Discuss your salary

michaels

Yeah - I was torn between whether publishing would look like boasting or whether not saying meant I have no balls. I guess my 'call a spade a spade' side won over. In the past (post graduating) I have worked for 2.50 ph on building sites and packing watercress and would do so again if that was what was available.

Also tricky as I know for what I do my salary is well below average but to others it no doubt sounds like showing off to state it.

bendix wrote: »

Reminds me of bendix too.

I've never understood MSE's squeamishness about discussing income levels - we are all anonymous and this is a forum who's sole raison d'etre is money saving and income maximisation. And yet we have this English reserve about it.

On the one thread (in another part of the forum) in which people were asked to divulge their age, job title and salary, I was accused of being boastful simply because I put my own details up. I couldn't understand why - presumably people only want you to put details up if it concurs with what they themselves earn or what they consider everyone else should earn.

And here is the rub - if I put my own details on here, I'll be boasting. If I don't, I'm being hypocritical.

Go figure.

Generali

$80,000pa plus 9% super (pension) plus bonus plus a deal on a car so perhaps a little under $100,000pa. I've earned more and I've earned less.

I don't understand why English people don;t like talking about their income and I double don't understand why anonymous internet people don't like it.

Before the housing boards were split out a woman(?) was asking how much in £ notes it was reasonable for her to borrow to buy a house. I asked how much she earned. She had a sense of humour failure.

bendix

lostinrates wrote: »

You're right in a way of course.

I think I mean aggressive? whiny? pathetic?

but in an other way I really am a person behind a cyberidentity. who knows about Bendix...lol.Actually the thing is that with some people you do get glimpses into the person behind the identity lots of us communicate beyond MSE/forums now so you know names, find out you have people/places in common. Its why I, admittedly with embarrassment and regret, decline to answer some people's questions.

Fair enough. For me the internet is the internet - nothing more. It's certainly not a tool to make new contacts or friends. !!!!!! that - I don't want anymore of those.

I personally love the anonymity of the internet which is why I have absolutely no issues with outlaying deeply candid things about myself, including finances.

michaels

Much cheaper than therapy after all...

bendix wrote: »

I personally love the anonymity of the internet which is why I have absolutely no issues with outlaying deeply candid things about myself, including finances.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

I don't understand why English people don;t like talking about their income and I double don't understand why anonymous internet people don't like it.

I currently earn £35 a week. (without subtracting the insurance). I'm not shy, I've discussed salary here before, not to boast or complain but in a practical setting. Anyone who knows us can find out what DH earns, its on t'internet somewhere, The Vault or something. its not that sort of personal I'm objecting too!

in fact I think people's silence often causes a lot of unwarranted jealousy!

bendix

Generali wrote: »

I don't understand why English people don;t like talking about their income and I double don't understand why anonymous internet people don't like it.

.

Agreed. When i lived in Asia it was not only considered completely normal to talk about income, it was even considered impolite to not answer a direct question about income honestly. To be evasive on it is considered the height of rudeness.

So, in the interests of full disclosure:

My salary is £154,000 plus 9% pension payment, plus i can usually expect an annual bonus of £15-£25k. This year it was £22,000.

And I make currently make around £18-20k per annum on interest on cash savings, depending on exchange rates.

lostinrates

bendix wrote: »

Fair enough. For me the internet is the internet - nothing more. It's certainly not a tool to make new contacts or friends. !!!!!! that - I don't want anymore of those.

I personally love the anonymity of the internet which is why I have absolutely no issues with outlaying deeply candid things about myself, including finances.

But you are not totally anonymous, are you, from private messages. Presuming you are truthful!

bendix

michaels wrote: »

Much cheaper than therapy after all...

Perhaps

Sometimes it's also useful to have a forum to openly discuss money - not to boast but to test whether what you are doing or thinking of doing is a go-er or not. Easier to do with a bunch of other money-interested people, than the mates in the pub, isn't it?

I wouldn't want those halfwits knowing what I earn. It would be my round forever.

bendix

lostinrates wrote: »

But you are not totally anonymous, are you, from private messages. Presuming you are truthful!

When one engages in PMs, one does so on the assumption that what one discloses there is done in confidence.

There is an element of trust. I'd never PM anyone anything resembling anything truly helping to identify me, unless I trusted them.

wherediditallgothen

bendix wrote: »

Agreed. When i lived in Asia it was not only considered completely normal to talk about income, it was even considered impolite to not answer a direct question about income honestly. To be evasive on it is considered the height of rudeness.

So, in the interests of full disclosure:

My salary is £154,000 plus 9% pension payment, plus i can usually expect an annual bonus of £15-£25k. This year it was £22,000.

And I make currently make around £18-20k per annum on interest on cash savings, depending on exchange rates.

Would you be so kind as to post your address? I have a begging letter ready to post