3 ms·

And yet a £60K household income (two adults, no kids) still makes you better off than 88% of the population. [1] I think a lot of people on comfortable incomes

by gmac 3y ago

And yet a £60K household income (two adults, no kids) still makes you better off than 88% of the population. [1] I think a lot of people on comfortable incomes have absolutely no idea how privileged they are. I also know people who complain about their financial situation in the same breath that they contemplate spending £15K/year or more per child on private education, in spite of having good state schools available. [1] https://ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in https://ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in

retrac98 3y ago
This “others have it worse so I'll keep quiet” attitude is part of what’s gotten the UK into the mess it’s in.
- gmac 3y ago
  That really isn't what I said or meant.
MagnumOpus 3y ago
> a £60K household income (two adults, no kids) still makes you better off than 88% of the population That is before taxes and redistribution though. People without income or with _de minimis_ income would get their housing cost paid (which costs £20k-£30k per year in London, i.e. 25-40k of pre-tax salary), their council tax bill paid, their TV licence fee waived, prescription and dentistry fees waived, childcare subsidised, and would get £400 of spending money per person on top for bills, food etc. Which is why people on zero income in London can afford to have 2-3 kids, but two people on £50k combined income cannot.
- codingcodingboy 3y ago
  Really? Why working then?
globular-toast 3y ago
This is the problem with basing things on people's own stories. It doesn't matter where people are in life, everyone likes more and hates less. That's why you can have two people on exactly the same income and have one claim to be in poverty while the other says they have everything they've ever wanted. The former cannot bare to think of losing any of what they have while the latter never had nor wanted it in the first place. Generally speaking it all starts when you're young. The best is having poor/tight parents. The worst that can happen is you get a poorly paying job yourself and consider this normal. But there's a strong chance you'll get a better paying job and not ever have to worry about money. The worst is having middle class parents who spend their money. Now even if you get a job as well paying, which isn't guaranteed, you'll simply have what you think is normal. But there's a strong chance you'll get a worse paying job and always struggle with money.

by gmac 3y ago

retrac98 3y ago

This “others have it worse so I'll keep quiet” attitude is part of what’s gotten the UK into the mess it’s in.

gmac 3y ago
That really isn't what I said or meant.

MagnumOpus 3y ago

> a £60K household income (two adults, no kids) still makes you better off than 88% of the population That is before taxes and redistribution though. People without income or with _de minimis_ income would get their housing cost paid (which costs £20k-£30k per year in London, i.e. 25-40k of pre-tax salary), their council tax bill paid, their TV licence fee waived, prescription and dentistry fees waived, childcare subsidised, and would get £400 of spending money per person on top for bills, food etc. Which is why people on zero income in London can afford to have 2-3 kids, but two people on £50k combined income cannot.

codingcodingboy 3y ago
Really? Why working then?

globular-toast 3y ago

This is the problem with basing things on people's own stories. It doesn't matter where people are in life, everyone likes more and hates less. That's why you can have two people on exactly the same income and have one claim to be in poverty while the other says they have everything they've ever wanted. The former cannot bare to think of losing any of what they have while the latter never had nor wanted it in the first place. Generally speaking it all starts when you're young. The best is having poor/tight parents. The worst that can happen is you get a poorly paying job yourself and consider this normal. But there's a strong chance you'll get a better paying job and not ever have to worry about money. The worst is having middle class parents who spend their money. Now even if you get a job as well paying, which isn't guaranteed, you'll simply have what you think is normal. But there's a strong chance you'll get a worse paying job and always struggle with money.