Money, it’s something we never have enough of, right?! But it’s also something, I believe, we’re not talking enough about.
I have always been quite open about money, mainly because I have never had tons of it, so perhaps I have always felt the ‘money’ chat didn’t really ever apply to me so it was fine to be quite candid. But it is also one of the least talked about topics at the moment.
This blog, funnily enough, has always been tied to money in a glossy blog-type way. I wanted to start a website that was democratic, you didn’t necessarily have to have loads of money to be a blogger, you didn’t need the latest designer handbag and you didn’t have to be wealthy to love or understand fashion. I spent years organising tickets for Fashion shows, flying to the Caribbean for work, writing pieces on the ‘must-have’ £3,000 handbag but my reality was very different. I wanted to show the invisible side of working in fashion – despite a lot of my friends thinking I was ‘living my best life’ travelling the world, I was working for very little money (I was on £16,000 per annum until I was 26 years old) and longer hours than any of my friends.
I spent years organising tickets for Fashion shows, flying to the Caribbean for work, writing pieces on the ‘must-have’ £3,000 handbag but my reality was very different
I had a large debt from university, from taking time out to travel, and going on more holidays than I could afford, most of which I have only recently paid off. And it’s how the blog came about: yes, I like nice things and would save up to buy items with longevity (especially in regards to interiors) but I would save up for them, or do my weekly food shop in Lidl to make it happen (a lot of people on Instagram stories were surprised by our family weekly food shopping bill of £40). But equally, you don’t have to spend a fortune on everything for it to be sustainable and something you’ll love for a long time.
I wanted to take away the stigma of not having tons of money.
I must admit, I have definitely changed my stance about money = success. There probably was a time when it did mean this for me (my parents were both working class and set up a business from scratch which helped pay for my university education and never charged me rent whilst working on internships, this freedom equalled success to me and allowed me to progress into a career that could’ve potentially been out of my reach in any other scenario). But now, the more money I am privy to, it really isn’t about that at all.
So, I suppose I need to tell you what I earn, don’t I? I pay myself a salary of £30,000. I am 35 years old. I am the breadwinner. And I am the richest I have ever been. Not only because this is the highest salary I have ever been on, but also because I feel that I am in a place of comfortable debt (just one credit card of achievable payments – I am also very aware of the ‘privilege’ of the term comfortable debt!) and can see a way to start saving for the future (we currently have no pension or savings). We have enough money to pay our mortgage, nursery fees, put money in our joint account for bills and contingency and there is some leftover for a few dinners with friends (Nando’s, but still). This is still under the average London salary.
My company makes enough money to pay me more, but I honestly don’t work for the highest salary I can make for myself. I am very happy to make enough that I feel rewards my work, especially now I don’t work evenings or weekends, but the money my company brings in goes towards something bigger – paying photographers, office staff, people to help with newsletters and creating content. Being able to use money I make to help others be paid in the creative industry (which, believe me, expects A LOT of unpaid work in exchange for coverage and exposure) is something I am hugely proud of and means the atmosphere in which I work is one of positivity and empowerment (I mainly employ women, too, so that’s an extra bonus).
It wasn’t until I went freelance and had an agent that I began to understand what others with my experience were being paid, and I must admit I felt a bit of shame and low esteem
Working for myself has opened up my eyes to the world of money. Whilst working in publishing we would be told, in no uncertain terms, not to ask for a pay rise, the current climate of magazines was slippery and we should be ‘lucky’ to have a job. I also inherited my parents’ working class mentality of graft, never show up late, never call-in sick, never ask for anything or rock the boat. Hard work will get you noticed. And it did, but not in financial terms. I was seen as integral to the team but also happy with what I had, so it was never pushed. The only pay rises I received in 9 years of working were a £100 voucher after an appraisal (the voucher was for Sainsbury’s, and I was thrilled! We bought loads of food and shoved it in our freezer), or when I threatened to leave. It wasn’t supposed to be a bargaining tool, I had just had enough but miraculously the money appeared. But it was also always tied to a promotion, I honestly don’t even know how I would ask for a pay rise for doing the same job, I was just taught it wasn’t something you could do.
