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Original poster

To think mumsnet posters must have a lot of £££

218 replies

TwoBabas · 09/10/2023 21:58

General observation from reading posts on here is that there seem to be an awful lot of posters claiming either themselves or their partners are eating salaries of 100k plus.

Now am I being very naive or are people over exaggerating their financial situations. What type of job would put you in that range? Doctor? Headteacher? Lawyer?

Most people I know are skrimping by and don't have a lot to piss in.

But then perhaps I'm living amongst the not so wealthy sector.

Are people telling the truth do you think?

OP posts:
Cola2023 · 16/10/2023 08:23

TeenLifeMum · 14/10/2023 15:10

I think people with similar salaries/values socialise together so you’re more likely to know people earning 100000k plus if you are in that bracket. Although my friendship group is lower earning because I hated the keeping up with the Jones’ attitude from those who earn similar to me. Maybe I was unlucky but I didn’t want a competition with Sarah and her 4 toilets she had to mention in every bloody conversation (just in case you didn’t know she had a big house).

I genuinely know of someone called Sarah who brags about having 4 toilets on twitter. I expect you used a placeholder name but it's funny if we're thinking of the same person.

Onegingerhead · 16/10/2023 08:53

We have 4 toilets but I'm not Sarah! Really didn't need it tho, just a stupid thing our (cheap) townhouse came with..

But I also dont think the MN people who say they earn 100K+ are lying. I m in a relatively low paid job (scientist) but happen to know a few of high earners.
One is a dentist, and other are bunch of IT people. Don't feel extremely jealous, but cant help thinking I made a bad career choice..

TeenLifeMum · 16/10/2023 09:15

Haha @Cola2023 her name is actually really unusual. She’ll mention “oh must buy a toilet brush today. With 4 toilets we do get through them…” followed by a tinkly laugh.

AGAbaker · 16/10/2023 09:32

There are loads of jobs that pay this. IT, Finance, HR, sales is a massive earner if you're good!

I did my time on a low salary, single mother and a baby. It was horrible.

Studied whilst working full time and qualified as an accountant. Worked and studied my craft for 10 years and now I'm not doing too bad. It's not completely unattainable people!

Granted I don't take home £100k myself but jointly we exceed this.

AGAbaker · 16/10/2023 10:13

TeenLifeMum · 16/10/2023 09:15

Haha @Cola2023 her name is actually really unusual. She’ll mention “oh must buy a toilet brush today. With 4 toilets we do get through them…” followed by a tinkly laugh.

Hahaha this really made me giggle

BingoDingoZingo · 20/10/2023 13:12

Band 9 NHS starting pay is a couple of quid under £100k outside of London. DH and I are both on this although he gets a further 30% premium for a ridiculous retention premium that isn’t needed as he has no intention of ever leaving.

Kay286 · 21/10/2023 14:14

I know I wouldn’t lie about our earnings - what would be the point ? I must admit though I am surprised to read how many are earning at this level on here !
We’ve also been at the very low end of earning levels and scraped by every week , feel very fortunate now.
We do live in a country with very high living costs though and having just sold our U.K. property being almost mortgage free will be taking on a huge mortgage to be able to buy (London prices equivalent) where we live.
I don’t feel rich but comfortable, the salaries we earn are relative to the cost of where we live.

Heelenahandbasket · 21/10/2023 21:07

KingsleyBorder · 09/10/2023 22:50

Do you think that earning a high salary somehow magically removes the need/desire to be at home to look after your children? Or cures tiredness? High paying jobs generally need you to be quite rested, not knackered after a night at the opera!

The ones out at the theatre and the opera every night are in your mega rich category, too rich to have to work at all and with live in nannies who get paid overtime to babysit in the evening.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes, I second this. I used to earn six figures and was fate too exhausted to do anything else really but work (and children once I had dds).

Wanderergirl · 22/11/2023 23:48

greenspaces4peace · 10/10/2023 00:44

i'm not sure i believe the statistics, i'm sure there are more 100K earners than reported IF you didn't include the tax mitigating schemes.

There really isn’t, but cheap credit/loans enabled everyone to “keep up with appearances”. You might treat yourself for a designer bag and don’t go hungry. Someone on half the income will take a loan/credit card to buy identical bag, so to the outside world you both look like you make 100k. What outside world doesn’t know that the person who’s borrowing heavily, probably is having beans on toast for a dinner, whilst you just resume your life without a hurdle, taking your new bag out for a nice dinner somewhere.

However, when I listen and look at people these days, it seems that everyone and their dog is making 100k, but I will never know what happens behind closed doors.

PippyLongTits · 23/11/2023 15:31

I'm in my mid-forties. I know two people that I think are probably earning £100k+. One works in sales for a tech firm (and income is hugely dependent on bonuses) and the other works for a pharmaceutical company.

Both of the high earners do focus a lot on money and do talk about money just as much in real life as people mention it on Mumsnet. Neither has children.

Most other people I know have fairly normal jobs, and I assume average incomes. Some dropped out of higher paying careers when they became mothers to fit things around childcare (becoming cleaners, care assistants, teaching assistants etc) which tend not to be highly paid, but don't have late nights in the office/travel requirements etc. that some more lucrative careers might demand.

bombastix · 23/11/2023 15:41

Literally zero interest in what somebody's partner earns; cringeworthy when a poster says "my DP" etc.

What do you do? I can be impressed with the earning power of anyone, but not impressed by someone who just cites their partner or husband or wife. They do that, you don't.

