Living on the UK Average Household Income

Life is tough for the 'squeezed middle'

The Average UK Household Disposable Income* is £32,300.

That’s take-home pay after taxes, meaning the rough average household income before deductions is around £42,000. Ish. (There are lots of variables…)

When we met Lynn in Maidenhead, we chatted to her about how far her money goes. She earns roughly that amount working for the Police force.

Not far is the answer.

Lynn has recently split from her ex-partner and is currently going through the process of trying to move into social housing. She’s been told by her housing officer that she needs to spend all of her hard-earned savings before she can be put into social housing.

This is causing Lynn a lot of frustration and turmoil. But her kids are the things that keep her going. Spending time with them is what gives her the energy to keep pushing against the system to fight for a better life for them.

And - as we’ve mentioned before - she does continue to buy specific brands as they act as Signifiers of Stability for her kids.

*(‘the amount of money households have available for spending and saving after direct taxes have been accounted for. It includes earnings from employment, private pensions and investments as well as cash benefits provided by the state.’)