To think that on higher incomes, having no money left often comes down to spending choices?

[ThatGoldZebra]

Sometimes when I hear what people are earning, I’m surprised when they say they have no money left at the end of the month.
I understand that everyone’s circumstances are different but at a certain income level it feels like spending choices and lifestyle play a big role. AIBU to think that?

YANBU of course it comes down to spending. The more you have, the more you tend to spend.

Why is this, do you have a big mortgage?

£1500 after tax is less than one FT minimum wage. So no, a family of four doesn’t “manage fine on that” - they will get UC, the housing benefit contribution, childcare subsidy etc. They probably have very similar disposable income to a family with £3k after tax who are over the threshold for UC.

I also live in the SE. Born. And bred. However I have a 2 bed flat .A 3 bedroom house was above my affordability level without struggling when my relationship broke up. I COULDVE got one but then would've been at the mercy of interest rate rises

No need for different size mortgages at all. After all, a 3 bed semi costs exactly the same in Brighton as it does in Hartlepool. Oh, wait…

I'm talking in the same bloody area. Don't be obtuse. If you have 2 kids you can easily live in a 3 bed terrace. Not need for the 4 bed detached.

That's living in the same town with a bigger mortgage

Don’t be rude. You didn’t say you were talking about the same area.

Well obviously it's the same area. That's where the luxury comes in

Where did it say that in your original post? Can only go by what’s written, the rest of us aren’t inside your head.

No need for name calling in any case.

Well as an example there's this. Will easily fit parents and 2 kids

But people buy this instead and moan about being skint

As below

Yep. I mean it's never the high income people who are a 3 person family in a 2 bed house with no £££ tv/sky package and a £6 lebrara phone contract who are skint is it. I agree with the poster who said people lose sight of all the luxuries they have in life. Sky IS a luxury, Netflix, Disney £70 a mth phone contracts, extra curricular activities for the kid, running two cars, getting your nails/eyebrows whatever done, expensive skincare, affording takeaway/costa on a regular basis/buying lunch every day are luxuries. Being able to afford a large salary sacrifice to pay into your pension is also a luxury and if you have/can do these you're a long way from struggling/being skint. I think some people don't realise exactly how lucky and privileged they are tbh.

Op hasn’t clarified what she considers ‘a high income’. Are the squeezed middle considered high earners. On paper they have a good salary, but in reality, not so.

Who's expecting to live in central London, zone 6 is not Central London. I grew up in zone 2 West London and when older South London. I don't live in London now, I live in SE though, has to be commutable to London, it's considered expensive (now) but all our friends are here, our life is here, we have jobs that would have afforded us to live where my parents did. How many moves is someone expected to make, we don't have a big house!

I don't think Netflix is a luxury.

They really don't. How old are these people?

There was a thread a few months ago where a 6 figure earning household were saying they would cancel Netfix to "afford to live".

But yeah, I don't think it is a luxury really. It is £6pm.

Yes but who wants to move far away from everything and everyone they know after they have established a life. If you are looking to start a family or begin your life somewhere it is a possibility but not when your 10 years down the line.

We have plenty of 40ish people complaining of skintness when living in expensive houses when they could've quite easily bought a cheaper one that would serve their needs

Both these houses are in the same town so reasoning doesn't compute. No one is moving " far away". 5 mins drive apart

Why isn't it? You DON'T NEED it

It is £6pm.

It's still not needed though. Hence a luxury. I don't even have a tv lol

So anything apart from rent and bills is a luxury?