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OK, OH earns 125k, his secretary probably earns 35ish, how much should he spend on her Christmas present?

432 replies

DontWantToLookTight · 20/12/2007 21:46

Just that really.
Hev namechanged cos don't want you to all think I'm minted!

OP posts:
DontWantToLookTight · 21/12/2007 00:21

yes, I though that too Cashncanny

OP posts:
DontWantToLookTight · 21/12/2007 00:21

oh susie, that's terrible.

OP posts:
Cashncarry · 21/12/2007 00:25

Thanks jajas - I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Susie - your situation sounds truly terrible However, you might be taking southeastastra's comments a little too personally. Lots of people say negative things about different areas of the country, but London in particular cops a lot of flack (see my earlier comments). As Twinkle says, many of us have had to move away from family, take less well-paid jobs etc. in order to have affordable housing. Like Hunker says, it's all a bit of a trade-off at the end of the day.

Cashncarry · 21/12/2007 00:27

I'm only worried 'cos I'm new at all this and don't want to look like a plonker!

It is soooo weird being on the other side of this, I'm telling you. Being the one who dictates endless boring letters, has a permanantly overflowing filing tray, gives instructions that make absolutely no sense - I feel sorry for her more than anything else!

susiecutiemincepies · 21/12/2007 00:29

they release a certain amount of 'applications' to the key worker schemes. It a nightmare to sort out. I do have friends and collegues who have managed it, but most if not all, have had fairly large deposits to put down first. something we dont and wont have.

Anyway i only posted as i was incredibly peeved by the comments made by southeasastra.

Just wondered where you lived Hunker, but then read you next post saying you'd rather not divulge! which is fine! Id love to be able to move a little bit away, if it meant we could afford somewhere bigger, of our own. I know those who help me out so much now, would happily drive a bit further... maybe one day hey...

I do happen to love where we live, and we moved last weekend into a 2 bedroomed flat at huge monthly cost, and i'm sure, we'd not be far off being able to pay that as a mortgage but 2 bed flats here are getting on for £350k if not more. Im near the river, fantastic shops and 2 large open parkland spaces. really lucky on living in this area. Even so, well, you know what i mean i'm sure.

Sorry for going off on one.

susiecutiemincepies · 21/12/2007 00:36

Cash and carry... maybe i did take it personally, but because it struck such a raw nerve with such a huge sweeping generalization. It seemed un fair, and rather extreme.

not everyone living in London, or the south is self important etc... I really can't be bothered to go into it more, but yo know what was said, and perhaps can see why i reacted and feel the way I do... I get a tad peeved at the whole north south divide anyway. Just because I live in the south, and in London, does not mean I have a bad character etc...

i simply cannot, at this point in our lives, move away from anyone to more affordable housing, as I need my family and friends so much. I hate relying on anyone, I hate having to ask, I hate the way things are in that sense for us. I do love my job, my DH and my DD. I am lucky to have them, all. As long as we are together, that is all that matters. sadly, my DH is not with us mon-fri. so i rely on others even more.

sorry, i didnt intend to go of on one about it. truly. I['m also very sorry for going on more guess i'm missing him tonight... still he's home tomorrow for 2 weeks...

susiecutiemincepies · 21/12/2007 00:38

just to correct my self there, it read all wrong... I cannot work at the moment, but i love that I am a nurse and hope one day to be able to do my job again...

Cashncarry · 21/12/2007 00:39

Oh gosh sounds horrible being without DH all week, especially with all the other stuff

It's not my thread but feel free to rant, that's what MN is for most of the time

the property situation really is piss-poor at the moment, isn't it? Maybe we should start a thread just for some ranting on that!

CloudAtlas · 21/12/2007 00:41

oh goodness, don't feel bad, SouthEastAstra is very rude, I tend to give her a wide berth. I was hunting for a thread she'd posted on ages ago when I posted earlier but couldn't find it, something about there being too many gay people or immigrants or somesuch but it must have been deleted. You can't agree with everyone all the time, but don't feel bad for having a completely understandable reaction to someone being deliberately argumentative, and unintentionally insensitive.

EricScrooge · 21/12/2007 00:45

I also think that some people say things on-line that they wouldn't say in RL.

It's akind of steam vent for some - don't take things to heart on here.

There are lots of strange and colourful people wanting to get out and that is what makes this so addictive sometimes.

We can't expect everyone to think along the same lines as us or it would be very boring.

susiecutiemincepies · 21/12/2007 00:47

Thank you both I didnt mean to somewhat hijack this thread either!

VVVExcitedAboutChristmasQV · 21/12/2007 01:18

Oh god yes we can barely afford to live in London. Our current joint salary would go a loooooooooong way in Lincolnshire (for example), but it barely covers things here adn we are barely inside the M25.

As it was, we had to move further out from where we grew because we cannot possibly afford to live there.

If we hadnt bought when we did - we'd certainly not have afforded to buy where we are now, and probably would have had to live 20+ miles further out.

Through hard work and determination, my unqualified (including leaving school without taking any exams and dealing with dyslexia) DH, carved a career out in IT.

Through a fluke in timing, and a stroke of luck - he had an opportunity to interview for a company in the city a few months back. He's now got a job that he's already got promotion in, and by Feb will be earning double what he was this time last year. So it's not all about qualifications/education, nor is it just about hard work/skill.

We still couldnt afford to upgrade to a larger property, but will will be slightly more financially comfortable.

You never know - this time next year I could be pondering what to buy his secretary

southeastastra · 21/12/2007 07:58

blimey i'm really sorry, i didn't mean to offend anyone personally. god i feel bad now.

southeastastra · 21/12/2007 08:07

i don't think i ever posted about gay people though!

FioFio · 21/12/2007 08:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

southeastastra · 21/12/2007 08:27

i am truely sorry that people have taken my comments personally though.

FioFio · 21/12/2007 08:29

This reply has been deleted

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southeastastra · 21/12/2007 08:32

i feel really bad, i didn't realise that my few (drunk) comments could cause such an outrage.

i'm normally nice

FioFio · 21/12/2007 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CloudAtlas · 21/12/2007 09:13

I'm sorry Southeast, I shouldn't have written what I did last night, it was too personal. I'm not going to remind you of the gay thing but it was deffo a drunken one . Sorry if I offended you. Shall we call a sorry truce?

foxinsocks · 21/12/2007 09:22

lololol this thread is just SO mumsnet

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 21/12/2007 12:17

box of Ferrero Rocher.

Anna8888 · 21/12/2007 12:23

To the OP - my recommendation is that your DH give his secretary a case (6 bottles) of wine to the (retail) value of about £100.

margoandjerry · 21/12/2007 12:34

southeastastra is a Londoner isn't she? She listens to London Live anyway and is therefore correct in all things

Not really read the whole thread in detail but I work in finance, in London, am a Londoner, have spent the whole day talking about bonuses to various members of staff. So I understand the point about London getting out of control even though I love it and am definitely on the right side of it financially.

I thought she was just saying (rightly imho) that the wealth is sometimes out of control and it has power to damage as well as to build. I agree with her even though I'm part of it and it's all working to my advantage right now.

Apologies if I've missed THE crucial post here. And susie, all my sympathies. I hate that people in your situation have to struggle despite the job you do (have done).

I'm a closet socialist in a very non-socialist company

margoandjerry · 21/12/2007 12:36

really badly written post by me:

meant to say I think she was talking about the likes of me rather than the likes of you susie.

And I agree with her.

To the OP - I think 50-75 sounds right to me.