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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think people only want the best then complain about cost and stress

156 replies

Ohhhhok · 24/10/2026 17:15

This does not apply to people living in poverty, in unsuitable accommodation, struggling to find work and to make ends meet whatsoever.

I feel like many people will not settle for anything less than the dream lifestyle- large house in a desirable area with fancy interiors and expensive appliances, nice garden, cleaner, new cars, high-end clothing and make-up, expensive restaurants and luxury holidays, and so on.

Then they complain about the cost of their mortgage, the stressful job where they work 60 hours a week with all the responsibility and the 2k a month childcare bill.

It seems like nobody is willing to settle for less, it's like you've got to have the above to have 'made it' in life- they wouldn't be seen dead with an older car, a terraced house or shock horror, a flat. Second hand clothing, living a simpler life.

OP posts:
Beingseenisneedy · 26/10/2026 19:21

Human nature unfortunately.

Similar to people advocating for calling in sick for a duvet day/fish died/ have tickets for something they don't want to miss out on etc.....

Then complain about NHS or such waiting times, bad service, slow customer services as people are "off sick".

Boreded · 26/10/2026 20:36

mamaof4losingmymind · 26/10/2026 12:29

But this is a very unlikely situation considering you are talking about severely disabled adult and child in a household yet the other adult is working full time so who is looking after the disabled child yet still able to claim pip but can magically prove to pip they are capable off looking after a disabled child yet can't bath, leave the house unaided you are talking about 1% off benefit claimamts not the 99% which is what makes it ridiculous. Ive just seen you've put carers allowance too whos getting that because the healthy adult is working full time.

Edited

A family with a single earner in 100k maybe. But 2 50k earners that is very close to £6600 a month actually.

Boreded · 26/10/2026 20:41

Doximama2 · 26/10/2026 09:10

my DH and I have been together for 32 years. He will be 65 next month. He was a factory worker when we met, I had 2 small children. In his early 40’s due to many steps taken starting as a night course once a week he studied hard and became a Dr. We are now 18 years on, he still works full time and our income has increased hugely, however we are in same house despite many people questioning why we haven’t “upgraded” we have enough room, we have nice holidays, 2 decent cars though one is 13 years old. BUT we don’t worry about paying bills and can enjoy life and after many years of struggling in the beginning of our relationship we appreciate this so much and obviously retirement is on the horizon now. We could go for the huge house in the upmarket area of town which I think due to his position professionally people expect us to live in but are happy to not worry and to stay where we have always been

This…our lives are the same. Started in the lower paid jobs, didn’t upgrade the home, now we live comfortably because of it.

It’s a choice isn’t it, you get the nice holidays and can afford your life much more easily if you don’t chase the best things every time.

Boreded · 26/10/2026 20:50

CherryBlossom321 · 26/10/2026 09:18

I think people can chase or even achieve their aspirations, and still object to overinflated childcare fees and increasing interest rates on their mortgage. Many were living within their means just a couple of years ago, but are now struggling to meet their financial obligations now because pretty much everything has become more expensive.

But those people have made poor choices. They have chased without leaving room for life to be affordable if interest rates increase, if there are cost of living increases. You should leave a cushion to still have an affordable life if these things happen, not chasing everything you could possibly afford at that time

Yello24 · 26/10/2026 21:03

Bit off topic but £2k to decorate a box room and you did the work yourself?! Decorated with what?!

CherryBlossom321 · 26/10/2026 21:27

Boreded · 26/10/2026 20:50

But those people have made poor choices. They have chased without leaving room for life to be affordable if interest rates increase, if there are cost of living increases. You should leave a cushion to still have an affordable life if these things happen, not chasing everything you could possibly afford at that time

Things have increased exponentially however, more so than what the average “stress test” may have predicted.

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