Money Programme BBC2 9pm

[Deleted User]

I live on a quarter of that and also manage to save and have a holiday twice a year If I had 40k a year i would think I had won the pools I too live in the south east of England.Last week there was a recruitment show at a local hotel for 120 jobs in a new garden centre thats opening up nearbyin the spring, 1500 people turned up to apply, unemployment is bad everywhere even down in the southeast of england which always supposedly had lots of spare jobs .

Waxy_Bean

I found it really interesting - we live on a similar income, though our mortgage is £1100 per month (plus more in overpayments) plus childcare meaning that half our income we don't even really see. For me, it really showed that the mortgage payments made a big difference, I can only dream of the difference that not having a mortgage, or having payments of just £400 a month would mean in terms of disposable income and not watching the pennies.

VfM4meplse

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I suppose they chose £40,000 because that is supposed to be the average income

I think the average income is closer to £25k, not sure how this translates into the average household income though, with SAHPs, p/t workers etc.

midnight_express

£40K is the average net income in households where two adults are working full time. For the people in the show who had kids the £40k would have included benefits.

doire_2

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

I watched this too, I thought the 13 year old was joking, not serious about how clever she was. I did laugh at the look of horror that crossed her mum's face when the presenter suggested she get a job if they couldn't manage on the £40k a year.
My take on money & having enough is probably a little skewed, as if we can pay the bills I'm happy. Between us hubby & I take home nearly £21k, his train fares are £1500pa plus the petrol I use driving him to the station. I feel comfortable financially despite living in the south east which is not cheap & paying a mortgage of £400 a month. The list of things we don't have is pretty long, lol, but it works for us.
Hester

The programme said she looked after the family home but then the interviewer asked her if she liked cooking and she said no but cooks around 4 times a week (i think she was adding on a couple of days).
What kind of person who looks after the family home doesn't cook?

nannygladys

I havent seen the program yet but I wil watch it on iplayer, I would love to have 40,000 coming into my household but only get 10,000 and thats including benefits, I think people live 'up' to their wages and spend accordingly or overspend, it wasnt until my wages halved (last year) that I found new priorities and found that I can still manage to live on half of what I was getting, Im off to watch program so will probably comment later on.

MandM90

demelza1953 wrote: »

Re the family with private school daughter - my reaction was that its a famil with a dry soh and the daughter was obviously joking.

I agree she was joking and they all giggled, and in any case a scholarship is definitely something to be proud of. My daughter is in private education and I feel a little reverse snobbery going on when people make comments about private school education. I can only speak from my own experience but all the mums, teachers and students I've come across at DDs school are lovely people.

I thought most of the families seemed really nice. My heart really went out to the policeman and his wife with the disabled child, and to the family with triplets. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to work in a packing factory after being an architect, but hats off to him for working so incredibly hard for their family and still putting something aside for their university fees. :beer:

Seeing the comparison between the unmarried childless couple and some couples with kids it did make DW and I think "Hmmm, maybe we shouldn't have another" (let alone the fact we're both women so it'll cost thousands to get pregnant in the first place :eek:) I really liked the train driver and his wife; he seemed really on top of things and I admire him for it!

MandM90

doire wrote: »

The programme said she looked after the family home but then the interviewer asked her if she liked cooking and she said no but cooks around 4 times a week (i think she was adding on a couple of days).
What kind of person who looks after the family home doesn't cook?

Yes, I thought that was a bit strange esp. since their daughter was at school full time, now and at that age many private schools finish later than their state counterparts! Then again, each to their own; perhaps she doesn't work because she doesn't want to rather than just wanting to assume the role of homemaker!

PixieDust

*wishes she had £500 a month to spend on four meals a week, breakfasts and "socialising"* Oh happy day......:whistle:

eta - how can double glazing be a waste of money yet he wants to buy a more economical tumble drier????

*Chattie*

demelza1953 wrote: »

Re the family with private school daughter - my reaction was that its a famil with a dry soh and the daughter was obviously joking. You could virtually see the cheeky grin on her face and ironic raised eyebrow. I will admit to being jealous of the mother - as I wish I didnt have to work.

The bankrupts are presumably in the house precisely because it has no equity in it. I was counting how much of other peoples money they are spending. Make up and hairdye and lots of toys for the kids and thinking that it could be used to repay their debts a bit.

I take it the reality is you didn't hook your man of means and wealth despite your user name? Shame, good book