Are there any MN's out there that aren't like this?!

[MyLifeHasChanged]

Going on about Birkenstocks
Have a family inheritance
Private schools for kids
Saving loads for their Retirement or kids UNI

Yes we are all from different walks in life and that's what makes mums (or mumsnet) great!

I just feel I cannot relate to this site anymore!

It’s a crude measure that seems to upset some but it obviously doesn’t give any context.

I am not a single parent and have dual income where mine matches my DH’s.
We have some things that are down to pure luck e.g. our children don’t have SEND or chronic health conditions, which affords us more time/money. It’s obviously very tough if you have to give up or reduce work to support your child, not to mention the physical and mental impact on the parent and so it goes on.
However, we work in the public sector so have that pension (not as good as before) but it is our savings towards retirement.
We had to lose parents to get an inheritance (and lost them relatively young) - it wasn’t a huge amount but we saved it and compound interest helps. Would rather have our parents than the money.
One of us fled a civil war to be here and the other grew up hand to mouth.

I have no opinion on Birkenstocks.

God that is me, apart from the private school. Although, I don't actually 'go on about birkenstocks ' but you'd have to prize them off me in the summer.

I have never even seen birkenstocks, let alone owned any. I love knock off crocs though.
My parents are spending our inheritance and I'm very happy for them, they deserve to enjoy their hard earned money. Anything left, if there is, will be split between 5 of us so I am confident I won't be inheriting anything worth shouting about. My DD does have an inheritance from her paternal family though, she's far richer than me.
My children go to the only schools that are in my area, even if I wanted to send them to private school I couldn't (there's very few in my country and very different to the British concept of private schools, they're just international schools really)
I would like to save for retirement and I try but it won't be much, I earn below average wage. Uni is free in my country so I don't have to save for that.

I come from EE, work for the NHS, definitelu no private schools.
Birkenstocks I have known as Scholl, my grandad loved them as indoors slippers as they’re very comfortable.
For wearing outdoors… no way, I would. 😂

No, not me at all.

There are its of people on here. Some are similar to what you describe, but many are not. I think you're just focusing on those posters.

'Going on about Birkenstocks' - some sort of shoe?

'Have a family inheritance'- nope, not happening- family of low paid jobs

'Private schools for kids'- mine did but through bursaries/ scholarships, we were on benefits!

'Saving loads for their Retirement or kids UNI'- NMW retail job- ha not a chance!

'Yes we are all from different walks in life and that's what makes mums (or mumsnet) great!'- Agreed

'I just feel I cannot relate to this site anymore!'- no more than I relate to anyone else I meet in RL.

I have the rip-off Birkenstocks from Primark. I have one daughter (because we could only afford one child). She went to a non-fee paying grammar school (as did I). She's now at university living mainly off a loan (giving her £60 per week, which will kill us). No inheritance - we have a modest semi in a half decent area, paid for exclusively by ourselves. I sometimes read the posts on here and know I exist in a different world. I've had to work bloody hard for what I've got and continue to do so every day. I'll be lucky to retire at 60.

Weird list 😂
I have 2 pairs of Birkenstocks but have never ‘gone on’ about them.
No family inheritance (parents still alive and grandparents didn’t have much to pass down to their own children).
absolutely no way to private school.
We’ve saved for our kids to be at uni because we knew we’d have 2 there at the same time for at least 2 years and that they’d only be entitled to the minimum maintenance loan. We’ve invested money wisely because dh is self employed and doesn’t have a pension. I do and it’s a good one but not good enough to sustain the both of us.

I do love Birkenstocks, I have a trusty pair I bought in an outlet over 10 years ago. They are still going strong.
No inheritance unfortunately, all gone on nursing care fees. I would also never dream of relying on an inheritance.
No private school, I work in the public sector and my partner works for a charity.
Decent pension as I started it really young and compound interest is a really amazing thing!
I am trying really hard to save for uni but it’s tough as cost of living is so high. However it seems unlike most mn people I live in a really poor shitty area. My mortgage is pretty small as my house was so cheap. I hate where I live but am staying so I can keep costs down and save for my kids.

I'm none of those things. Never seen a Birkenstock in my life but I imagine they look like the working men's boots we all used to wear when we were teenagers. Can't remember the name of them for the life of me.