I wish I had read some of the articles and books that are available now about asking for what you want, understanding your worth and feeling confident with it. It wasn’t until I went freelance and had an agent that I began to understand what others with my experience were being paid, and I must admit I felt a bit of shame and low esteem. Not because I wanted more money but because I realised I had devalued myself. Always working in a recession meant I had always worked three people’s jobs (with a few on the side), so I took that mentality to freelance and almost burnt myself into the ground again by trying to be everything.
I get asked a lot by people, mainly people I’ve just met: ‘But how do you make money?’, I suppose it is a strange new career, but I often find it quite rude. It’s not that I don’t like discussing the mechanics of making money and running my own business, it’s more the accusing tone of the question, as if my ‘silly little job’ of posting pictures online isn’t worthy of a career (but perhaps that’s my own insecurities). Most people, would never dream of asking say, a doctor, or a lawyer ‘how do you make money?’ because it’s something they understand. But in fact, I shouldn’t have a problem with people asking because it is helping to open up a conversation and allowing people to understand something that they are unable to grasp.
For those who don’t understand, it is very similar to a magazine. I run an editorial platform which has readers and my advice is a trusted part of my site, I recommend products and from time to time, a brand will ask me to work with them to promote a product within a paid partnership (this is never random, and always a brand I have worked with in the past, the payment will generally be because it’s a focused post, or there is a specific product the brand want to push). These are essentially advertorials: I have creative control but will often need to gain the brand’s approval before publishing. I also earn money through my styling work: I style campaigns for brands, I write for magazines, consult for brands and sometimes create imagery for them to use on their channels.
So there are some thoughts in a nutshell. I feel that social media is starting to create another barrier between women especially, especially with money, driven by a lot of assumptions and judgements (I have, sadly, been partial to it, too) and I honestly believe the more discuss issues we face, then there would probably be less comparison and we can help each other ask for more and understand our worth.
Reading List:
Money: A User’s Guide, Laura Whateley
You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-rich, Emilie Bellet
Open Up: The Power of Talking About Money, Alex Holder
Alex, what a great post! Thank you for your transparency and leadership. I love reading your post. Wishing you every success- in its broadest sense 😉
buna! imi place foarte mult camasa. deunde poate fi achizitionata?
multumesc!
The shirt is old but Sezane often do similar ones x
This was such a great post, Alex!
I think it’s so helpful to be open and talk about money. It’s so easy to make assumptions about others, but really, I think everyone is trying to figure it out and an open dialogue helps everyone to learn from one another!
Look forward to the mini e-book!
x Brenda | Sundays and Somedays
Thank you for sharing and being so transparent. Although you didnt have to share thank you for doing it. We all have a interesting relationship with money and it has its ups and downs
Thanks and have a nice day!
Absolutely brilliant Alex at last some honest discussion. It drives me absolutely mad that some fashion sites/blogs etc assume we are able to afford very expensive things all the time.
I have 2 degrees, 3 post graduate qualifications and am a senior accredited counsellor and earn slightly more than you but as i do four days not five it works out about the same. I’m at the top of my profession as a counsellor in the third sector so this is the most i will probably ever earn.
I love fashion as you know and don’t live in London which helps make life cheaper. I am never going to spend thousands on a forever bag (or whatever) but i do want fashion journalism that speaks to me and doesnt assume that on my income I must be very young and shopping at Primark.
More honest conversations about money are a must in my view – thank you for being so brave xxx
I love this post, thanks for sharing. Recently I was at a IWD event and a financial advisor said that self care should be women looking after themselves financially. Understanding budgeting, pensions and tax, before putting a bath bomb in a tub!
This has stuck with me.
When I grew up we were told women weren’t meant to understand and it was ‘cute’ to not know these things. Don’t ask for a raise or promotion etc. Times are changing for the better.
Great post – thank you for your honesty. Do you mind me asking – as a fellow Londoner on a very similar wage – how did you manage to get a mortgage? My salary is too low to get one, despite good savings. Did you have help from parents? Thanks, and hope that’s not a cheeky question!
Hi, so I think this info will be in my e-book as it’s not so straightfroward, we did have help in gaining a mortgage (I bought it with my dad and we eventually bought him out and paid him back), but it’s also worth mentioning that we bought over 8 years ago now, prices were much lower and mortgages were more lenient! Plus we made a lot of savvy moves (without even realising it at the time!) x
Alex! Thank you for your candour and wisdom. These conversations are vital to bring about the change needed. I love all you do, keep it up and thank you again xx
Great post! Money is a subject that people don’t want to discuss, whether they are poor or rich or somewhere inbetween. I never pay full price for anything ( either sale, discount code, freebie). I shop at Lild and Aldi. We struggled so much when we were younger so I try and be careful but wasn’t as careful as I should’ve been in my 20s/30s. I still struggle but am not in debt and have some savings.
