Weekly disposable income

new boy · 15 Nov 2017 at 21:13

No idea how much disposable income I have.

Me and the mrs earn about 22k each (or at least we did, before she went on maternity leave.) We seam to do OK. Managed to get a mortgage on a house, we have enough of a buffer that I could loose my Job and still pay the bills for a few months etc.

I don't have a new iphone, my car is worth a grand tops, we very rarely go overseas on holiday, I guess we just leave within our means. TBH, I think I'm fairly happy with that. I'd like more money of course, but what would I do with it? Get a house in a better area, get a bigger TV and a newer car? Not really THAT fussed about that stuff.

Dirk Diggler · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:12

People had kids before the capitalist society and the utter obsession with possessions ever existed. It's the very reason you yourself exist. The very notion that you need to have a minimum income, justification and master plan before having kids is absurd.

Shoza · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:14

We earn about £142k with bonuses so take him about £7k a month after pensions, don't have kids and a bit worried about it all - wife earns a lot more than me so whilst on maternity it's going to be a big drop which I think is the main problem for most people. The expensive childcare after doesn't help if you both want to go back to work.

rodders · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:17

Shoza said:
We earn about £142k with bonuses so take him about £7k a month after pensions, don't have kids and a bit worried about it all - wife earns a lot more than me so whilst on maternity it's going to be a big drop which I think is the main problem for most people. The expensive childcare after doesn't help if you both want to go back to work.

Really, you bring in over 100k more than I do and I support a wife and two kids. I'd be laughing it I had another 100k a year!

Shoza · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:26

rodders said:
Really, you bring in over 100k more than I do and I support a wife and two kids. I'd be laughing it I had another 100k a year!

Yes I can understand that but after my wife slips to statutory maternity pay we will be down to £2700 a month with £2k of outgoings so we are definitely saving up to cover the period because we are not eligible for any type of benefit and £2700 a month puts us in the range of low / part time earners with tax credits.

rodders · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:32

Why don't you be the stay at home dad?

Josh · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:33

This thread is gold.

10/10 gold.

Shoza · 15 Nov 2017 at 22:35

rodders said:
Why don't you be the stay at home dad?

Wife wants to do the first 10 months or so and that makes sense really. I might swap for a few months at the end but better for her to do the first 6+ months.

Vonhelmet · 15 Nov 2017 at 23:01

Shoza said:
Yes I can understand that but after my wife slips to statutory maternity pay we will be down to £2700 a month with £2k of outgoings so we are definitely saving up to cover the period because we are not eligible for any type of benefit and £2700 a month puts us in the range of low / part time earners with tax credits.

Not eligible for any benefits? Poor you. My heart bleeds.

It's amazing how out of touch some people can be.

Ayahuasca · 15 Nov 2017 at 23:05

Surely at 7k monthly income and 2k outgoings you already have or can stockpile a fair amount to cover you for 10 months. I can’t understand how money would even be an issue with that level of income but then I guess being extremely frugal may have gotten you to where you are financially.