How much do you earn?
The salary question?
- Thread starter kai
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How much do you earn?
Soldato
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as I say I'm open, but one of the guys I work with doesn't even tell his wife. So 2 extremes right there
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Soldato
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It's a simple question, but you feel you need to justify the answer.
I keep it quiet.
I keep it quiet.
I’m quite selective who I would disclose my salary to and only would if asked. Parents, certain colleagues and a very select couple of mates
I’m a very open person usually but I hate coming across as bragging and people often try and take advantage if they perceive you to be earning more than them (not claiming to have a huge wage at all but more than most of my peers)
I’m a very open person usually but I hate coming across as bragging and people often try and take advantage if they perceive you to be earning more than them (not claiming to have a huge wage at all but more than most of my peers)
The other issue about being open is that others may repeat what you say. I don't earn silly money but it hasn't stopped chancers pestering me to lend them money just because I have a few quid more than them.
I've lost a couple of friends over pretty small loans back when I was a bit more naive too. It wasn't so much the money but the bloody cheek not paying it back. So for anyone younger reading this who earns OK and has a bit of disposable income, DO NOT LEND MONEY TO ANYONE. That is all
Not bothered about discussing my salary, we're all on set pay bands at work as well so you'll always have a pretty good idea of what someone is on in the office so no need to keep it secret there either.
Then again I'm also relatively open about my daft younger years getting me into debt and still working my way out of it.
Then again I'm also relatively open about my daft younger years getting me into debt and still working my way out of it.
Soldato
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In my line of work, there are no secrets as we work on fixed wage bands so if someone has the same role then they will earn the exact same salary regardless of experience or time with the company.
It's a British thing in general; asking about someone's salary is generally viewed as prying, and volunteering the information is generally viewed as bragging. In my experience, people view a higher earner with envy/jealousy and they view a lower earner with something approaching pity. That's why it's generally best left not being discussed.
As has been mentioned previously, it's usually quite obvious when you see what house a person lives in, what car they drive, how many holidays they enjoy etc.
It's a British thing in general; asking about someone's salary is generally viewed as prying, and volunteering the information is generally viewed as bragging. In my experience, people view a higher earner with envy/jealousy and they view a lower earner with something approaching pity. That's why it's generally best left not being discussed.
As has been mentioned previously, it's usually quite obvious when you see what house a person lives in, what car they drive, how many holidays they enjoy etc.
In some cases sure but you'd be surprised how low key some people with money are. An old friend of mine (RIP) was worth millions but you'd never have guessed looking at him or his lifestyle. Kept telling him to go and enjoy his wealth then he suddenly dropped dead. Mental.
His estate was featured on Heir Hunters which was an eye opener.
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Soldato
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I reckon the majority of people who want to know how much others earn base their measure of the person on the amount. Also I suspect many of the people who go on about how much they earn lie about it. My partner and the company I work for knows how much I earn and that's it. It's nobody else's business.
I don’t tend to ask but somebody in a different team to mine once told me and I found it quite eye opening. They didn’t last very long in the role so I guess they must have lied in the interview as they were on quite a bit more than I was at the same level. So it can be useful to know.
What I've noticed is that trying to perceive salary from lifestyle almost never gives a good indication. I've seen families which I'd have assumed they have an income of 150k or more, where they weren't even making 50k. I've seen it the other way around too, and anything in between.
To be honest a lot of it for me is aspirational. There's quite a few members here that are in positions I would love to be in, and it's nice to know roughly what it takes. I always thought it was '40% tax bracket and you're comfortable' - but It's certainly not!
In real life I have close friends I would discuss it with if they asked, but they don't tend to. Friends in the same industry I'm more open with obviously as it's helpful for all of us.
In real life I have close friends I would discuss it with if they asked, but they don't tend to. Friends in the same industry I'm more open with obviously as it's helpful for all of us.
In my late 20s I was doing pretty well but couldn't understand how friends could afford nice cars, latest gadgets, tonnes of recreational substances and so many holidays and yet I felt like I couldn't afford any of that!
It wasn't until a few years later I found that almost all of them were running up huge credit card debts. Ouch.
I presume you have children? Being in the lower end of that bracket gives you what I consider to be an insane amount of disposable income as someone without dependants. As in, anything you could possibly want to do, you can do with some compromise. I actually reduce my income via salary sacrifice (pension) to stay below that threshold, since I have no need to have any more income on a monthly basis.
For reference to others, you’ll be getting about £3k into your account per month post tax on PAYE at the very bottom of the 40% threshold, which is £50k pa gross.
I really have no problem telling people if they ask. I've never been secretive about it but totally appreciate why others are.
As a contractor, I've noticed that other contractors are always really secretive about their day rate whereas I don't mind others knowing. Only time I won't is if I know I'm paid a lot more than another contractor in the same job as I don't want to cause issues for the client
As a contractor, I've noticed that other contractors are always really secretive about their day rate whereas I don't mind others knowing. Only time I won't is if I know I'm paid a lot more than another contractor in the same job as I don't want to cause issues for the client
I see it all around me. People who earn well but are effectively broke because they live way above their means.
£3000 isn't all that much to be honest if you're trying to save for a house deposit. Even if you don't have kids. Even worse if you live in or around London.
I bet it's much worse than it used to be now, Instagram and the like is keeping up with the Joneses on steroids.
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