To think people on here seem to save a lot more than average?

[MellowMintBeaker]

I’ve noticed when reading threads on here that a lot of people seem to be saving quite significant amounts. It’s made me wonder whether this is representative or whether it’s just that people who are more financially focused are more likely to post.

AIBU?

Social media syndrome, where everybody states the perfect version of themselves that they wish they were.

I’m a high rate tax payer and my savings are around 5k. Reasons; I prioritise pension, my partner is in a stable job and earns decently, mortgage is small, no fancy cars, obligatory outgoings are low, we just like fun money. The savings have come in very very useful for car fixes etc that kind of thing, but it takes me a while to build them up again in this economy with school trips, new shoes, a coffee or two!! I’m always amazed at mumsnetters who have double figures k saved up. Good on ya!!

I am able to save a decent amount, but the salary I’m earning is dependent upon location and I won’t be earning it forever and I also have no children. I’ve been in tens of thousands of debt before and I’m very grateful I’m able to save at the moment. I am also frugal and do make choices to go without certain things.

And the friend I mentioned above who makes six figures in a part time job is the least academic of my friend group. She frequently misuses words and misunderstands concepts. But she absolutely understands her job, which is a very lucrative skill. She makes six figures out of making millions for her clients.

My point stands - how do you know WHICH posters are fantasists, and does it matter specifically who is a fantasist?

I think it's generally a great thing that a woman who was the least academic of the group can achieve so much. She does a huge amount of pro bono work, especially supporting other women into successful careers.

None of which is achieved by the "waaaaaaah, it's all made up" attitudes on this thread.

I'm sure plenty of people on here are lying about stuff but I'm not convinced it's mainly the ones who talk about substantial savings and investments. I just don't see why you would- pretending to be something you're not or that you have some sort of drama going on could at least be a distraction, but just coming on here to say "I have £850k in a defined contribution pension, £420k in global equities in my ISA and £50k in cash" seems completely pointless. Much more likely to be telling the truth.

I think often when people don't believe higher earners on here it's simply because we all tend to know people who have similar incomes to our own, so if you're on an average income you probably mainly know people on average incomes. I remember someone posting that there couldn't possibly be anyone on MN with an income over £300k because if you had that you wouldn't be killing time on Mumsnet, you'd be having a champagne brunch in Belgravia, as if everyone with a higher income is an extra from Made in Chelsea 😂

That said, people who reply to money threads are a self-selecting group. Maybe people are more likely to post on them if they feel financially comfortable. If I was short of money I wouldn't want to read a thread about how well everyone else is doing. So from that pov they probably are unrepresentative.

I definitely don't think anyone would start a troll thread about savings. As you say, that isn't dramatic enough!

But when people start threads asking "how much do you save every month?", some of those responses are true, some are jokes, like "I save eleventy billion trillion quid a day, dont you?", and some people, who have fantasy personalities they like to pose as online, will respond with "well, dh and I are both high earners. I make half a mill a year, dh makes significantly more. So we are fortunate enough to be able to save £10k a month", when they're really on a bog average income, living a bog average life.

I don't even have a problem with it and who knows who is lying or not really? That's the problem with forums like this.

But you definitely shouldn't take what people say on here too seriously, especially when someone posting goes out of their way to paint their life as vair, vair glamorous!

Just imho obviously^^