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Can I discuss my happiness with salary increase without sounding crass?

50 replies

SecretAnon1 · 03/08/2025 11:30

I haven't been able to discuss this with anyone other than DH as I don't want to come across as gloating or insensitive. So I thought I'd share on here as I'm absolutely bursting with joy and I NEED to get my feelings off my chest.

For years now, DH and I have always struggled financially. We have both worked ourselves to the bone to survive however, as we all know, effort doesn't always equal reward when it comes to salaries.

I decided to take the leap and retrain. This involved studying while working part-time over the last few years and to achieve this, we had to take a massive pay cut as a household.

The struggle has been absolutely brutal and I've questioned my decision more than once when it all got too much too handle.

It's finally all payed off and I've just been offered an amazing opportunity. I need to keep pinching myself as I genuinely can't believe it's all real.

My new salary will give me £2k per month spare AFTER tax and bills have been paid! I feel like I'm living in a dream.

We do have some debts to pay off that we wracked up during our struggles however these should be cleared in the next year. After that we will finally be able to save for a mortgage. I never thought I'd see the day. And every time I think about it I can feel a lump in my throat. No more living pay check to pay check. This has lifted an unbelievable weight from my shoulders and mind.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Sundaybananas · 03/08/2025 12:01

Very, very well done! I am so pleased for you.

SecretAnon1 · 03/08/2025 12:01

Mildmanneredmum · 03/08/2025 11:55

Congratulations! so well done. I did the same - as you say, very hard whilst it's going on, but the reward comes....

Thanks. I'll raise a glass for both of our achievements tonight 🥂

OP posts:
DrJump · 03/08/2025 12:02

Oh wow! What fantastic news. You must feel really proud.

jay55 · 03/08/2025 12:14

Woohoo brilliant stuff. Well done for putting in the hard work to retrain.
i hope the new opportunity works out and you enjoy it.

Twilightstarbright · 03/08/2025 12:31

Well done you! Not bragging at all- you’ve worked hard for this.

Redisthecolourforme · 03/08/2025 13:46

Well done! Congratulations!

Beammeupscotty2025 · 03/08/2025 13:48

Well done and you have worked so hard you deserve to feel elated.

Enjoy.

itsgettingweird · 03/08/2025 13:49

Well done. You’ve earned it through sheer hard work and sacrifice and I hope you have that house deposit and your first home soon Flowers

stayathomer · 03/08/2025 13:51

Ooh computers! Am even more in awe (technophobe here whose kids are all ridiculously computer literate to make matters worse😅) Well done op!!!🎊🎉🥳

ChristmasLightsLover · 03/08/2025 13:55

Yes. Yes. And YES!!!!! So pleased for you @SecretAnon1- sending a big un MM hug to you for all your hard work.

KateMiskin · 03/08/2025 13:55

So well done! You deserve your success.

ViciousCurrentBun · 03/08/2025 13:59

Well done, I retrained in my late twenties. The reason not to tell is not because it’s crass it’s because if people know you have money they may ask for a loan or expect you to chip in ore or sub them.

KateMiskin · 03/08/2025 14:07

Tell only v near and dear. Maybe your mum if you are close.

TheHandmaidsSnail · 03/08/2025 14:09

Amazing! Well done, I love it when hard work pays off. Enjoy your money x

sciaticafanatica · 03/08/2025 14:11

congratulations!! The relief about not having to constantly think about money is just the best feeling.

Slalom99 · 03/08/2025 14:12

I wouldn’t bother telling anyone. I used to earn 50k and now after several promotions earn around 200k. My DH knows and that’s about it. My parents, siblings and friends have absolutely no idea.

I put 60k pa into a pension and also fund some other investments so probably lead a life more akin to someone on about 75k than 200k so it isn’t that noticeable to others.

The questions will start when I retire at 50 with no change to my lifestyle and then they’ll wonder how I’m funding it.

Ginnygi · 03/08/2025 14:13

Well done, it sounds that you worked so hard for it!

Chipotlego · 03/08/2025 14:14

Please celebrate retraining and securing a new job field with friends and family though, money aside (congrats on that its amazing) its a brilliant achievement 👏

Frostynoman · 03/08/2025 14:15

Well done OP!

ThatsNotMyTeen · 03/08/2025 14:16

Well deserved - congratulations

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 03/08/2025 14:17

Where did you retrain? I’m dying to do something new!

Congratulations.

Awobabobob · 03/08/2025 14:19

Well done to you!
Something similar happened to me about 10 years ago. I was so used to living on relatively little that all the extra money I got I saved religiously, within 3 years I bought a 4 bed detached (whilst still renting). I never really told anyone because I hate discussing income, mainly because I had to listen to others gloat about their income for years whilst I struggled to get by, and it made me feel like shit. I’m sure people wondered how the hell we were able to buy such a house. In fact, you see threads on here with people asking how people are able to afford things. The answer is, if they haven’t had family help in some form then they just earn more than you think they do!

nearlylovemyusername · 03/08/2025 15:21

What a lovely story! Well done! you should be really proud of yourself, shame you can't share IRL, I'd hope people around you would be very happy for you!
Congratulations!

Saturdayishere · 03/08/2025 15:27

Congratulations 🙌

This is the best thing I’ve read on here for a while. I’m really happy that all of your hard work and grit has paid off. It takes so much courage to retrain and it must have broken you many times…you deserve this.

Enjoy, I’m really happy for you.

user1471548941 · 03/08/2025 16:07

I had the experience of working hard to achieve my dream of a job with high paying salary and then had negative reactions from friends who were struggling (jobs like teachers). It can be really tricky in real life so I’m going to say a massive well done you OP and enjoy the fruits of your labour and the peace of mind it will bring you.

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