Thank you for sharing this. It really did make me feel better about how I deal with money but also where I am financially in relation to my career.
Can’t wait to hear more about what you’re working on 🙂
Bravo Alex, this is an excellent post, really honest and well written. Thank you for opening up this dialogue! I so appreciate the combination of beautiful stylish fashion and lifestyle and money saving within your posts. The fashion media so rarely seems accessible or relevant to those of us on a ‘normal’ wage, especially once children arrive and there’s even less time/money going around.
Best bloggers (sorry, I don’t even know if I should call your profession that anymore….) piece I’ve EVER read on this subject. Genuine and heartfelt and thank you for sharing it! It is this that keeps me coming back to the website year in year out. I still remember when you were decorating your first flat!
This is why you’re my favourite – you’re sincere, relatable yet aspirational to your readers and you are always ahead of everything (and genuinely so). I’m only slightly older than you but I wish I had your outlook and independent mind.
I love that you’ve written this, and I honestly could have written the same thing word for word! I ‘fell’ into PR, and yet ended up in a series of not very well paid jobs (a lot of charity PR roles) and while friends talked about bonuses, the most I ever received was a a left over t-shirt after an event I’d organised!
I now work as a Personal Stylist, after a complete career change, and am still juggling the logistics of money! Also being self-employed is an eye opener (I did that as a PR too!) and I constantly feel like ‘when I grow up’ I’ll get this money thing together. I’m now in my 40’s so expected this to happen by now!
A huge thanks again for sharing this – so fantastic to read such honesty… xx
Must admit I was prepared not to like your post but I did. I always thought you must be an ‘I earn 70K and I’m poor’ person. I couldn’t afford most of your clothes and I couldn’t do house renovations like yours but I’m still a bit in awe now. I’m amazed to hear this given the products you use. I earn 23K for the NHS and I’m over 40. It’s not going to get much better. I am a single parent with 2 almost adult children – university – but still I have to support them to a degree (get it?). I send money when I can, pay for fares home, help with the deposit for rents (wondering if I’ll get them back) and of course I pay the gas/electric/tv/every other bill for running a 3 bed house. The national average is 27K so I’m below. I’m trying to say I’m glad to see a real person there and that you do understand the ‘struggle’. I’m glad you aren’t caught in the money only mold.
As someone who has read your Blog since your very first posts, my admiration & respect for your ethos & transparency has only grown stronger over the (7!) years.
You are, IMHO, one of a rare & special few Bloggers that have never compromised your integrity & always put your readership & honesty before your own financial gains. You have earned trust & loyalty alongside your salary; that cannot be quantified in numbers.
Thank you for sharing these insights, as ever.
What an honest and genuine post Alex well done I look forward to reading what you are creating and I don’t think you should have to justify a fee for this it is your thoughts and content just the same as a published book and subscribers have that option to purchase only if they want.
Alex you’re the only blogger to whom I’ve signed up for a newsletter and I think for once my instincts have been spot on. This is one of the most interesting and challenging things I have read for a long time. Also slightly uncomfortable.
I enjoy social media but it is driven by a veneer of pretend or assumption as you describe it. It can be demoralising if you’re not feeling robust. I never ever get that from your feeds. I have genuinely learnt stuff from you. Looking forward to your thoughts about money.
Hi there, just really want to say ‘Thanks.’ Your honesty is refreshing and I think it’s great to open up this conversation about money and women who earn money. How else are we going to get rid of that pay gap if we don’t talk honestly about the wages and work life balance and what success really looks like to us as Individuals. There is room for everyone to achieve and find a place that feels right for them whatever their personal choices. I do also have that question ‘how do you make money?’ But not in an accusing way more genuine curiosity. How marvellous that the internet has provided you with the power to create something that provides for your family, achieves a desired work life balance, makes you and, in turn, us feel so much more empowered. You’ve clearly worked very hard and continue to do so! More power to you dear lady! Again thanks xxx
I found this really interesting – thank you. I wish there was more transparency about wages in some industries. I used to work in an art Gallery & was paid far less than my peers – partly because I was told there was never any money for a raise & partly because I always felt I couldn’t ask others what they were paid so only found out later how underpaid I was. I wish I had been braver back then to fight my cause more.
