How much do you earn?

[Xaero]

Chicken Chaser said:

Monkeylegend said:

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

I agree also, but I also believe that we are almost brainwashed into this must have more mentality. Modern living breeds it

That's just how capitalism works. You need to obtain capital to play the game. Jeff Bezos is currently winning the game.

It's not necessarily how life works though.

The guy above earning £59k on a regular hour job where 4 bed houses average £250k has one of the best balances on here from what I can see.

I earn above the national average, but below the PH average.

[g3org3y]

Xaero said:

...the PH average.

I wonder what that would be in reality (six fig jesting aside).

[paulguitar]

What I earn is laughably low alongside some of the folks here…I like to think I have a decent enough set up though, it is VERY different to most people’s lives really.

I work 4 months on and then 6-8 weeks off, and only get paid when I am working. It is tax free due to being in international waters. I have a house that I bought in 2000, so the mortgage is now teeny at £195 per month and it will be paid off by the time I am 50 which is in three years.

I set myself a target each four month contract to save £7,000, that is after paying the mortgage and all bills back in the UK. I spend a lot of that money in my time off enjoying myself, on travel and on keeping my Jag XK on the road.

I do get a lot of job satisfaction as a solo musician and get to travel the world. Like I said, an odd life, really but I enjoy it!

[Jambo85]

paulguitar said:

the mortgage is now teeny at £195 per month and it will be paid off by the time I am 50 which is in three years.

I set myself a target each four month contract to save £7,000, that is after paying the mortgage and all bills back in the UK

I'm not expecting a Nobel Prize for pointing this out, but you do realise you could pay your mortgage off with one of those £7k chunks don't you!?

Joking aside what you're doing sounds great

[paulguitar]

Jambo85 said:

paulguitar said:

the mortgage is now teeny at £195 per month and it will be paid off by the time I am 50 which is in three years.

I set myself a target each four month contract to save £7,000, that is after paying the mortgage and all bills back in the UK

I'm not expecting a Nobel Prize for pointing this out, but you do realise you could pay your mortgage off with one of those £7k chunks don't you!?

Joking aside what you're doing sounds great

Yes, it has occurred to me, but I enjoy stuff like cigars and wine and travel too much to be quite that sensible!

[TheJimi]

Xaero said:

Chicken Chaser said:

Monkeylegend said:

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

I agree also, but I also believe that we are almost brainwashed into this must have more mentality. Modern living breeds it

That's just how capitalism works. You need to obtain capital to play the game. Jeff Bezos is currently winning the game.

It's not necessarily how life works though.

The guy above earning £59k on a regular hour job where 4 bed houses average £250k has one of the best balances on here from what I can see.

I agree.

[db10]

johnwilliams77 said:

I do wonder if any real life meetings have ever gone like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhy7JUinlu0

2008 when Lehman’s went down there were meetings like that.

[hyphen]

Brother D said:

This best sums it up

Edited by Brother D on Wednesday 7th November 19:11

[jonah35]

I used to earn more but like another poster on here who said his wife earns £300k gross but they have one holiday to Majorca per year I took a long hard look at things

As you’re younger money is often the limiting factor but as you get older it’s time

By that I mean time off work

Me and a mate of mine have just got back from holiday - he’s a pilot so has boat loads of free time so we tend to travel together and often ask our other friends etc

One of the guys that’s a ‘big earner’ just couldn’t get the time off this side of Xmas

So many folk are working so hard that they can’t have time off for holidays

Hiring a car and driving through Italy for a couple of weeks wouldn’t cost a fortune nor staying in a villa in Spain eating and drinking nice wine and laughing with friends but people don’t do it as they don’t have the time

Once I realised I was doing reasonably well on paper but one year someone in a poorly paid job had taken more holidays than me and that’s when I thought what’s it all about?

Pistonheads has been going what 21 years? So someone at 25 when it was founded would now have passed through their 20s and 30s and now be a middle aged 46 year old bloke - time can go fast and you can’t buy it back

[jimPH]

Some true words spoken.

I've been at work since July, hopefully I'll get home at Xmas, but it's not certain. The family have been out to visit which was great, but very tiring as is not ideal for us.

But I had a good time in my 20s and a fair bit of my 30s, working overseas earning a big wage has really allowed me to catch up. If I can stick at it another 10 years I'll be able to ensure my family get everything they need, maybe even retire early or get a job with less hours. It's not just about me anymore, so I'm doing this for them more than anything and that's what's driving me.

[Testaburger]

robm3 said:

.

Have my own business manufacturing height safety equipment for buildings and structures.

Sounds interesting - what kind of stuff would that be?

Not sure why it’s so taboo these days to have the wages conversation. Mine is available online with a bit of digging, anyway.

To answer the OP, about £13k a month after tax, plus a housing allowance. Company contribute 15.5% of my basic into my retirement scheme.

35yo - consider myself very lucky, but aware my employer wants to turn the screws on my package.

