AIBU to feel deflated after payday despite a decent salary?

[Wtfisisfor]

Do you ever just get paid and think seriously is this it… I got paid this morning 3100 was put into my account, I transferred 1400 to the joint for bills and household expenses. And I’m left with the rest, but when I look at it, I just think, is this it? Anyone else? Just feeling a bit defeated today! I know to some people this is a lot of money. But these days it really doesn’t feel like it. Come and join for a moan

This argument only makes sense if the higher pay is just higher pay, and doesn’t come with extra stress, responsibility and dealing with demanding leaders/clients - which promotions invariably come with.

In my industry, the difference between the juniors’ roles and senior people’s is astronomical, so it’s not unreasonable to want to keep more than 40% of the higher salary for these roles.

Are you for real ? I earn 1400 🙄

Bollocks

It’s deliverable based. You have to deliver far and above BAU to secure a performance bonus.

Not really. I don’t know what their student loan is but there is a 62% tax trap above 100k.

they only need to hit a student loan repayment of 9% to hit losing 71% of their bonus.

Could you downsize or take in some ironing?

This! I know the colleague above me’s salary but I also see how much more than me he is required to give. I don’t think the pay bump is worth it (neither does he FTR.)

I don’t think £1700 left over is that good - petrol is £200 of that (for me), then food shopping maybe £300 a month, the odd vet consultation and treatment’s £100, new swimming costume from John Lewis is £45 - maybe )another £100 spent on trains and London transport going for sporadic work meetings, buy lunch for my dad at a pub and get him a taxi home £100 (including my food as well), dog walker for when I’m in London for the meetings £40, parking at the station, window cleaner, small leak for handyman to sort, paint for the garden room, service the lawnmower £80, etc etc 2 x plants for the garden, new hose as the other one’s split.

it all adds up! I haven’t been on holiday abroad for years - but if I want a fuchsia to put in a pot, I should be able to have one!

Most of these items are luxuries to me!

Everyone has the choice not to take on the extra work if they don’t think the payoff is worth it 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Also the 60% is only applicable for a relatively small slice of the earnings scale. Anything after 125k is taxed at 45% so they still keep the majority. Up to individuals to figure out if that’s the right work/reward balance for them.

Are you buying a swimming costume and a hose, painting rooms, repairing leaks and having your lawn mower serviced every month?

If she is confident of dying before retirement age, and has no dependents, she might reconsider putting anything into her pension, and spending more on wine, men and song.

I wouldn't usually recommend it.

Would you?

Now imagine only being paid £1700 a month, or even less.

A lot of us have earned less than £1700 a month. It doesn’t mean now we’ve strived to earn more we should be thrilled about giving it away.

Of course, which is why so many highly skilled and very experienced people are pulling back in their careers instead of pushing forward.

You’re not though are you you’re just paying for your life.

You have £1700 AFTER all bills?

And you feel deflated?

That’s some peoples entire income. Do you understand that?

I know what you mean OP, I’ve been in my career 35 years, educated to degree level, huge amount of experience, work really antisocial shifts and have had 15 years of below inflation pay rises - this years will no doubt be another one - I can’t think of the last time I bought myself something new. Everything goes on food, bills, travel to work, and kids.

This is a very insensitive thread. I work in social housing and have people using food banks and having to get by on energy vouchers because they can’t afford the basics despite the fact they work. You are fortunate to have anything left over after your bills are paid and you’re complaining about only having £1700?! That’s a lot of disposable money and most people would be grateful for even half of that after their bills were paid let alone also having money to save. You really need to get in touch with the real world.

Agree but it's not just the highly skilled. I struggle to find anyone to take on additional responsibility when the reward for it is so poor even relative to NMW, especially if it punts you into another tax bracket.

One of our receptionists on roughly NMW declined a promotion to HR - with training and career structure - because the pay rise was not worth the extra hassle. Extrapolate that across multiple industries and no wonder we have a big productivity problem in the UK.

Wow. Our whole household income is £3k a month. You have £1700 a month left to do what you want with and you think thats a struggle

oh goodness me. How are you going to manage?
I don’t even earn that a month. How utterly insensitive of you.

I just got paid a similar amount - £1600 went to the joint account which covers all household expenses and joint savings.
£300 goes to paying debts which will be cleared by Christmas, woo.
£400 goes towards my car(work required lease) insurance, maintenance pot etc.
£400 goes straight into savings for maternity leave as despite the decent wage they have stat mat pay.
£50 goes into my emergency fund
£200 left for spending money.

So yeah I'd be delighted to have £1700 left over tbh.

There is

I have £500 left after transfer to joint for bills. £200 of that goes to monthly saver. Then out of the £300 still pay carparking for work, phone bill and TV Licence.