That said 100k in London is not uncommon as a professional.

pocketpairs · 23/11/2023 19:30

I know loads of people that are earning £100k+, mainly lawyers (corporate law), NHS, finance & IT. Now that I think about it, the majority are from (different) ethnic minority groups..maybe there's a cocorrelation between educational attainment and salary (as the best performing ethnic groups are Chinese and Indians).

CurlyhairedAssassin · 23/11/2023 19:35

LolaSmiles · 09/10/2023 22:23

like what are the chances that all of the women married to the top 5 percent of earners are posting here. I think no. At least some are internet fantasists.
Some of them probably also are absolutely stuffed full after consuming 3 grapes a day and they have 6ft+ tall teenagers eat 3,000 calories a day but are also underweight because of their super athleticism.
😂

Eh? Why did you bring food into it?

I've seen a strange obsession on here before about people's claims that their teenager eats loads but is skinny. I just don't get it. One of my sons is like that. He's not super athletic. And I earn fuck all. I have no idea how you think they are all linked....

determinedtomakethiswork · 23/11/2023 19:58

It's odd that women on here hate women earning a lot of money. It's not a race to the bottom. I think the problem on here is that we don't get to know anybody properly. I never remember usernames where 20 years ago I could've named 50 people on here. When you look at the investment, property, work and style threads it is easy to realise that some women earn a lot of money. Good for them.

XelaM · 23/11/2023 20:11

pocketpairs · 23/11/2023 19:30

I know loads of people that are earning £100k+, mainly lawyers (corporate law), NHS, finance & IT. Now that I think about it, the majority are from (different) ethnic minority groups..maybe there's a cocorrelation between educational attainment and salary (as the best performing ethnic groups are Chinese and Indians).

Me too. I work for an international law firm. I'd guess that all Associates are on 100K+.

Goldencup · 23/11/2023 20:14

Isometimeswonder · 09/10/2023 22:33

I know literally no-one who earns this.
You are more than comfortable if you have nearly £200 grand a year coming in!

Show quote history

We earn £220 K together ( 1X £140 and 1x £80 I think). After pensions and deductions we take home £9,000pcm

We live in a nice but not exceptional victorian 5 bed house - plenty of equity mortage is £2,000 pcm

One DC at University that costs £1,300 pcm
The other DC is Y12 her costs are £250 (allowance, includes clothes and lunches), £250 ( 4 X maths tutor) £160 ( riding lessons) £200 ( driving lessons) so £860

Utilities £600 (gas, electric, water, tv, Council tax)
Food £600

So before any descretionary spending £5400 is gone. Before travel, meals out, phones ( 4 of those), presents, holidays etc.

We are certainly comfortable but I would say we are rich....

Goldencup · 23/11/2023 20:20

I wouldn't say we were rich

Konfetka · 23/11/2023 20:43

@Starseeking Absolutely, the man who did the job I do before I did it was a complete dimwit. Left the entire place in utter chaos due to his incompetence.

He fit all the criteria, private school, middle class, plum accent etc etc. it took them 11 months to find him out, and a year later I'm still picking up the pieces.
**
Is that you, Rishi?

LBFseBrom · 23/11/2023 20:49

I don't see why anyone would lie about their income. Obviously, some people are better off than others, that's life.

On Mumsnet there is a mix of people with all sorts of incomes, some very hard up, others in the middle range and those who earn extremely well.

Aria999 · 23/11/2023 22:26

@Goldencup

We are also privileged so it's not that I don't get it but imagine someone with DC the same age as you and a household income of £40k reading your post...

These fixed outgoings are choices you are privileged to be able to make.

Bahhambug · 23/11/2023 22:59

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

bluepurpleangel · 23/11/2023 23:15

bombastix · 23/11/2023 15:41

Literally zero interest in what somebody's partner earns; cringeworthy when a poster says "my DP" etc.

What do you do? I can be impressed with the earning power of anyone, but not impressed by someone who just cites their partner or husband or wife. They do that, you don't.

That said 100k in London is not uncommon as a professional.

I agree! It really makes me wince when people post “my DH earns/says/thinks…”

There is a security clearance thread running at the moment which is full of women talking about their husbands and their high levels of security vetting, with just the odd poster talking from their own direct experience. It’s so depressing.

Fizbosshoes · 23/11/2023 23:32

I'm more surprised that everyone know how much their friends and neighbours earn!
One of my friends DH is a partner in a corporate law firm so I imagine he earns over 100k and another person I know DH is a partner in a GP practice and I'd guess he does. (We've never discussed it)
A friend is a teacher and SLT in a private school and I know she earns too much to qualify for child benefit because she told me. Other than that I've literally never discussed earnings with anyone outside my immediate family

I earn under 30k

Goldencup · 24/11/2023 04:59

Aria999 · 23/11/2023 22:26

@Goldencup

We are also privileged so it's not that I don't get it but imagine someone with DC the same age as you and a household income of £40k reading your post...

These fixed outgoings are choices you are privileged to be able to make.

I will absolutely own that priviledge. I just wanted to make the point it is not mega-rich territory..It is what I would describe as a perfectly comfortable middle class life style. The DCs don't go to private school- but we probably could have stretched to it. An income of £200,000 doesn't generate an especially lavish lifestyle.

Livingoncaffeine · 24/11/2023 05:28

@Goldencup Being able to afford a 5 bed Victorian house, £1300 on uni fees, plus driving lessons etc and still having 3k leftover at the end of the month is very VERY privileged and extremely lavish to most!!!