This will probably get me into trouble... but how can you have money worries...

[emkana]

... when the wife is a full-time GP and the husband a solicitor? I'm just reading "What about me?" by Kate Figes and the narrator in the book is the GP and she moans about not having enough money to buy a decent car or to fix the roof. Now, I estimate that the combined salary of that couple would be about £150.000 a year, wouldn't it? How can that not be enough????????
I know, I know, the woman is the narrator of the book and so it's subjective and you spend what you have so it never feels enough and all that...
but still it puts my back up, am I supposed to empathize with the narrator now over her troubled lot or what???

to mrs GP and mr solicitor.

People seem to manage to spend whatever they make. About 5 years ago, I knew a couple who were both working as contractors in the City - each making close to 100K. And they managed to spend all their earnings.

That being said, I don't think a GP and a solicitor would make £150,000 a year for sure. Solicitor wages vary quite widely, depending on where they work.

I know a GP who works part-time (50%) and she is on about £35000 she told me, so I doubled that, and in the book the GP woman says her husband earns more than her, so that's how I came up with the figure.

But surely it is all about lifestlyles and expectations.

My DH would be percieved as being extremely well paid, but the mortgage is crippling us, for the time being.

Post Sept 11th he was made redundant, took 6 months to find a job, got an extremely good one, but the industry he is in had decided that his market value had dropped by a lot £k's.

Which would have been fine if we hadn't just mortgaged ourselves the previous year based on the industry standard.

We cant even get a mortgage, so we cripple ourselve with rent instead

Your calculations sound fair enough, emkana, then.

But with the current London property market, people can easily spend whatever they make.

I'm not saying £150,000 isn't a lot of money, just that many people could manage to spend it (and with two working parents, that means childcare, expensive wardrobe for two people, etc etc).

dunno I often wonder too and actually although i know everyone lives to their means I dont have much sympathy for some people saying they have no money when they have such a high income

Yes, they probably earn a lot. But a solicitor's wage can vary hugely - depends on where he is, what he does, who he works for, how qualified he is, his position, etc.

However their normal outgoings will probably be huge too - their mortgage may well be massive, hence leaving them less disposable income than someone on a smaller salary.

I think people tend to leave to their means generally. Meaning the more they earn, the more their outgoings are. And they tend to have more moeny tied up in things, so not easily available short term.

Not saying it is right or fair, just can see how finsing the spare cash for thins like fixing the roof can be as awkward in the short term for people on small or large incomes.

depends on lifestyle and outgoings
having lots of money doesn't stop pple worrying about it (I observe)

depends on lifestyle and outgoings
having lots of money doesn't stop pple worrying about it (I observe)

what was the sq footage of the roof and was it made of slate and in a conservation area?

I think the key in this isn't about how much someone's salary is, but what their disposable income is on a day to day basis.

fio

because they have probably committed too much money in property and they are talking about disposable cash

it is disposable cash that gives you a feeling of wealth and not money tied up in bricks and mortar

because they have probably committed too much money in property and they are talking about disposable cash

it is disposable cash that gives you a feeling of wealth and not money tied up in bricks and mortar

twiglett have you got the same disease as me this am

and they probably earn a lot less .. GPs aren't big big earners and many solicitors aren't either .. I would guestimate more like 80K

seem to be double posting left right and centre this morning, wth is going on?

People have different expecations and priorities.

A decent car for us is something around 5 years old, whereas they might prefer a new Audi......I can dream

Fio we are having our roof done this month (reputedly) and we are in a conservation area and it is slate and it is going to cripple us and it is going to cost between £8,000 and £9,000 and we only live in a 3bed terrace

pah - they're probably still sticking to middle class standards (nice house, decent car, pension, clothes not from charity or Primark) that the rest of us abandoned long ago due to not being able to afford them.

We used to have more than double our current family income

I felt poorer then than I do now

expectations and desires change dependent on circumstances

Agree with Twiglett, my uncle is a co director of a large company, huge income, v nice company car, fantastic house which they have had built to their own specification. And I have more disposable income than them, my aunt drives around a little beat up car because all the money is tied up in the house. But then he has worked very hard with very long hours, a lot out of the country to get into the position he is in in his company, missed out on his kids growing up etc. Some of you may not think its fair, but he has sacrificed a lot to get this far (his choice I know) and his position does carry an awful lot of responsibility (something i wouldnt like).

wow zippi where do you live?

we had half our roof done with reclaimed slates (big 4 bed cottage) and it 'only' cost £3,000.

that book sounds hideous.

People that earn loads moan about money because they are spoilt and feel they deserve a massive house, three holidays a year, two good cars and private education. IMO

We are on a lowish income and as we have to pay high rent (council told us to f off, and would struggle with a 1 bed flat withs DS) our disposible income is zip, which is why I have 3 part time jobs so that we can actually eat.