To think the problem with wealth inequality is that rich people don't know how rich they are?

[Neeroy]

Article in the Times today saying that people earning six figures 'don't feel rich'.

Because they are surrounded by six figure earning peers they are comparing themselves to people who have more rather than the 90% of the population that have far less. This is why the budget is poorly received in the news, because rich people think they already shoulder too high a burden when in fact compared to everyone else they still have far more disposable income. Even if they have to cut down on the number of holidays they go on. They aren't sitting in the dark under a blanket. Or only making food that doesn't require turning on the oven.

I don't think they realise how so many people have to live.

www.thetimes.com/article/1fb46414-8f65-436f-8f95-451d69626148?shareToken=8061d939633164c0dfbd805240c8e008

Why are people complaining about whether a mum chose to work or not? As long as the family made the choice, it's their choice?

Agree, but this is often due to lack of financial information, particularly at an early age, or poor life choices.

Stupid argument. If everyone moved to a cheaper area those areas wouldn’t be cheaper anymore.

Hard to support a family on £45k..

Yeah, it grates a bit when people on £100k whinge on about not getting certain benefits, but OTOH a lot of people are very grabby and entitled about money that isn't theirs which they didn't earn.

People in this country seem to have a real disdain/jealousy for the rich. If I'd worked hard and got a law degree for example, done the 18 hour days etc as a trainee, I'd probs not have much time for people bitching about me when my taxes pay for them to have benefits that I don't qualify for myself.

People love to berate the wealthy and then get oh so butthurt when said wealthy people fuck off to somewhere that doesn't tax the fuck out of them and welcomes the business they bring. I think there should be equal focus on all the lazy fuckers that don't want to work yet expect provided for.

Sometimes it’s not a “choice”.

Exactly. But then people complain and say "oh I work very hard but only make £26k. I deserve everything."

what do you mean by “family “?

The family? Husband and wife discussing what's best

Oh right. I thought you meant the children too. Do they also discuss what’s best for the husband? That he could go part time or be a SAHP?

I think another issue is that a lot of people nowadays expect the work world to bend to them instead of doing whatever is necessary to earn a good salary.

Like, we hear how difficult it is to get a job nowadays and yet certain industries still struggle to find staff. My mate has just been made redundant at 50yo. He's now signed up for a free gov funded training scheme which is a partnership between Flannery Plant Hire and EKFB and will qualify him to work on HS2.

He was given a list of about 10 different plant vehicles he could learn to operate and I told him to go for ADTs (60 ton dump trucks) as they're easy to operate and money is usually good.

He's now booked in for a two week boot camp and will then be on £20 p/h, earning £200 a day for a 10 hr shift. That's £50k a year with no financial outlay and just two weeks of his time invested. He was on £27k three weeks ago.

He should have pretty steady work for years but if he wanted to go self employed he could be on £24 p/h and the contracts are often quite long, like nine months on a particular site. A lot of ADT drivers are earning £60k, sometimes more if they work the occasional weekend. But a lot of people only want to work in an office so they join a long line of people with degrees all fighting for the same job.

Was also speaking to a joiner the other day. Romanian guy in his early 20s who was making £1500 a week on HS2. It seems to me that people from other countries often seem more eager to grab any opportunity that looks good rather than being picky.

As long it's what the person wants and is happy with, we shouldn't judge.

What about the children?

As long the children are provided for it's okay. Not for us to judge.

Fwiw I agree with @Differentforgirls on the subject specifically that it's better for children to have more rather than less direct time with their parents, all things equal.

I've calculated that a few more years in the grind are worth it due to a million personal circumstances that I'm sure everyone on this thread is going to grill me about, but in a perfect world with no constraints I'd be a SAHM or very part-time only, and I think children do well with that as a model.

Also for what it’s worth, I live in a house like you. Semi detached 2 up 2 down 😆. I also wanted a third child but didn’t want to move. I love my house and where it is. It’s almost 128 years old, red sandstone, high ceilings, picture rails, ceiling roses, open fire place, in a private road opposite a wood. We bought it when I was 23 and my husband was 25.

But it’s in Scotland so we don’t have the same financial stress as you.

We have a lot in common. I’m just luckier because of where I live.

I hope you get what you’re striving for x

You can't afford children if you only have £900 left for food, bills, insurance, etc etc.

How much do you earn?

you poor thing not being able to afford private school fees anymore..

Or needing every penny to survive. I save, but I appreciate that not everyone can.

You said “good” when another poster said you were trying to shame people

how on earth is it projecting anything to think that if your children (who are adult and who do work long hours but currently don’t have children) take the same decision as the posters you judge - that you will be pleased if your own children also feel “shame” ?

You and your husband worked full time from when your youngest was in p3

You inherited from both your parents, you have no mortgage on an “lovely home”, you and your husband are retired on “very comfortable” private pensions and you have “good savings”.

You gave lump sums to your kids from your inheritance. Both your kids are professionals, working long hours and currently no children.

I have a feeling @Differentforgirls that a) your scathing judgment is going to catch up on you when your own kids perhaps decide to build their career meaning more time away from their children and b) you are coming at the entire issue from a quite incredibly privileged position AND you worked full time from when your youngest was 7? 8? And I’m guessing that meant more time away from your child than if you had decided to remain part time

They were at school. You’re creeping me out. Are you the poster who was banned yesterday for stalking?

So their school hours at 7/8 years old were identical to your full time hours?