[red_slr]

jonah35 said:

I used to earn more but like another poster on here who said his wife earns £300k gross but they have one holiday to Majorca per year I took a long hard look at things

As you’re younger money is often the limiting factor but as you get older it’s time

By that I mean time off work

Me and a mate of mine have just got back from holiday - he’s a pilot so has boat loads of free time so we tend to travel together and often ask our other friends etc

One of the guys that’s a ‘big earner’ just couldn’t get the time off this side of Xmas

So many folk are working so hard that they can’t have time off for holidays

Once I realised I was doing reasonably well on paper but one year someone in a poorly paid job had taken more holidays than me and that’s when I thought what’s it all about?

Running a small retail business causes similar issues but often without the big pay cheque. The public expect you to be open 8am - 8pm 7 days a week. They expect replies to emails within seconds and the phones to be answered 24/7. My last holiday was 2009. I earn less now than I did 5 years ago but work harder, longer hours mostly due to increases in tax and employee benefits and wages and increased expectations from the public in terms of opening hours and communications.

This year I have taken 2 days off. One for a dentist appt and another for a funeral.

[Joey Ramone]

Testaburger said:

Sounds interesting - what kind of stuff would that be?

Not sure why it’s so taboo these days to have the wages conversation. Mine is available online with a bit of digging, anyway.

To answer the OP, about £13k a month after tax, plus a housing allowance. Company contribute 15.5% of my basic into my retirement scheme

It’s taboo because, like it it not, it’s a measure of someone’s status. Men in particular are prone to be conscious about that sort of thing.

You earn far, far more than I do. The figures you mention esentially suggest to others, if you and I were to be placed side by side, that you are cleverer, more ambitious, and more valued by those that employ you. It also suggests that you are better able to look after your family as a provider. All of these things are judgements in themselves. And people don’t like being judged negatively, or inaccurately, even though such things may have no basis in reality.

If the amount of money people earn didn’t have a loaded psychological dimension then this thread wouldn’t exist.

[Testaburger]

Joey Ramone said:

It’s taboo because, like it it not, it’s a measure of someone’s status. Men in particular are prone to be conscious about that sort of thing.

You earn far, far more than I do. The figures you mention esentially suggest to others, if you and I were to be placed side by side, that you are cleverer, more ambitious, and more valued by those that employ you. It also suggests that you are better able to look after your family as a provider. All of these things are judgements in themselves. And people don’t like being judged negatively, or inaccurately, even though such things may have no basis in reality.

If the amount of money people earn didn’t have a loaded psychological dimension then this thread wouldn’t exist.

If that’s how you feel, then it’s insecurity.

I’m sure I’m none of those things you mention when stood next to you. I make absolutely no assumptions of myself due to my earnings. Nor do I do similar about others.

To me, it’s a curiosity, pure and simple. It’s interesting to learn how the wage world works. Sometimes it’s surprising, sometimes you learn about priorities (or lack thereof), and sometimes it causes disgust (in the case of nurses/police/soldiers, for example).

Don’t overthink it. Those who do draw such conclusions about measuring-up would do so in every other facet of life, too.

In Europe and the USA, there are no such connotations about discussing salary. Perhaps if we in Britain were a bit more proactive in learning their worth, we could negotiate from a more informed position.

[TheJimi]

Testaburger said:

Joey Ramone said:

It’s taboo because, like it it not, it’s a measure of someone’s status. Men in particular are prone to be conscious about that sort of thing.

You earn far, far more than I do. The figures you mention esentially suggest to others, if you and I were to be placed side by side, that you are cleverer, more ambitious, and more valued by those that employ you. It also suggests that you are better able to look after your family as a provider. All of these things are judgements in themselves. And people don’t like being judged negatively, or inaccurately, even though such things may have no basis in reality.

If the amount of money people earn didn’t have a loaded psychological dimension then this thread wouldn’t exist.

If that’s how you feel, then it’s insecurity.

I disagree, I think he's pretty much spot on, in my opinion.

Sure, the notion may not always be correct because everyone is different but realistically, people DO judge in the way described.

[Joey Ramone]

Testaburger said:

Joey Ramone said:

It’s taboo because, like it it not, it’s a measure of someone’s status. Men in particular are prone to be conscious about that sort of thing.

You earn far, far more than I do. The figures you mention esentially suggest to others, if you and I were to be placed side by side, that you are cleverer, more ambitious, and more valued by those that employ you. It also suggests that you are better able to look after your family as a provider. All of these things are judgements in themselves. And people don’t like being judged negatively, or inaccurately, even though such things may have no basis in reality.

If the amount of money people earn didn’t have a loaded psychological dimension then this thread wouldn’t exist.

If that’s how you feel, then it’s insecurity.

.

If you found out tomorrow that a colleague of yours was being paid double your salary despite doing the exactly same job or shouldering fewer responsibilities, your anger would have little to do with insecurity on your part. In the same way that I'm secure in myself but know that others place a value judgement on my salary even though they have very little idea as to what my job entails. It doesn't bother me, but I know it exists.

[Japveesix]

Testaburger said:

Joey Ramone said:

It’s taboo because, like it it not, it’s a measure of someone’s status. Men in particular are prone to be conscious about that sort of thing.