Yes, I was always told there was no money, and I think a lot of big companies use it as a default excuse, when I know for a fact there were about 30 people with ‘vice presidency’ roles at my work, so there was definitely money somewhere!
Really honest, made a refreshing read
What a great post! I love how honest you are, coupled with really interesting and relevant content. I’m probably one of your very many ‘silent’ readers who enjoys reading your blog but would never normally pipe up but I just felt I had to say well done and thank you.
I’m so glad you wrote this 🙂 It makes me happy to see more and more money posts pop up on mainstream outlets like The Cut, Refinery29, and on popular blogs like yours. Money is that weird thing that everybody wonders about, but no one talks about. What the heck?
The first time I found out I was underpaid was by chatting with my male co-worker. I found out he got a higher starting salary than me, even though I was the better worker (I became his boss later). All he did was ask. Meanwhile, I didn’t think I had any leverage to ask for more. Like you, I had undervalued myself. Negotiating wasn’t for “people like me.” I told myself I’d never let that happen again. So I’ve negotiated ever since.
Anyway, that instance was just one example on how talking about money led to positive things. And it was important that I talked money with a peer–someone I could relate to. If I had someone from above lecturing me about what I should do it would have gone in one ear and out the other. Yet another reason why people are so thirsty for this information from bloggers they can relate to.
Hi, this is the best blog post I’ve read in a long time. Thank you so much for your honesty. I live and earn very much like you do and I’m in my early 50’s. Neither myself or my husband have ever had high earning jobs but we are careful with our money so we can afford to pursue the things we love and have the home we want. Honestly it’s so brave of you to talk about it and reveal your income. It will be very heartening to many people and also I love how you choose to empower people with some of the income you make. Very inspiring. Well done, for sharing and thank you for writing about it 🙂
Brilliant post. A breath of fresh air too. Thank you for sharing it x
Thank you for being so open on this topic Alex! ?
Thanks so much for writing this Alex, you are one of my favourite people on the internet.
One question that would help me as a self employed person who is always trying to work out what to pay myself. When you say you pay yourself 30k is that 30k of salary/dividends etc or the equivalent of a 30k salary if you were in a job (ie tax and NI would come out of it)?
Thanks again and keep doing what you are doing x
I pay myself through a mixture of dividends and salary but the equivalent of £30k from a salary in a job and I put away 25% as soon as it goes into my account and that separate bank account isn’t touched (unless I need to pay for something like a carpet and sometimes borrow and put it back! Naughty but needs must sometimes) x
Alex, I could not love this (and you) any more! I love how frank we’ve always been able to be about money, where we spend it and where we don’t (when no one else ever seems to talk about these things). Like you I really, really, really had to work for my own money and will never take it for granted. I am so grateful to be in a position where I can be independent, but also find myself falling trap to a bad case of social media status comparison (when I see others with huge houses and expensive holidays every other month) and have to remind myself that just because someone earns a lot more does not mean they are any happier.
Thank you so much for always talking about this, and I cannot wait for the e-book!
Briony xox
Great post Alex and thank you for your honesty! Money is such a taboo subject but it should be discussed.
I agree on having the mentality of working hard, doing the best you can, drive results and not ask for a higher pay as that’s what you can’t fathom on that idea. It’s something I struggle with as well and how I value my worth.
Alex, this is the first tine I read your blog post and it was great! I understand how difficult it is to make a living and be a freelance but I appreciate your transparency…. to be fair sometimes I look at other influences and wonder why brands approached them not you (e.g. the bathroom tiles that one influencer was inspired by after seeing it on you feed and then got them for free from the brand… I know it might sound silly but it is a big thing)….. I understand that tou don’t always scream and shout about ‘reserch’ for the house improvements prior to buying stuff in order for brands to approach you and that’s why I value your opinion, judgement and your interior taste! Thank you for sharing and being so open?!!!
I loved to read this, it’s not often that you get to read such an honest post about money. Thank you! It’s so amazing that you can pay yourself a salary, I cannot wait to reach that point in my business.
