What would you call an average wage?

Think it's highly skewed by the area you live in and proximity to work/travel costs (I would say most peoples main outgoings?)

Im fortunate that both myself and Mrs earn very good salaries and currently don't have kids. I think its crass to say approx 100k combined salary would be anything near "average" but for me that would be a level thats comfortable and can start getting all extra income into pension/investments to retire before 70 years old... :eek::cry:
 
That's a good point @Buffman without pension and "retirement" plans, our disposable income would be significantly more, but we put aside a fairly significant amount of our monthly income towards that. I think that short term pain will lead to better life in the future.
 
LOAM said:
I would echo this, our youngest's development has absolutely gone through the roof since she went back to nursery and she's an August baby so one of the youngest but even though she's not 3 yet you can have a proper, albeit daft conversation with her.

We are lucky, I earn enough so the missus can work part time, so it's best of both worlds really.
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It's a bit unscientific though isn't it. I noticed my daughter exhibiting bad behaviour after she started nursery, that's clearly come from seeing other children doing that stuff. Monkey see, monkey do. Nature and nurture, it's a complicated interaction. Is the goal that our children develop quickly and grow up quickly?
 
neocon said:
It's a bit unscientific though isn't it. I noticed my daughter exhibiting bad behaviour after she started nursery, that's clearly come from seeing other children doing that stuff. Monkey see, monkey do. Nature and nurture, it's a complicated interaction. Is the goal that our children develop quickly and grow up quickly?
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The goal isn't to get them to grow up faster no, but social interaction and positive learning from peers is incredibly worthwhile. It's a pity your nursery didn't prevent the poor behaviour, we have been really fortunate to have found one that simply won't tolerate it. I'm sure it happens everywhere, it's how they deal with it that's the important bit.

Ironically she's off until the 4th and sat with me now as several in her nursery bubble just tested positive for covid19, the absolute downside of nurseries.
 
LOAM said:
The goal isn't to get them to grow up faster no, but social interaction and positive learning from peers is incredibly worthwhile. It's a pity your nursery didn't prevent the poor behaviour, we have been really fortunate to have found one that simply won't tolerate it. I'm sure it happens everywhere, it's how they deal with it that's the important bit.

Ironically she's off until the 4th and sat with me now as several in her nursery bubble just tested positive for covid19, the absolute downside of nurseries.
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Yes, they pick up things constantly, but it's probably good for them I suppose.
 
LOAM said:
I would echo this, our youngest's development has absolutely gone through the roof since she went back to nursery and she's an August baby so one of the youngest but even though she's not 3 yet you can have a proper, albeit daft conversation with her.

We are lucky, I earn enough so the missus can work part time, so it's best of both worlds really.
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Spot on - both our kids (now 11 and 13) went to nursery from a young age and it really helped on a number of social and educational level. It was difficult juggling work / parenting / nursery run and was expensive but regardless of the impact on career progression (admittedly more for my wife, her choice) it has (in our opinion) hugely helped with our kids development.
 
Freefaller said:
That's a good point @Buffman without pension and "retirement" plans, our disposable income would be significantly more, but we put aside a fairly significant amount of our monthly income towards that. I think that short term pain will lead to better life in the future.
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Yep I'm planning to put anything over the 40% tax limit into a pension to save the tax. Currently earn just shy of that.

I don't really need more than £3k/month net income/ 5ish combined (whilst my mrs also earns a decent age/full time working/no kids)

Kids in childcare will also skew expenses upwards!
 
Bear said:
I dont know them so take this with a pinch of salt but how do you know its down to greed? Could they not be saving to provide their kids with a private education, put money away for a uni fund or money towards a house when they come of age etc.?
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Of course it is multifactorial I agree and not purely greed. They work incredibly hard and I admire and respect that and yes they are driven to achieve more and better themselves and prospects for their children. I think the greed comment was a little off the cuff and perhaps little unfair but I do genuinely think that money is big driver for them and know they have acted quite underhanded at times to the detriment of colleagues and peers. Also in part, about discussion re. childcare we were having above and reliance of the nanny almost 7 days a week/nights (not that's any of my business but my wife has had to collect their daughters from nursery on a few occasions when they've been working and their nanny has been unavailable). l Certainly didn't mean to come across as salty and your right that greed alone is never like to be the only driver but I think does play a part. Sorry for the thread derail.
 
Buffman said:
Yep I'm planning to put anything over the 40% tax limit into a pension to save the tax. Currently earn just shy of that.