They probably don't talk about it because
a) it's nobody's business
b) they've nothing to flex about anyway (which is all the other twata are doing usually, there tends to be a shocking inability to realise that not everyone lives like them or wants to)
c) with the amount of benefits bashing from the rich bitches, and anyone on minimum wage probably also getting something benefits-wise, they don't want to put themselves in the line of fire. Can't say I blame them really.

I'm working class myself. Not well off but ok, live a simple uncomplicated life and embrace frugality. I reckon birkenstocks are fugly, there's no family trust fund coming for me, went to state grammar school not private school and my DC will also go to state schools, state pension and whatever benefits I'll be entitled to for being so poor in old age is all that's waiting for me upon retirement and I'm not bothered about that in the slightest because I'll have less expenses then. I browse MN for fun, take every OP at face value and think a lot of what I read on here is complete bollocks that's totally impractical in the real world where most people live. It amuses me and passes the time, even if half the posts are chat bots and the others are often drama-llamas with non-problems and trolls.

Doc martens? Birkenstocks are granny sandals with a fancy price tag.

No private schools for us. And I don't talk about my birkenstocks.

This is the first time I have ever seen Birkenstocks mentioned on here. Rarely see anything about saving for retirement or kids uni. The VAT on schools fees had a big impact on some parents and children so private schools have come up a bit, but those threads are usually full of people who think private schooling is evil and don't send their children. We do have a bit of a national obsession about private schools considering virtually no one goes to one. However, most school threads on here are about state schools.

No Birkenstocks
No inheritance
No private school
I've got £120 in my savings.

It must be the posts you choose to read.

I don't think I've read any that mention Birkenstocks except this one, let along "going on" about them.
The main universal thought I see about inheritance is that you shouldn't rely on them and you lucky to get one.
Mn hates private schools - didn't you see the gloating when the VAT was added?
And if you go even on the Higher Education site, you'll see more people wondering how they'll afford uni than saving for it - and not that many of thise posts. I haven't seen much talking about retirement either.

As for me, answer to all of those is no.
I get my clothes off ebay and shoes from ShoeZone.
I may get a small inheritance when my parents die, but I'd rather they're alive, and I want them to enjoy using their money rather than me get it.
Couldn't private school before VAT
And for the first time we have a little bit of savings, although we've so much need doing on the house, it's where we start and I only started a savings pot for retirement in my late 40s.

No idea what Birkenstocks are
No family inheritance here
Kids are in state school and always have been
I have a private pension but nothing to speak of in savings. My husband , who is 12 years older than me, has fuck all of a pension (which pisses me off as he earns more than me and always has done). Our eldest is at uni but having to pretty much pay his own way - he will have huge debt afterwards.

I've known some exceptionally wealthy people in my life and people with true wealth do not feel the need to go on a forum and brag.
I am none of the above (unfortunately!)
But I'm happy and ok with my lot.

As an onlooker, though, isn't it a bit tragic to be so materialistic? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for people to do what makes them happy, but if you are constantly chasing validation, you can't be. I have a wealthy sibling, and they have a really lovely home and nice lifestyle, but they just come across as really normal and not materialistic at all. You can be wealthy and not have that constant wanting and push to keep up with the Joneses, but I just wonder why some people are compelled to brag and compete with each other. You do get a lot of it on MN. I expect some of the time people's noses are growing a little as they post!

People can be anything they like on the internet. I don’t believe half of the posts on here. 🤷‍♀️

I find MN is either those type of people or people not working and claiming benefits. Most others are too busy with normal life to be on here too often. Although I fit squarely in the middle, full time job, comfortable but not rich, no private schools or inheritance but not worrying about turning the heating on. I’m in her often but not enough that I’d be noticeable.

🤣 your post is 4 lines long and 3 of them are about birkenstocks, so 👀

I'm 2 out of 4...

I've never owned Birkenstocks and never will.
I do have some inheritance
My two DC went to the local secondary schools but didn't go uni by choice
I saved into a private pension all my working life, having worked since 18. I retired early at 60 to care for my terminally ill DH.

Mumsnet is far less like that than it used to be.

I am or have none of those

Can’t stand the shoes

Any money I have, which isn’t a lot, but I have worked hard for

Even if I had the money, I don’t think I would send a private school

Unlikely to go to university if my daughter did, I really don’t know how I would pay for it

but I didn’t go and I have what I would call a good and well-paid career that I can afford as a single parent to go away on holiday abroad once a year

but that is what I prioritise

But I do know there are many very rich people on here as well as those that are literally on the bones of their arse