Are you a top revenue earner?

Easy to do though mate, and if you're not educated (like so many people) then how are you to know any better? I ended up in a downward spiral in my 20s, thankfully I was able to get it shifted all onto a 0% card and clear it over a few years.

It's not bothering me at all tbh, it's managed and we still live very comfortably. Ultimately it's costing us buttons at the moment but when it's all done and dusted we'll be absolute ballers:p
 
It's not bothering me at all tbh, it's managed and we still live very comfortably. Ultimately it's costing us buttons at the moment but when it's all done and dusted we'll be absolute ballers:p

At least when it's cleared you'll feel like you've had a huge pay rise! :D

This years spending for me has been on credit card to avoid getting a loan. But the latter half of 2024 and early 2025 probably going to be paying it off at 500 a month.
 
I see his point. Minimum wage in 2005 was £5.05 and from April this year it will be £11.44. Inflation puts £5.05 at £8.50 in todays money so people on minimum wage are getting paid a lot more than what they were back then. From a business perspective this encroaches on a lot of the more middle group roles which haven't seen that sort of growth in wages.
That is the entire purpose of NMW though, it isn't designed so all salaries increase in line, but to proactively reduce income divide.
 
It varies massively to be honest in my experience. There's nice areas in Manchester, Leeds or York that are getting closer to London prices, especially post covid. That said I'd still map a Northern salary of between 65-75K to a London salary of about 95K-115K.
You think London salary of 95k is sufficient for good lifestyle? Guessing it is probably ok for living outside London and commuting in?
 
You think London salary of 95k is sufficient for good lifestyle? Guessing it is probably ok for living outside London and commuting in?

There’s two main factors: where you live in London and if you have kids. Live with your partner in zone 6 and have no kids? £95k is sufficient for a good lifestyle. Two kids and live in zone 1/2 north London? You might struggle depending on your lifestyle.
 
That is the entire purpose of NMW though, it isn't designed so all salaries increase in line, but to proactively reduce income divide.

Yes I do realise that but indirectly those middle salaries get stagnated for decades and you end up with a massive skill shortage because people train and go elsewhere.

Top end of corporate still want their increasing dividends and to pay for the NMW the middle suffer. Leading to what you have today with a massive wealth divide between the super rich and the rest.

The way we are arguing that a 100k wage is a struggle shows this because that 100k wage should be a lot higher than it is today.
 
There’s two main factors: where you live in London and if you have kids. Live with your partner in zone 6 and have no kids? £95k is sufficient for a good lifestyle. Two kids and live in zone 1/2 north London? You might struggle depending on your lifestyle.

What is a good lifestyle to you?
 
What is a good lifestyle to you?

Not worrying about money. But not having cash to throw around everywhere.

There are a few big ticket luxuries.
Nice finance car
Expensive amazing or multiple abroad holidays
Kids
Considerable pension contributions
Big mortgage
Etc

I'd say "good" is only having to give up a couple of these.
No kids/less kids
A banger outright vs a nice car
One cheap Mediterranean holiday a year.
An average pension
An average house (but still yours)


If You get down to only being able to afford 1 or 2 of these I'd say it's OK.

Getting down to 1? That's tough going.
Ie. You rent, go on no holidays abroad, but have kids.

For me it's that
 
We were idiots when we were young, as I suspect many are. Hindsight is a wonderful thing sadly, and I wouldn't wish what we went through on anyone.

We've actually got quite a bit of capital but we're just whittling these debts down from our younger days.

The sad part is that most people are embarrassed about their debts and this will affect their mental health, it's a horrible situation to be in.
This time 5 years ago I had about 18k of accumulated credit card and overdraft debt, like you I could "afford" it but we were still talking £400 plus in repayments even on low life of balance interest rates.

Got a better job and started paying it off in bigger chunks and now I don't have any debt, feels a lot better and I know what's mine is mine. I mean ours. Hers.
 
I find it hard to believe that flash cars and exotic holidays are the only things in life that you find enjoyable. Don’t make me summon @moon man to lecture you on enjoying the simpler things. :p

Holidays are what I personally spend my "extra" on that comes with a decent salary and cheap Base costs.

I actually love a lot of what @moon man does too.

However as property in those areas is so expensive in priced out of his feet/sea views. He's fortunate to have gotten in an area before it.. Mooned.. In price.
 
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Not worrying about money. But not having cash to throw around everywhere.

There are a few big ticket luxuries.
Nice finance car
Expensive amazing or multiple abroad holidays
Kids
Considerable pension contributions
Big mortgage
Etc

I'd say "good" is only having to give up a couple of these.
No kids/less kids
A banger outright vs a nice car
One cheap Mediterranean holiday a year.
An average pension
An average house (but still yours)


If You get down to only being able to afford 1 or 2 of these I'd say it's OK.

Getting down to 1? That's tough going.
Ie. You rent, go on no holidays abroad, but have kids.

For me it's that
Shared ownership flat in Zone 6
Citreon c1 2016 - does that. count as a banger?
Married - No kids
Holidays planned this year - Center parcs ( paid for by parents) Turkey 1 week all inclusive, Budapest 3 nights

Where do i rank sir?
 
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