to be fed up about never having any money even though DH earns (just) over £100k?

[MakemineaGandT]

I know it sounds like a lot, but with a big mortgage and all the other usual bills we have very little disposable cash.

We don't have a cleaner or any other kind of help

Neither of us has had any new clothes for at least 18 months

We spend £100 a week on groceries, so hardly extravagant

We haven't been on holiday for 3 years

We do all DIY etc ourselves

We've been out twice this YEAR

I just don't know how we can cut back. It feels as though we are working so hard and yet we are always struggling.

It makes me really annoyed when I see comments (for example on that taxing over £150k thread) about the "super rich") - I guess on paper we look "rich" but it certainly doesn't feel like it!

I often wonder who can afford the clothes & furnishings & things in magazines? I see people spending in shops & I just think how can they be able to do this.

Posted too quick! If you have a good salary it's not shop till you drop.

here here peachy, I totally agree with you, which is why I am cross at the ops posting.

Could this op not have thought of others before posting, yes had the op not had put the salary then maybe wouldnt have riled so many people, but when people are really struggling like homeless and people like the poster before who said about the electric
and gas, or people like peachy said who cannot possibly work because they are carers for their own children, it saddens me, really what is this world coming to.

I work for a charity and find it very humbling, perhaps others could do with a reality check

eachpeachpearmum - yes its much more expensive to feed 4dc but they didnt arrive as surprises in the post did they? or surely not all of them anyway?

I know people dont like thinking that they should not have as many kids if they cant afford them but if the OP was claiming benefits for 4 kids then lots of people would jump in [yes am looking at you mikestand]

You're 'cross' at the OP?
Because her family has more than your family?

FGS for all you know her husband could have spent ten years training to do a really fecking important job and work every hour of the day!

It amazes me that people don't take a look at themselves and see why they are only getting 20k or whatever.

(That doesn't include families that have to care for someone btw)

Well said VS

VS your tone is nasty

Most people earning average salaries would love to have more opportunities but opportunities generally cost MONEY in training and education - which is a privilege that the majority of people don't have

Where does the idea that the OP have 4 children come from?

VictorianSqualor, it has nothing to do with the op has more money than my family now who is making assumptions!!

I am cross that an op with a name like that has to state her salary and then goes on about not having a cleaner and has to do their own DIY, why could she not just have said we are struggling, all I said is that there are far worse people off than her and perhaps sometimes its good to think of others.

MP, I am sure your taking VS's statement out of context. As for training and money and bad not having opportunities I know at least 2 self made millionaires one was from Tottenham North London the other was from Marsh farm Luton neither had opportunities that I had as a child but both are very successful in Business.

But didn't they think of that before they started having children?

Our household income isn't above average but that's down to us. I didn't take advantage of any of the opportunities offered when I was younger (further education) and DP did a degree which is pretty useless now so we can't blame anyone but ourselves.

Instead of moaning about it though we are trying to change it.

alfiemama, you'll see there is a question mark. That generally means it is a question. Not an assumption.

What on earth has her name got to do with it??? Maybe she could borrow mine as it's more appropriate for someone feeling the pinch

Mpaper, I did not think thta VS's tone was nasty.
I thought she made a valid point.
My dh is a operations manager. doesn't earn nowhere-near 100k. but he is home at 5.10pm. now i place alot of value on that.

could be, i said, 'could be', that the dh, in question, leaves at 5am, gets home after kids in bed. earning 100k. great. if thats the life you want. not for me. but hey ho.

But the field you choose is all part of that fio surely?

Oblomov I agree, DP and I have chosen careers that will allow us to spend time with our family rather than creep up the rich list.

Well said fiofio.

Oblomov agree that you cannot put a price on time with your kids, but op could have put dh works all hours, we never see him, he earns £100k and we still have no money

DH and I have discussed this and decided we would be skint whatever we earnt. I gave up work nearly a year ago due to mental health issues, and so my partner now works (he was a SAHD before that). His salary is half of my old salary. We struggled on mine and we struggle on his. We'd struggle if we had both! If we had £100k a month we would proably still find a way to struggle!

LOL wotulookinat I am the same my salary is not massive but I still have a high dispole income but always seem to be broke within 2 weeks of being paid

Haven't read the thread, but you know, being on 100K doesn't make things more expensive you know. Presumably you chose to get a big mortgage - if it's too big to allow you to do stuff like go on holiday, then sell up and buy a smaller house. It's not rocket science.

Personally, I used this bizarre method called budgeting, where I work out my income and then decide how much I can afford to spend on different things. Old-fashioned I know, but it works for us.

bozza - hey- I read 'thats for 4 including nappies' as 4 children, though re-reading she may have meant 4 people ie 2 DC, sorry.

The OP hasn't been back for a while though to clarify points, so we're all having a general discussion here now anyway!

I know the feeling PingPong - the last week of every month (and quite often the whole second forthnight!) is very depressing indeed! Our fridge may be empty today, but it's payday tomorrow!