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Original poster

What's a decent salary these days for a single person living outside London, age 32?

44 replies

2018poster · 28/12/2018 17:30

I'm on 52k. I ask because I don't feel "well off," yet my friends had a chat yesterday saying they think 65k is an absolute fortune...

I know it is all relative and depends on outgoings, liabilities etc. But i suppose im asking in a general way - what does a decent salary look like to people these days.

OP posts:
user1471530109 · 28/12/2018 17:33

Well t think that sounds good! I'm on just under 50k, but single with 2dc. I certainly don't feel well off! But its relative...in a couple with joint outgoings etc.

FarrowAndBallsUp · 28/12/2018 17:34

Oh dear.

NC4Now · 28/12/2018 17:35

Well in my circles, being a higher rate taxpayer is considered well off, so £40k up.

flossietoot · 28/12/2018 17:36

What a prattish thing to say. You know perfectly well that 52k at 32 outside of London is doing pretty well. The average UK salary is about 28k. 1 in 5 people are living in poverty.

safetyfreak · 28/12/2018 17:40

You know you are "well off" boring.

brownmouse · 28/12/2018 17:41

Anything over £25k is doing well here (rural)

OneStepMoreFun · 28/12/2018 17:41

I came on to say £30k, so I'm way off the mark. Depends where outside London though, I suppose.

leghairdontcare · 28/12/2018 17:42

Today, I saw a news piece about a man who lives in a bin. He's on 54k aged 30 so you might need to try harder.

Nacreous · 28/12/2018 17:46

Jesus, I was totally comfortable on 27k a year (lots into pension, own house multiple holidays) as a single person outside London not too long ago.

I honestly had pretty much everything I could have wanted. I had a car with air con, fairly few miles, decent fuel economy and a good stereo. I had nice clothes. I had a warm home, a fancy phone. Meals out. Reasonably nice food. Holidays galore (but mainly carefully planned bargain ones - if I hadn't planned it would probably have only been one holiday).

52k a year must be what, £2700 a month after tax including a chunk into pension. Even somewhere fairly expensive if the south east you can rent a place for like £1100 ish a month. That still gives £1600 to pay for car, fuel, bills etc. Even if you have a fancy car on finance and an expensive phone that still leaves what, £800 a month spare?! Which is a HUGE amount for food and fun, and allows you to have things like a fancy car which only well off people can have.

What is it that you think someone who is well off should have that you don't have? Do you think you covet material possessions in a way that is limiting your happiness, or is it a problem of not being able to afford a house, or something else?

BeekyChitch · 28/12/2018 17:47

How do you define "well Off?" Well off enough to buy what? Have what? I would say 40k plus should be "well off" but I guess as you earn more, you spend more.

Original poster
2018poster · 28/12/2018 17:53

I think well off would be not having money worries. It is hard to save anything significant...

OP posts:
percypeppers · 28/12/2018 17:55

Lots of people on here will think it is a fortune. Lots of people on here will think you live in poverty.

In comparison to the rest of the population, you are earning way above average. If you feel poor then you need to have a reality check and work out why. A lot of people have to cope on far less.

Nacreous · 28/12/2018 17:59

So if you are struggling to save, it's probably time to look at your outgoings..you could easily not have money worries, but that ultimately means spending within your means.

I no longer have to budget because I budgeted for long enough that what I automatically spent/saved was within the realms of what I should spend/save.

What are your major outgoings? Is there anything unnecessary? A visit to Money Saving Expert could be worthwhile, they have something called a Statement of Account (SOA) which you can use to analyse our spending and see where the big expenses are.

Bobbybobbins · 28/12/2018 18:00

You should be able to save - what are your outgoings?

greendale17 · 28/12/2018 18:01

@2018poster

Oh bore off love. You know 52k is an excellent salary. Get lost

Kemer2018 · 28/12/2018 18:01

Confused🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

TeachesOfPeaches · 28/12/2018 18:03
Biscuit
Crookedcolours · 28/12/2018 18:03

Star special attention seeking star for you

starzig · 28/12/2018 18:04

£24k would be decent.

Oblomov18 · 28/12/2018 18:06

DFOD

Everyone knows £52k is a good salary.

Stealth boast. Many people I know earn more. Many/most don't.

MyPoodleisWorthTenofYou · 28/12/2018 18:06

Bullshit. If you did earn that you wouldn’t come on here to do an attention seeking brag about it, because you’d know it was a decent salary.

crazycatgal · 28/12/2018 18:10

Absolutely pathetic when people come on here with threads like this. You obviously know that you are doing really well to earn 52k at the age of 32.

Biscuit
Notmorewashing · 28/12/2018 18:12

Oh please ! You must be very sad.

WhenLifeGivesYouLemonsx · 28/12/2018 18:13

Try living on 16k a year, working full time! You should count your lucky stars.

RippleEffects · 28/12/2018 18:19

Decent is always a bit more than you have isn't it? 10% extra take home would make a big difference to most people.

52k and not feeling well off though, I'd question your financial pressures that make you feel that way. Maybe excessive debt or big financial commitments like giving 50% to support family.

Do you feel pressured to materially keep up with a social circle who are earning more?