£100k year

[magicfarawaytree]

just been reading the £100k thread. What do you think is the minimum someone need to earn to have 3 children? and do people really think that those who pay privately contribute to the degradation of the system as it has been suggested?

The minimum someone need earn is all relative to the lifestyle they wish to have, where they live and many other things.

Yes, I think that paying privately can lead to degradation of the system, but not always in all cases.

How's that?

its all relative magicfarawaytree. Such a lot depends on area where a family live, outside interests, extra curricular activities ie. swimming which is very important but is an added cost nonetheless, school trips, uniform even, dietary requirements, etc etc. And no I dont think that private contributors are doing anything towards the degradation of the communal services, if anything I actually believe they enhance it/

it all depends how you live your life, doesn't it? if you want a particular lifestyle, then it can cost more. we manage on very little, but that's helped enormously by working from home and being freelance, and not needing (or wanting) to buy loads of smart clothes for work or for socialising, we stay in a lot because we want to and we do things that are free to entertain ourselves. we also haven't had a proper holiday for two years - but that's our choice. i miss some things, but i'm philosophical about it, and i know that i'm lucky to have what i do have - i get to see dh all day for a start (some of you might think that's so much of a plus.....!)

we live ina country with a welfare system, thankfully, so if it isnt possible you dont have to 'earn' anything

Suppose amount depends on what you want for your kids, some people have one or two so they can still afford to take them abroad, buy them the expensive xmas gifts and pay for schooling etc, others just want enough to be able to feed and clothe their kids.
I know we are expecting number 2 but physically oculdnt afford to clothe and feed a third at this time but who knows in a few years.

No idea what the minimum amount to earn would be, we waited to have children until we were earning enough to be able to give them a certain standard of living, I could pack in work to look after them, were settled in a decent sized house etc.

I think for some people, having a big house, with 2 nice cars, holidays abraod every year and plenty of disposable income is really important, so don't mind working long hours and having their children looked after by someone else.

For us, these things would be nice, but not as important as having a lot of time together - so we go without the foreign holidays etc. It all depends on your priorities, and where you live for house prices. £100K may not be that much in the SE of England, but for the rest of the country it is!