Middle earners punished

[Eucalyptus321]

I am feeling so disheartened and frustrated by how middle earners are constantly suffering at the hands of ridiculous government priorities. My husband and I have a greater household income than other families we know but have less cash in hand due to increased taxes coupled with the fact we receive zero benefits like child benefit or tax free childcare etc. ZERO. If they want middle earners to fund the country thought tax then at least support us with childcare costs. It’s a joke that two parents earning £99k each get childcare funding but parents with one £101k salary and one £25k salary receive nothing. I just need to speak to people who understand the burden of raising a family amidst the current financial climate and then the potential of further tax rises!

Amen sister! We work hard and prop up a large portion of society but get few benefits. It’s bullshit. Said as much to our local councillor who came knocking and she literally said ‘yes, I understand’, had nothing to counter and went on her merry way. It’s nonsensical.

Yanbu.

I know it is hard but I honestly advise you not to compare. At the end of your career, you might own a home, whilst others may not. You might have a happy family, whilst others struggle, above all, you might have healthy children, whilst others do not. My sister, who is a high earner would give everything she owns to cure her son (his condition is not curable). I am not blessed physically but I do not feel jealous of other people’s beauty…it has taken quite a lot of work to get there. Now when I see someone beautiful, I think “how wonderful the human race is”… I am happier for this mental training…I owe a lot to yoga, for example. Good luck.

🥱 Hi Nigel

And just today I realised I am a crap earner surounded by crap earners… I don’t think I know many people who are earning over £50k, let alone over £90k each, yet we all own houses and live without too many financial worries. Never thought that£90k would be considered middle earners.

you don’t need benefits, you just need to learn to live within your means. But agree that some government poicies are blatantly unfair for single people.

You’re a crap earner living in a cheap part of the country so it’s easy for you.

I agree OP. I’m looking to move. I’m a renewable energy engineer and though there are lots of jobs here the tax is terrible, everyone hates you for rolling in it, services are shite so I’m looking to move to Poland where I have family..

YANBU where is the incentive to earn anymore. Working hard, long hours paying for childcare just so taxes can go to those that don't.

And tomorrow the budget will shaft you on your pensions savings too. Nice.

I’m a single parent earning 65k before tax. I don’t feel well off, my children share a bedroom, we have a caravan holiday. I know it’s all relative and there are many earning less but how am I the person getting squeezed again? Every pay rise is below inflation so it’s effectively a pay cut year on year unless I keep climbing the ladder. I’m running a household on one income, I have a massively stressful and pressured job for that income.

Im not asking anyone to cry me a river but I’d have thought grafting my arse off to get a 65k salary would have meant some financial freedom and enjoyment.

Yanbu about your tax situation, but you are to call your income "middle earner".

I have a degree in Economics, and there are so few families where two earn £90k, that those arguments are a moot point.

I don’t think this topic is going to be understood by people who pay lower income tax and receive the childcare support that I’m talking about. We pay £2k a month in nursery fees. This is something we all understand when we have children. My post is about how frustrating it is seeing that we may be due further tax rises when currently our taxes pay for other parents to receive tax free childcare. I am a primary school teacher. They say we have a teacher retention crisis. I had to consider whether it was even worth going back to work after my children due to the cost of childcare.

Bye. 👋

What is a moot point?

If you were an economist you’d understand about incentives…

Did you really just say that poorer people can't possibly understand your point?

Yanbu.

I don't get benefits, work full time despite disability. Every year get a below inflation pay rise (doing a hard but important public sector job). Have to pay for private dentist and sometimes for private medical care due to waits /inadequate services.

And then I assess applications for charitable grants as a volunteer and realise that someone with a few children can have a higher net monthly income than me working 16 hours a week and claiming benefits. (Have a play around on entitledto.com - it's illuminating) .

I’m not even convinced home ownership is all it’s cracked up to be when I look at local families in safe HA rentals. I am haemorrhaging money on home maintenance cost which are rising, mortgage rates increased and all to have to sell for care later where other families just phone the housing association and get repairs done for free and have care funded too. ownership is a mugs game in my village.

I didn't go back for about 5 years with my three as it wasnt worth it. Now they are older we are doing OK. Our household income is half yours though!

Teachers earn no where near the 100k needed for not paying Childcare.

Unless you mean a teacher married to a High earner?

Well yes of course she means that.

Live within your means, woman. I live in a very expensive area where a student bedroom is rented for over £1k a month yet I have a beautiful house and a very good life as I keep an eye on my finances and don’t spend my money in crap.

No if you read my original post, I am looking to talk with people who are also feeling frustrated about being on higher salaries but having less take home than those on lower salaries.

Honestly, look at entitled to. I earn the same as you and was pretty shocked to discover that mums working PT and getting UC for 3 children had a higher net income than me.

And for that I work a 50 hour week in a super stressful public sector job while battling my own health issues.

It just feels like being repeatedly kicked

So you’ve paid your mortgage off then, or bought when housing is cheap. Hardly comparable to someone with a young family! Goodness! You’ll be going on about avocados next!

Yanbu

All things are relative

DH and I fall into a similar bracket and have paid for everything, while family members have had more kids, tax credits and child benefit.

Dh and I are from working class background, worked hard at school, went to
uni. No inherited wealth and being taxed for everything.

I see where you are coming from ☹️