I also just subscribed to the updates about your budgeting book. It’s a skill I’m trying to refine lately as I’ve gone a bit too far with treating myself. But I’m proud to say I just did a weekly shopping today that I haven’t done in months 🙂
What a great topic for discussion. I just listened to a fantastic podcast focusing on ‘Women’s Confidence’ which touches on similar workplace issues, its worth listening to if you have a chance.
https://www.podcastone.com.au/episode/Overcome-the-confidence-deficit-with-Jamila-Rizvi
Great post Alex, it’s so refreshing for someone to be open and talk about money. I earn a similar amount to you since going back 4 days after maternity leave. A pay cut + nursery fees (and a London mortgage) means we really have to budget now and I do sometimes have to be honest with friends and say sorry but we can’t afford to go out. However we have enough and we’re happy and I think money can’t buy that!
I think this is so important to talk about, thank you so much for discussing this on a public platform. I am currently looking to change jobs as I am under valued where I work but a highly valued member of the team. It is so difficult to ask for a payrise but I know if I hand in my notice they will offer more. Companies should value their staff more, and it needs to be talked about!
Thank you very much Alex, for giving this topic a voice.
Thank you Alex for your candour! I also feel strongly about this topic – we should be open and talk about this more. I highly recommend Worry Free Money (its a Canadian book but the same principals apply) as well – it literally changed my life and I tell everyone I meet about it! Love your content and newsletters 🙂
Thank you – will look it up! xx
I love this blog for so many reason but mostly your honesty. I agree more women need to talk about money and get rid of any assumptions/judgements we may have. Thank you so much for your transparency.
Great post, thanks Alex. I can imagine it must have been hard writing such personal information. I don’t think I could be that brave and candid! With regards to your salary, I’ve been a reader of your blog for years and what really strikes me is that you could probably earn lots more by taking on more paid assignments with different brands, and yet you turn down any that don’t resonate with you in order to maintain the integrity of your advice and preserve your readers’ trust. It must be hard to turn that money down each time but it is definitely recognised and appreciated. You absolutely deserve every success and I’ll definitely be in the queue for the ebook x ps you have a beautiful home and family
Thank you so much – part of my job is navigating ads and deciding which projects are right for me, as is part of any business (especially ones that rely on trust) x
I used to balk at the idea of spending over £100 on an item of clothing. Reading fashion blogs has made it seem normal and acceptable and subsequently has caused me to get into debt. I am an intelligent women yet I am shocked at how easily I have been influenced by fashion bloggers and buying into the idea that I need a new outfit every week. Thank you for being honest about your money and spending. It is quite refreshing and I hope other fashion bloggers will follow suit.
Yes and I think that’s why ‘gift’ is such a great formality now, I have been given clothes as gifts for years, not trying to be ‘showy’, it has always been how this industry works – and it is almost like a bonus, and as you can see it is instead of money and my wage never quite caught up to it….so not all bloggers are paying £100 on a blouse every time – it’s important to distinguish that it is a blogger’s job, not necesarily their lifestyle x
Amazing post and really honest. When so many of us think we are ‘behind’ our peers and trying to attain it’s so easy to get caught up on money and numbers. Thank you for creating a discussion on this- we all need to talk more about it and make these conversations normal. My husband and I are in a similar position – our daughter is almost two , we have childcare commitments, a mortgage. We both are earning around the same as you (while many of our peers seem ahead – annoying that my brain goes there!) but because we are frugal we have been able to build a lot to be proud of. x
I honestly was so much happier when I stopped comparing myself to peers and just look at Chris and think ‘I’m happy’ – we never go out for fancy meals or luxury holidays (unless I get invited on a press trip, and it’s never with my husband!) but we are so lucky in so many ways! xx
Thank you for this! And especially for including actual figures.
Thanks Alex, brilliant and valuable post on a conversation most people are not willing to have.
As always a well written post!
Your honesty and transparency is one of the main reasons I follow you (that and your sense of style). I know you will be investing in a cost effective way, and you’re in it for the long haul.
I think it’s important that we are reasonably honest about wage levels, because that may help women ask for their worth, rather than making do!
