We earned more than £200,000 a year — but struggled to afford childcare

[EmmaOfNormandy]

I was told on another thread to see for myself how the UK is struggling, and Gemini threw up this article as proof.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/24/earned-200-000-a-year-struggled-afford-childcare-29736631/

And?

These are two people moaning about having to pay for childcare that the Metro has published for people to click on.

Do you consider this adequate data on which to form an opinion on the financial state of the country?

They were also earning dividends through 3 Airbnb properties in their names!!

Only absolute idiots would choose to feature in an article like that.

So 205k minus 40k childcare minus 40k mortgage leaving 125k is pretty well off to me.
Even accounting half of that to tax and pensions still leaves 2k a month disposable.

Rich couple failed to plan and rein in their lifestyle in advance of having kids, and are now unhappy, but have found loopholes (only really available to high earners) to work the system, and in a few years their kids will be out of nursery into school which will mean they go back to being £40k a year better off and can continue their lifestyle, except they will then choose to send their kids to private school, failing to realise it is a luxury not available to most kids and will whinge about the injustice of VAT on private school fees.

I can't believe anyone with intelligence enough to get £100k salaries would be talked into doing that article, including names and pics.

The mortgage and childcare costs aren’t pre tax.

Have a heart you guys. Yes they're minted from multiple income streams but they've been reduced to hawking their shame to the press for pennies. I bet their parents are proud.

If they exist. Last time I saw a story like this, it was AI slop in the Telegraph.

Yeah realised that after I posted but then you aren't 50% of gross on tax and pension either. So swings and roundabouts.
Still pretty well off in my books

Unfortunately these people do live among us, its such a massive lack of personal awareness.

So I had a wee Google and this is publicity for their financial services company that specialises in advising parents earning over £100k. They did a piece in the Times earlier in the year.

I’m finding an increase in these articles completely disrespectful to the hard working early years educators, who are bringing up these children for sometimes over 50 hours a week. We are educating, nurturing and keeping alive the most precious thing in your life.

I think ChatGPT could provide the same advice for free!! Not a great business model, and the total lack of self-awareness that they are using to advertise it is unappealing!!

It’s obvious why they did the article - they started a small business selling advice and are hoping to pick up new customers.

I love the phrase “living paycheck to paycheck”. And the fact they “panicked” -
no they did not. At least not in the way someone panics when they have to choose between heating and eating. Or in the way someone panics when they realise they have to use credit card debt to get through the month.

They selfishly realised they didn’t want to cut to make any compromise in their lifestyle in any way, and then looked for the really obvious ways to solve the problem.

Nothing in that article made me feel sympathetic to them. I’d rather they said “we are wealthy, if you want to be wealthy like us we can give you some tips.”

I bet they have lots of holidays, nice cars bought outright, no credit debt, no student debt, a fabulous home near London with beautiful furnishings and a weekly cleaner, Not to mention their THREE investment properties. It’s not difficult to trim when you have huge amounts of wealth.

Their solution is pretty basic (pay money into your pension to reduce net income) - it is recommended on MN pretty much every time someone tips over the £100k barrier. That bracket of £100k to £125k income is subject to a VERY high marginal tax/NI rate of 62%

Why did you need to Google? That was clear in the article!

{Edit - not meant as a dig at you! Just that they weren't hiding it!}

I searched to see if they were actually real.😁

Has he quit his job to set up the company advising people who earn over £100k how to get their income under £100k? If so, I think he's rapidly solved his own problem.

They're only doing the interview to promote their business