Am I really that bad for feeling a little bitter when I hear someone is struggling when they make 3x the amount you do?

Answered

I know. I know. I'm a terrible person. And we're all struggling in our own unique way. And far be it from me to judge someone when I haven't walked a day in their shoes. And I know, we shouldn't be tearing each other down in days like this. And yes, I know it's not a game of whos suffering the most.

But I can't help but question how? when I read someone is struggling when they make 30, let alone 40, k a year. And i am to understand thats somehow not even that much money.

I'm in my early 30s and I know, maybe, 5 people who make that much? I sometimes make 1400 a month. Sometimes. Most of the time it's closer to 13. I know thats a rather low wage, but it's all I can get.

I can't buy nice things every month, but that's never been a thing in my life anyway so I don't know to miss it.

It just... it makes me feel a little bitter, knowing that my life would be way more comfortable on just a fraction of what these people earn, and can't help but wonder if they're squandering their money on lambos or something each month.

Am I really a bad person for feeling like this?

EDIT: A whole bunch of you for some reason believe this is way deeper than it is. I'm not quite sure how to put across what a "little bit bitter" is in terms of feelings, but it's not much. Maybe a level above apathy I guess? Which isn't all that much.

Anyway, thank you to the people that offered some helpful insight without being pointlessly vitriolic. You deserve the world. Question answered.

in AskUKby ACalcifiedHeart

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9mo

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eeveeyeee

9mo

£30,000 might be a lot to you but not as much to the woman whose husband is sick and needs dialysis 3 times a week so can't work, who pays nearly 1k a month in rent and then childcare on top of that. That same woman has to spend two evenings a week caring for her dad and another evening trying to beg the nursing agency to keep his daily care free even though they've assessed it as non-essential based on a 5 minute assessment on one of his good days. The six year old needs swimming lessons and is on an 18 month waiting list for a speach therapist. They'd find a pivate one if they could afford it. There's no question of sending her on the school trip to the zoo unless the school offers a discreet grant for under-priveledged kids. Unfortunately £30,000 brings them over the elegibility so they're going to have to ask Santa for the ticket this year.

Let's say they live in Bradford.

£30,000 is £23,850 after tax. Lets round that up to £2k, factoring husband's measly UC/PIP.

£980 goes to rent. https://24housing.co.uk/3-bedroom-house-to-rent/

Nursery for a baby is £1,100 (they're now already overbudget). Grandma steps in as a part time babysitter, so they can fortunately cut this in half = £550 https://www.bitc.org.uk/news/weekly-childcare-costing-some-parents-more-than-half-of-their-take-home-pay-new-analysis-shows/

A cheap weekly food shop for a family of four is £100. The nursery doesn't accept reusable nappies and mum has to work so the baby needs formula, adding another £40 to their shop. Thid isn't a family who buy ready meals and frozen pizzas. They're functionally vegetarians because they can't afford meat. 140 =£600 per month pp

Utilities are on a pre-payment metre. Even rationing, it costs them an average of £160 a month. £200 when you include council tax. https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-cost-gas-electricity-bill-uk-household

They're now on -£330 a month.