I don't really need more than £3k/month net income/ 5ish combined (whilst my mrs also earns a decent age/full time working/no kids)

Kids in childcare will also skew expenses upwards!
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For myself if I hit higher rate I'd be looking to move to 4 days a week. Which isn't easy!
Way my life is no point earning 60k + stress (if it comes with more) if I still have the same amount of holiday /time off.

But perma 3 day weekends? Yes!
 
413x said:
But perma 3 day weekends? Yes!
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It’s great, I’ve been working Mon to Thurs for the past 11 years now, although I do a 40hr week in those 4 days. I really wouldn’t want to go back to a 5 day week again
 
Freakbro said:
I totally disagree with your initial statement, especially in regards to early years. Getting children into nursery at an early age is vital for their development and one of the biggest early divisions in society is those than can afford nursery prior to the state subsidised hours.

With the best will in the world an average parent can't commit the time, nor has the expertise in child development to maximise the potential development of children. Having had experience in the sector for over 10 years, it is amazing to see the difference in development levels between kids who have been in nursery from the start (pre 1 yr old) and those who just turn up at 3 for the 15 hrs, there is no comparison.
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It's not 15 hours anymore. It is 30 now and has been for a while. I don't even have 10 years experience but I know that. Only reason I know is because my son is now nearly 2 so will start going soon. I do agree it is a good tool for social interaction but their needs to be a balance. I missed a lot of my daughter's early years through work and it shows. I will not be making the same mistake with my son.
 
adam cool dude said:
It's not 15 hours anymore. It is 30 now and has been for a while. I don't even have 10 years experience but I know that.
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Actually universal "free" (subsidised, not free but that's a different discussion) hours for Early Years Entitlement is only 15 hours, the extra 15 extended hours are conditional, wherein both parents (or 1 if a single parent) have to be working and earning over ~£116 a week.

Only reason I know is because my son is now nearly 2 so will start going soon.
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There is no universal provision for "free" childcare for 2 y/o's and the conditional provision available is only 15 hours for families classed as deprived

I do agree it is a good tool for social interaction but their needs to be a balance. I missed a lot of my daughter's early years through work and it shows. I will not be making the same mistake with my son.
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It's far more than just for social interaction and tbh your statement is just showing you are viewing this about your needs (ie: you missed out on your daughter's early years) not what is best for the child. It's an understandable position and seen often with parents, but being at nursery is better for their entire development.
 
R.P.L said:
The average wage isn't what anyone 'considers' it to be, because an average is something that gets calculated, not dreamt up in someone's imagination. Apparently the official average UK salary last year was £38,600, but obviously that could be broken down by region, demographic etc.
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inflated by high earners and london no doubt.

Average annual earnings for full-time employees in the UK 2020, by region. The average annual salary for full-time workers in London in 2020 was over 41 thousand British pounds a year, compared with 27.8 thousand pounds for workers in North East England, which was the lowest in the United Kingdom in 2020.
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I bet most people in the north east are far closer to 20k than 27
I wonder how they actually calculate it probably based on what people earn per hour and assuming they all work full time to skew the figures?
 
Under 20k and.never been near average but rather have that than mega wage up country,, especially west Yorkshire where I moved from not too long ago.
Anyway bought house with cash and have excellent savings
so guess I am not too bad with finances
Daughters mum always worked just a couple of days a week So they had her rather than a day nursery but went to play groups ect.
Must have worked as ones a scientist for NHS other works for science museum.
 
I was wondering more about people that don't have fixed full time hours non contract workers or whatever they are called.

how are they calculated? then what about all the people doing consultation work for stupid hourly pay? are they usually classed as self employed? how does self employed get calculated into the wage figures is it a completely different set or just pumped in with the full time workers.

You could easily manipulate the figures so it all sounds better than it really is for the "average" person


A lot of these stats are probably aimed at attracting foreign skilled workers here :P so they will pad the stats no?
 
arknor said:
inflated by high earners and london no doubt.


I bet most people in the north east are far closer to 20k than 27
I wonder how they actually calculate it probably based on what people earn per hour and assuming they all work full time to skew the figures?
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Minimum wage is 20k so the average cannot be 20k. 27k sounds low to me. I'd say average is circa 35k-40k if you took all the cash in hand into account.

You know all the folk who give a 20% discount for cash or folk who would normally charge £20 per tyre for changing them it's suddenly £10 a tyre cash so a 50% discount as it goes straight in their pocket and the owner never finds out.
 
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