Income brackets: PERCEPTIONS of low and high?

BillJones

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Ha, he's a tight git and him earning 4 times as much as me won't mean better birthday presents! I'm surrounded by rich relatives.. some of which won't even perceive themselves as rich

I noticed a strange tendency back when city money was better, and when it was ramping up very rapidly (compared to friends in other careers) in the early days, which was that people started to get resentful at me only buying the same number of rounds as everyone else, or me still expecting that a group of friends would split the bill equally.

This was not when drinking champagne from a diamond shoe, or eating finest venison and swan, just the normal drinks and food with the same friends who I'd been with before the new career, and who were all doing OK themselves.

Basically, when presented wiith someone who was (briefly) an outlier in salary terms, a lot of friends went through a bit of a socialist phase on nights out.

[Deleted User]

And i've had the misfortune of going on a stag do where I was clearly 'the poorest' (We spent £500 on a NIGHT in Milan) and I would have bloody appreciated someone buying me a drink on that night. Those guys had started life out in rich families and were the people I've previously mentioned 'have their heads in the clouds' when it comes to income.

I think i'd rather be surrounded by poor friends and family and I was the rich one!

ukcarper

BillJones wrote: »

Yes, it's high relative to the general population, but we aren't discussing the literal reality of the amount, but the perceptions of what is "enough", "comfortable" "a lot" and so on.

£100k is loads if you are a primary school teacher in Northumberland, but it's a very small amount if you are a desk head in JPM chase who lives by the office, for example.

That's not the way I understood the OP wanted to know what your perception of a high income was. The perception of what is enough for a comfortable living is another thing and it is quite possible that you could perceive an income as high but still think it is not enough to be comfortable on.

lostinrates

ringo_24601 wrote: »

And i've had the misfortune of going on a stag do where I was clearly 'the poorest' (We spent £500 on a NIGHT in Milan) and I would have bloody appreciated someone buying me a drink on that night. Those guys had started life out in rich families and were the people I've previously mentioned 'have their heads in the clouds' when it comes to income.

I think i'd rather be surrounded by poor friends and family and I was the rich one!

There is no compulsion to go to things that stretch the budget though, whether its a stag might in Milan or ....was it lunch at nobu? These are choices we make.


I'd personally say I couldn't justify an epense thst i couldn't justify but wish them a great time. We miss events for other reasons too... My health, work and money all conspire against our social 'obligations'.

I hope you enjoyed the stag night though.

lostinrates

ukcarper wrote: »

That's not the way I understood the OP wanted to know what your perception of a high income was. The perception of what is enough for a comfortable living is another thing and it is quite possible that you could perceive an income as high but still think it is not enough to be comfortable on.

That's right.


But I think exploration of the other ideas is ok too. I did say I didn't mind if the thread wandered a bit.

The best ones do, don't you think?

PasturesNew

I think a good income is £25-35k
A high income is £35k-50k
Rolling in it is £50k+

And a low income is £14-16k or under.

Between £15-25k is where I expect most people that cross my life are.

ukcarper

lostinrates wrote: »

That's right.


But I think exploration of the other ideas is ok too. I did say I didn't mind if the thread wandered a bit.

The best ones do, don't you think?

Yes I agree it would also be interesting to see peoples definition of comfortable.

[Deleted User]

lostinrates wrote: »

There is no compulsion to go to things that stretch the budget though, whether its a stag might in Milan or ....was it lunch at nobu? These are choices we make.


I'd personally say I couldn't justify an epense thst i couldn't justify but wish them a great time. We miss events for other reasons too... My health, work and money all conspire against our social 'obligations'.

I hope you enjoyed the stag night though.

They basically did everything in an expensive way. 4* hotel, £50 a head dinner, expensive wine bar, expensive taxi and coach rides. The only upfront cost was the flight and hotel. On the plus side, i was the only one upgraded to business class for the flight

I'd say it wasn't the 'cost', but the poor value. I'd have gone to cheaper, dingier bars and restaurants where more interesting stuff tends to happen. I had a right laugh in the dingy pubs we frequented on my own.

It was quite fun; but the damn thing cost more than my other brother-in-law's that involved 4 days in benidorm!

lostinrates

ukcarper wrote: »

Yes I agree it would also be interesting to see peoples definition of comfortable.

Comfortable.

I think.....

Able to meet bills with out compromising things like eating a healthy diet. Able to have a weekly treat and make reasonable pension savings..having an amount in the bank to pay for an emergency period off work (it he figure I often see on MSEis six months outgoings/salary ). Comfortable, the ability to be warm enough, clean enough, presentable in line with expectations of employers for career progression. Able to communicate in such away as to easily apply for jobs, secure them, do them and balance them with home life. Ability, to persue a leisure activity or two.


Then there are harder issues. Less brief.

lostinrates

ringo_24601 wrote: »

They basically did everything in an expensive way. 4* hotel, £50 a head dinner, expensive wine bar, expensive taxi and coach rides. The only upfront cost was the flight and hotel. On the plus side, i was the only one upgraded to business class for the flight

I'd say it wasn't the 'cost', but the poor value. I'd have gone to cheaper, dingier bars and restaurants where more interesting stuff tends to happen. I had a right laugh in the dingy pubs we frequented on my own.

It was quite fun; but the damn thing cost more than my other brother-in-law's that involved 4 days in benidorm!

I've not been to benidorm, my Impression is it is noted as a good value destination? Where as Milan is a financial centre like Paris, London or Rome.....tbh, I'd expect a different type of value and experience.