You earn far, far more than I do. The figures you mention esentially suggest to others, if you and I were to be placed side by side, that you are cleverer, more ambitious, and more valued by those that employ you. It also suggests that you are better able to look after your family as a provider. All of these things are judgements in themselves. And people don’t like being judged negatively, or inaccurately, even though such things may have no basis in reality.

If the amount of money people earn didn’t have a loaded psychological dimension then this thread wouldn’t exist.

If that’s how you feel, then it’s insecurity.

I’m sure I’m none of those things you mention when stood next to you. I make absolutely no assumptions of myself due to my earnings. Nor do I do similar about others.

To me, it’s a curiosity, pure and simple. It’s interesting to learn how the wage world works. Sometimes it’s surprising, sometimes you learn about priorities (or lack thereof), and sometimes it causes disgust (in the case of nurses/police/soldiers, for example).

Don’t overthink it. Those who do draw such conclusions about measuring-up would do so in every other facet of life, too.

In Europe and the USA, there are no such connotations about discussing salary. Perhaps if we in Britain were a bit more proactive in learning their worth, we could negotiate from a more informed position.

I agree with your thoughts to some extent and I genuinely try not to compare myself to others and peers in terms of success/finances etc as I find I'm happier not giving a st.

However I'm sure it is a lot easier to say that kind of stuff when your earning many people's monthly wage every month. And for your age you must realise you're in a tiny percentage of of the population earning that kind of salary so understandably you're not going to be too worried about comparing yourself to others or discussing your salary.

Likewise I wouldn't be worried about discussing my Penis length with others if mine was 10", which it is, obviously, and I could say confidently "length doesn't matter, it's what you do with it etc" whilst clearly knowing that I'd never have to worry about whether length matters because I'm hung like a donkey.

[Monkeylegend]

jimPH said:

Some true words spoken.

I've been at work since July, hopefully I'll get home at Xmas, but it's not certain. The family have been out to visit which was great, but very tiring as is not ideal for us.

But I had a good time in my 20s and a fair bit of my 30s, working overseas earning a big wage has really allowed me to catch up. If I can stick at it another 10 years I'll be able to ensure my family get everything they need, maybe even retire early or get a job with less hours. It's not just about me anymore, so I'm doing this for them more than anything and that's what's driving me.

Often though it's not the money they need, especially children, they need to grow up living with their parents, not spending months at a time many miles apart.You both miss so much of the growing up process and no amount of money is worth that.

Chasing the money diverts your attention from what they and your family really need and by the time you finally settle down at home in your 50's it will be to late and you will reflect sadly on what you have missed (:

[Shnozz]

jonah35 said:

Pistonheads has been going what 21 years? So someone at 25 when it was founded would now have passed through their 20s and 30s and now be a middle aged 46 year old bloke - time can go fast and you can’t buy it back

Depressing thought. Just looked and I have been on here 17.5 years. Came across PH buying my first TVR when I was 22 and this year I hit 40. Scary in so many ways.

My views as to materialism have changed a lot, my own values as to what is important have altered massively. My views to work/life balance and how to achieve those has changed massively too.

When I joined PH I was a modestly paid PAYE wage slave and had bought a little apartment and shopping for a first proper sports car. I went up the ladder career wise and followed a prescribed path of a bigger 3 bed house and then a bigger still 4 bed house and alongside upgraded the cars to more expensive toys etc. Found myself at late 20s in a large house I didn't need that needed cleaning, garden maintaining and generally wishing I was back at the little apartment overlooking the river that I had bought when I was 21. Some years of reevaluating what made me happy and unwinding a lot of what I had created and my life looks very differently to how it once did. Going self-employed was also the best thing I ever did and I spend months abroad wherever and whenever I want as, like many, I can work wherever there is internet and it seems utterly backward now that firms that operate in my field demand staff sit in rush hour traffic to sit at a desk for company prescribed hours when there is no reason whatsoever for them to have to do so. The freedom of location and hours has changed my life hugely and for much the better.

[Countdown]

Monkeylegend said:

Often though it's not the money they need, especially children, they need to grow up living with their parents, not spending months at a time many miles apart.You both miss so much of the growing up process and no amount of money is worth that.

Chasing the money diverts your attention from what they and your family really need and by the time you finally settle down at home in your 50's it will be to late and you will reflect sadly on what you have missed (:

Others may disagree but that ^^ is something my wife/kids agree with a lot.

For me (and probably many others on here) it's programmed into you at a young age that you need a successful career/lots of money/big house/big car in order to be a good husband/dad and therefore a "success". And that means working 8-12 hours a day, spending days (if not weeks/months) away from home, My wife has constantly told me she doesn't care about the money and she would much much rather I spend time at home with her and the kids, but, psychologically, it's hard to slow down. There's always something on the horizon that you feel you need the money for, whether it's a bigger house, another BTL, saving for the kids' weddings, putting more into the pension "just in case"......

It's a bit like a drug addiction.