salary equivalencies

Today's paper (Daily Telegraph, Business Section) is talking about $2 to the £1 again, so even more dollars for your quid!

I haven't contributed to this conversation because I don't have any frame of reference as to how one would spend a salary that size... I am perplexed that the OP would agonise about it! I mean... dang what would I do with all that money?? Travel? Buy clothes? I don't know, I don't live in the same universe as the OP.

According to the tax calculator, 90k would give you 5k per month... so... maybe you spend 1500 per month on accommodation... another 500 for transport and utilities. 3k left. Maybe then you save 1000 per month for retirement and holiday. Maybe you spend 1k per month on groceries and going out to eat. Then maybe you blow 1k a month on clothes and household items.

Yeah, I guess I could work with that. Of course, if the OP wants an American style house with American style space, he would have to spend more on accommodation.

I, too, am very interested in knowing what can of work pay that much! I work in audit and financial industry and the salary based on job adverts are around 70K, tops

I think OP is a Director level position or maybe VP. Check out this link:

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/default.aspx?sortby=3&jt=2&q=&id=0&lid=2618

It also looks like perhaps the OP is talking about maintaining a suburban American lifestyle in the UK?  Huge house with a yard and nice car/cars?

I know plenty of people in the US who live that way, and can't imagine that I'm thinking of moving somewhere I'll be in *gasp* terraced housing and *GASP!!!* no car!   

I, too, am very interested in knowing what can of work pay that much! I work in audit and financial industry and the salary based on job adverts are around 70K, tops

I think OP is a Director level position or maybe VP. Check out this link:

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/default.aspx?sortby=3&jt=2&q=&id=0&lid=2618

Drug dealer??

Actually not only drug dealers, but I make a salary in that range.  Of course I have 10 years experience in call centre architecture.  There are quite a few specialized consulting areas that make that sort of money.

Also, I recently talked with an old US expat friend of mine and found out she was in that range.  She is a recruiter for one of the big consulting firms.  There are quite a few "non-director" posisitions in the UK that make > 90K.

Personally, sometimes I am embarrassed by the amount of money I make, because I do far better then my parents ever did and making that kind of money can often alienate some people, and I am nothing but a geek who got lucky.

Personally, sometimes I am embarrassed by the amount of money I make, because I do far better then my parents ever did and making that kind of money can often alienate some people, and I am nothing but a geek who got lucky.

You should never be embarassed at how much you make. I'm sure you work for it.

I think people take the piss a bit because they're jealous. I know I am.

I agree with Ashley - if I made that much, I'd be proud of it!  You obviously must do something right!    And I'm jealous too!

90K is a sh1tload of money in the UK, even in London.

Thank heavens!  We're certainly not making that much and my DH is a bond trader!!!  Makes me wonder if he's socking it away somewhere...hmmmm.  What I wouldn't do for that expendable income!!!
 

In London there is a disporportionate amount of money spent on housing from a standard US perspective.  Typically a US person spends about 1/3 of takehome on housing where as in the UK and especially London, it is typical to spend 1/2 or greater.

  I would agree with the amount of money spent on housing.  I was astonished at how expensive it truly is.  Our housing agent would take me around and point out some places that she had let in the past for about 5K per week!  GASP!!     I can't even imagine who could afford that!  Not to mention the Aston Marten out front alongside the Bentley.  Ah, but I'm a mere mortal and will just have to be be happy in my small 850 ppw house that looks like the projects with it's surrounding public assisted living buildings.   

I guess in the end I will have to quit comparing the prices (i.e just doubling the pound to see how much it'd cost me in the states).  Clothes aren't terribly bad but man, do restaurants take you to the bank! 

Actually not only drug dealers, but I make a salary in that range.  Of course I have 10 years experience in call centre architecture.  There are quite a few specialized consulting areas that make that sort of money.

Also, I recently talked with an old US expat friend of mine and found out she was in that range.  She is a recruiter for one of the big consulting firms.  There are quite a few "non-director" posisitions in the UK that make > 90K.

Personally, sometimes I am embarrassed by the amount of money I make, because I do far better then my parents ever did and making that kind of money can often alienate some people, and I am nothing but a geek who got lucky.

I wouldn't be embarrassed at all.  I wish I made that much! 

90K is upper middle class in London and f*ing rich in other parts of the country.

Hmmm.  With taxes and housing as high as they are an apparently high salary can mean little in terms of having a wealthy lifestyle.  I don't usually say so but I make about £120k and with my 4 dependents, have a lifestyle I would describe as humble but adequate.  I have a 4-bed detached in an estate in the home counties: it's big enough (just) and has a tiny garden.  I have a high pressure job, work hard and am reasonably well rewarded but in terms of material benefit it translates into not much.  I'd be careful not to overestimate how far you'll get with £90k.

mountaintroll - where do you live?  I know you said home counties but I admit I don't know what that means really? 

I am trying to get a sense of exactly what kind of money I will want to aim for to be able to live in or very close to London, supporting a family of say 2-3 plus me.

Hmmm.  With taxes and housing as high as they are an apparently high salary can mean little in terms of having a wealthy lifestyle.  I don't usually say so but I make about £120k and with my 4 dependents, have a lifestyle I would describe as humble but adequate.  I have a 4-bed detached in an estate in the home counties: it's big enough (just) and has a tiny garden.  I have a high pressure job, work hard and am reasonably well rewarded but in terms of material benefit it translates into not much.  I'd be careful not to overestimate how far you'll get with £90k.

Do you have a lot of debt?  Because, I honestly don't believe that your lifestyle can be humble, unless you have a lot of debt. 

Do you have a lot of debt?  Because, I honestly don't believe that your lifestyle can be humble, unless you have a lot of debt. 

I find this question to be very personal and not really relevant to this discussion... 

I find this question to be very personal and not really relevant to this discussion... 

Its relevant only because he's saying that the amount of money he makes only gives him a "humble" living.

He doesn't have to answer the question, but I think its something for others to think about before they listen to him.  If one is giving advice regarding wages and the lifestyle one has, debt is something to take into consideration.

I've known a couple of people who make more than he makes, but with debt they live a "humble" living as well, always waiting until they get their next wage so they can pay their credit cards etc..  My mother makes about the same as mountaintroll and has a beautiful house, goes on holidays all the time, etc...  But, she pays for most things in cash, so she doesn't have much debt to pay monthly. 

Income is a very personal subject on its own, so I didn't think commenting on debt would be any worse.