AIBU to expect more financial progress after doubling my wage since 2020?

[shocked2026]

Since 2020, I've more than doubled my wage through grafting and studying for a doctorate degree (25K vs 57K). However, due to the COL crisis I really don't feel much better off and I'm worried about the financial impact if I decide to have a family. I appreciate I am in a privileged position, but I thought I'd be rolling in it with nearly 100K income, but we find that we still need to budget and worry about the car failing its MOT. It's depressing and I don't know others are coping.

No your not unreasonable to expect that. I found a pay slip recently from 2019 and altho I am much better off on paper in reality I feel poorer. Its mad how things have gotten more expensive.

My income has been on a very similar trajectory in that timeframe, and I feel much better off for it. I’ve been very aware that the food shop costs a lot more than it used to, but we’ve take steps to offset the rise in other bills (solar panels, electric cars). If I’d still been on a similar salary, however, I’m sure we’d be feeling the pinch much more.

That's it. I'm not poorer - and very grateful for my pay rises, but if it was on this wage in 2019 I would have been SIGNIFICANTLY better off than now and its a bit depressing with a 40% tax rate and 9% student loan payment. Not sure all those sacrifices were worth it...

However, due to the COL crisis I really don't feel much better off

You know that "COL crisis" actually means that the cost of living is a CRISIS for some people, who can't afford to heat and eat?

The "COL crisis" doesn't mean "I expect inexorable growth and to have a better standard of living than my parents 30 years ago".

For that, amongst other things...

YABU

Tbh Op £25k is an incredibly poor wage- I believe in 2026 it’s less than minimum wage. You would’ve been very much struggling to survive on that.

unfortunately, £57k isn’t riches either. I earnt more than that in 2020 and had a very average life.

I don’t know mine has been similar and gone from 25k (training salary) to 52k and I definitely feel better off! Have you had a lifestyle creep too?

Have your expenses increased a lot? I’m not sure why you wouldn’t feel better off. That’s a Really big increase and you should feel proud of yourself. I’m 50 and not had a proper pay rise in years.

Have your expenses increased a lot? I’m not sure why you wouldn’t feel better off. That’s a Really big increase and you should feel proud of yourself. I’m 50 and not had a proper pay rise in years.

You would have been better off, but in 2020 the BoE base rate got down to almost 0, you could get 0.99% mortgages and nobody was going anywhere to spend money on holidays and nights out so had more income for food/drink/online ordering. Min wage was 8.72 versus what is it next month - nearly 13 quid? So general wages have risen (not necessarily for people who have stayed in the same role). You can't take a now wage and apply it to back-then prices.

It depends on your out goings.

We earn 80k between us with a low mortgage in a very modest two bed terrace in a northwest ex mining town.

We go on multiple holidays a year, save and have a good amount of savings and don’t worry about unexpected expenses. 1 child in school. We eat out and have lots of fun. Second hand car.

We just had to pay out £3k on an expense and didn’t lose any sleep over it.

Agree with other poster about what COL really is.

As I said in my original OP, I'm aware I'm privileged to earn this.

But yes, actually, after 3 degrees and in a professional job I DO expect to have a better standard of living than my parents 30 years ago where neither of them had an university education. Is that unreasonable?

Just because other people have it worse, doesnt mean OP isnt struggling. There will always be someone worse off, that doesnt mean OP issues are invalid.

Your comment is a form of emotional invalidating & minimisation. Its not helpful.

You’re not unreasonable but everyone’s in the same boat.

I realise everyone is in a similar boat and it's frightening. I have no idea how people are managing on minimum wage. I guess I just feel a bit despondent that by working hard and being frugal I'd have started to see the payoff by now, but unfortunately things still feel like thats a way off. I think its the constant shifting goalposts (e.g., tax threshold freezes) which means that I'm paying more in tax, NI, pension and student loan as well as increased costs on things like food.

Thank you - I am proud of myself and my job definitely isn't about the money. I'm sorry you haven't had a proper pay rise in years, it's not fair!