What is "Middle Britain"..... Interesting research

bendix

michaels wrote: »

An I the only one who is finding this a bit academic as 'Middle Britain' is not a demographic term I am really familiar with. Is it seen in wide usage? What does it signify?

It's the sequel to Matt Lucas and David Walliam's comedy extravaganza.

PasturesNew

I can only tell how much I am earning after the month's finished. Last month it was the yearly equivalent of £10k.

I guess ... I'm not ... one of "them" then.

mewbie_2

I wonder if disposable income is increasing? Given taxation, council tax, fuel bills, groceries, etc.

olly300

The term is meaningless to me.

I live in London and I know different households who fall into the category but do widely different jobs, qualifications and have widely different lifestyles.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Sorry I just had to laugh at the bit about struggling to become a member of this group of university educated families.
My husband has never been in any higher education but has worked his way up to get to the position where he could be classed as in this group.
The ironic bit to me on a personal level is that our daughters who all have university educations struggle to get anywhere near his income.
Makes you wonder if it's worth it in the long run.

olly300

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Sorry I just had to laugh at the bit about struggling to become a member of this group of university educated families.
My husband has never been in any higher education but has worked his way up to get to the position where he could be classed as in this group.
The ironic bit to me on a personal level is that our daughters who all have university educations struggle to get anywhere near his income.
Makes you wonder if it's worth it in the long run.

It's household income not individual income.

However you have illustrated why this report is bolloxks.

For example I know a administrator and a nurse who live together with 2 children, and they earn about £52K a year between them.

However I also know 2 teachers who earn about 60K between them with no children.

Both of these are middle Britain according to this survey. :rolleyes:

Pobby

Well we were there nearly 20 years ago. We earned from our business well over £50k per annum but never saw anything like it because it went back into stock. First years drawings was £13k for 2 of us, £12k was paid in income tax. Duh!

3 years ago we would have qualified as middle England on my wage but not so now, it`s the recession init and business is flatish.

treliac

michaels wrote: »

An I the only one who is finding this a bit academic as 'Middle Britain' is not a demographic term I am really familiar with. Is it seen in wide usage? What does it signify?

I think it's somewhere from 'Lord of the the Rings.'

mewbie_2

treliac wrote: »

I think it's somewhere from 'Lord of the the Rings.'

Get the Abbey Hobbit.

fc123

mewbie wrote: »

I wonder if disposable income is increasing? Given taxation, council tax, fuel bills, groceries, etc.

In the Fred Harrison book; link it does state that as income/profits increase from a saving from something else, land costs (aka housing etc) quickly absorb the extra spend.

I found the book hard work (but I may try it again) but there were some gems in it.

The above theory does add up though and I certainly felt in commercial property costs.
Though prices have fallen on most consumer products, shops have been getting bigger and bigger margins. Many own brand stores (which is now most of the High St/Shopping Centre) get mark ups from cost many times more than 15 years ago.

The theory could add up in resi too. I was looking at a cooker recently. £250. Similar model would have cost more back in 1985. Cookers used to be a major purchase...now they are the price of a pair of good boots.

We won't win.