[blue_cookeh]

I can't help but feel the only way to achieve a middle class lifestyle in the UK at this point is to be a couple (alongside realistic expectations around housing location, too many people are hell bent on London for some reason). As a single person, getting on the property ladder and keeping your head above water on £60k would be difficult, yet as a childless dual income (DINK) couple it's a comfortable life in the Midlands or North of the country. If you add children to the mix, suddenly it's very difficult again.

The tax burden is insane nowadays. The 40% bracket is frozen at an insanely low level until at least 2028 AFAIK - it's hugely demoralising to know that anything I earn outside of my day job is taxed at 40% unless I want to squirrel the money away into a pension or buy shit I don't need to reduce my tax bill.

[robertlagrant]

This is a great summary of my feelings as well. We're trying to be a single-earner family, and it's punishingly difficult due to the tax rules. My spouse basically needs to get a job just to take advantage of the tax rules, as her getting £20k/year job is the same as me getting a £45k/yr pay rise.

[contextnavidad]

Midlands is the way to go honestly, great transport links to the whole country, great nature, very cheap living.