fees which would be 4.5-5k a month without any tax free childcare or funded hours. They should get it.

5128gap · 08/10/2025 05:45

Newusernameeeee · 07/10/2025 20:35

Absolutely agree with you. Its unbelievable that so many people act so ignorant of the fact at one UK millionaire will create more jobs and pay more taxes than at least 3-4 families from the lower quadrant and essentially subsidise their livelihood by contributing more to government coffers

Its equally unthinkable that people 'act so ignorant' of the fact that no one would be a millionaire in the first place if it wasn't for the countless workers making them rich.
People can only earn or inherit money if other people at some point have worked for less than their labour is worth, and paid more for goods and services than they would need to if they weren't having to keep the non producers in fat salaries.
So before you get too comfy there on your high horse, banging on about the rich subsidising the poor, take a moment to think of the big picture. Because the poor have been carrying the burden of the rich and their lifestyles since time began. What the rich contribute in taxes helps keep the show on the road for their own benefit as much as anyone else's. Keeps the workers educated and healthy enough to do the jobs they don't want to do themselves, and tidies them away when they are too old or sick to be of use.

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 08/10/2025 05:50

His. I think everyone gets hate on here. The rich. The poor. SAHMs. Women who seek a good deal from a divorce. Women who marry men who turn out to be abusive.

I wouldn’t worry about the wealthy on here or anywhere though. They can look after themselves!

Pipsquiggle · 08/10/2025 06:09

I don't recognize what you are saying. There are quite a lot of high earners on mumsnet.

People don't like the following:
Tone deafness - woe is me, we only earned £200k this year so can't afford our annual Seychelles holiday
Lack of home ownership is because you're not working hard enough - this trope is a regular one from boomers which is deeply unhelpful and completely dismisses how incredibly difficult it is for young people to rent and save for a deposit. It's very different from 50 years ago.

LBFseBrom · 08/10/2025 06:21

I think attitudes are 50/50, some are obviously resentful of high earners, they show the chips on their shoulders, others just think good for them.

Everyone has difficulties of some sort whether they be rich or poor, that is life.

I don't care what other people earn or own, am content with my lot as long as I keep healthy.

Thepeopleversuswork · 08/10/2025 06:42

Greenmouldycheese · 07/10/2025 20:13

It's always been a thing here on mumsnet for people to lie about being high earners. I was on here years ago and noticed it back then. Not sure what people get out of it, but there you go.

The reason there's so much bitterness is because many people on here are scraping by and have hardly any money coming in. When they see someone talking about earning a lot, the jealousy and claws come out. Its just a mumsnet thing.

But how do you know people are lying about being high earners? This is what baffles me.

Someone will claim to take home £150k a year and immediately everyone will accuse them of lying.

Leaving the question of attitudes to wealth to one side: why do people default to the assumption that you are lying about your wealth?

CoffeeCantata · 08/10/2025 07:17

Newusernameeeee · 07/10/2025 15:23

I have lived in US and the culture is so different there, entrepreneur and money is celebrated there and they have such different relationship to wealth and success.

If we’re talking about extreme wealth - do these people become philanthropists as some American industrialists did in the past? Do they use their billions to endow museums, universities etc?

i could only respect a really wealthy person if they put something back as JK Rowling has done. I know Bill Gates and his ex-wife have a philanthropic foundation.

I’m not talking about moderate, comfortable wealth in the UK - a few million.

hattie43 · 08/10/2025 07:26

MsMoody · 07/10/2025 16:50

Landlords are hoovering up far too much of working peoples’ income however!

And all this ‘ profit ‘ is taken away by the excessive costs of being a landlord . Why do you think so many are giving up , and when they do where are you going to live . If you can’t afford to buy your own home it’s going to be difficult .

thisishowloween · 08/10/2025 07:30

Absolutely no issue with high earners.

But I do have an issue with high earners complaining they’re broke when what they really mean is they can no longer afford multiple activities for their kids or to spend £200 a week in Waitrose.

CeeJay81 · 08/10/2025 07:38

Its not being high earners that's the issue. It's saying your struggling financially on £100k plus, when many of us have to manage on minimum wage. Thise threads really pee me off. I have no sympathy for them because I myself(plus a lot of others) have to manage on way less than that. My version of a luxury is quite different from theirs because I haven't a choice. If I earnt 100k, I'd not be posting a wo is me thread about struggling.

Thepeopleversuswork · 08/10/2025 07:41

thisishowloween · 08/10/2025 07:30

Absolutely no issue with high earners.

But I do have an issue with high earners complaining they’re broke when what they really mean is they can no longer afford multiple activities for their kids or to spend £200 a week in Waitrose.

Yeah I agree with this. Its tacky and tone deaf.

LivesinLondon2000 · 08/10/2025 08:16

I’m not sure that people dislike successful people who’ve worked hard and/or are genuinely talented in a particular area and made their own money. It’s the people who have family money and pretend it’s their own personal success that’s made them comfortably off that annoy a lot of people including me. I know quite a few of those!

NotSmallButFunSize · 08/10/2025 11:29

Papyrophile · 07/10/2025 20:30

I hope you're happy to make up the financial shortfall they would have spent in your town rather than in Milan. The waitressing job your teen daughter won't have, because the restaurant has closed.

I despair sometimes that people cannot see the link between richer people spending money to support entry level jobs.

Generally, rich people don't spend money - sure they buy stuff like property and high end goods or employing 1 nanny but the real spending power is in the average person having a decent disposable income. Eating out, buying new clothes, coffees etc.

The "taking your money abroad" is just yet more evidence of wealth hoarding - if you already have millions I don't understand the mentality of trying to fiddle your taxes just to hoard a (relatively) small amount more, who can be arsed?? It's so miserly.

If I was loaded I would also want to live in a decent society where everyone has a good standard of living and access to good services. If I had to pay high taxes for that then so be it - I could afford it!

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