I find that people often make the wrong assumption about other people’s income. I know someone who thinks we earn more as a couple than they do, but while the balance is different, I reckon we earn about the same. The difference is the choices we make. (Four kids, two cars and an expensive 5 bed, 4 bath house versus no kids, two cars (this only within the last 6 months), and a 3 bed, 1 bath house). While I could always spend more money, it’s about living within our means, buying the best quality we can afford and not taking out loans (except the mortgage, which is unavoidable). My husband jokes that not buying plastic bags when we shop (you have had to pay for them in Denmark for at least 20 yrs) is how we afforded our second car! I think there may be more than a grain of truth in that!
I find conversations about money fascinating and I wish people were more open, so thank you. I’m really impressed and slightly bewildered/anxious (about myself!) that you manage to do all your food shopping, pay for nursery and mortgage etc, and buy nice clothes, paint for your house etc on £30k. I earn £40k and my husband earns £45k, we pay mortgage and full time nursery, spend about £50 a week at the supermarket (hungry 3 year old and baby) and save a little, and I never really feel I can afford anything much after that. I mean, I have lots of coffees and cakes (too many..) but hardly any ‘self’ purchases like makeup or clothes or even nice wine! I consider us really fortunate and we have a nice life but I’m so interested that you are managing the same on much less. How HOW?!
I feel the same! We’ve only just started paying for nursery this month…but looking into putting it through our company as think you get a certain amount of hours tax deductible (need to look into it more!), I can put some clothes I buy through work as it’s my job, and I have been out about 3 times since having Peggy! But I’m happy with that xx
Thanks for sharing and being so open, I relocated to be nearer home and my salary dropped by over half, was having a hard time adjusting and realising money doesn’t equal success and not link it to my self esteem.
Oh I think it is so hard not to compare, not only to others but to ourselves, or even the salary we feel we ‘should’ be on or that we were told was normal by a certain age!
Thank you for this candid post, looking forward to purchasing the ebook!
Great post. seeing as commenters seem to be measuring themselves against your declared ‘salary’, it would be great if you could clarify whether that salary includes the value of all the PR gifts you are sent and keep that mean you don’t have to buy things yourself (kids clothes being an example). Or is that additional income? Thanks!
I buy a lot of my clothes, and baby clothes, brands send me stuff occasionally but these are ‘extra’, I don’t rely on someone sending me a babygrow so my daughter can be clothed for nursery – hope that clarifies?
Hi Alex! What an honest and open post – THANK YOU(!) for sharing and talking about a topic that is so personal. It is such an eye-opener to get insight into the reality of life behind all the glamor and gloss of working in the fashion industry.
Great post! Very informative and transparent. Thank you x
Great post. Your honesty is so refreshing. I’ve read the new buzzword for social is ‘authentic’ and I don’t think you can get more authentic than your thoughts and feels captured in this post.
Oh yes: authentic, relatable, honest, relevant ! x
Great post. Thanks for starting a conversation on this topic and being so honest. I also worry about women not taking financial responsibility when in a relationship (I know a lot of friends who leave the ‘money stuff’ to their partners!) or who aren’t honest with each other. Personally I think personal finances should be introduced in school then the topic will be the norm, thanks again
I completely agree it needs to be discussed in schools! xx
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Love everything about this post Alex!
Just brilliant!! I absolutely love all of your content because you are super stylish, but the substance is at the core and really appreciate the open and honest approach you have. I’m also the bread winner and that can make things hard, especially when planning for a baby. It’s so lovely to see representation of how things can be done despite financial constraints. Thank you Alex xx
Alex, I appreciate and salute your honesty and integrity. Long may your business florish!
Great post! Me and my husband have similar values of work ethic and due to some savvy saving are able to live off our modest wages and do up our house. We also shop at Lidl and I often am flabbergasted and also fascinated by people’s food shops. I guess it helps that we don’t drink much… as the wine racks up the price. We often sell stuff we don’t need to get cash to buy paint or something for the house. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, there are so many factors that get forgotten….I don’t drink, I sell stuff all the time! Old phones, laptops, clothes, do carboot sales regularly x
Alex, I tried to reply to your reply to me (about putting nursery through your business) and for some reason I can’t actually click on ‘reply’. So, here is a new comment in response to your earlier reply… I do ‘Tax Free Childcare’ through the government gateway. So so worth it! And much more straightforward than Childcare Vouchers used to be. You pay the nursery through a government gateway account – you put in a certain amount and the government tops up and then you pay direct from there. We literally save a couple of hundred pounds a month.
Okay amazing! Thank you x
I so appreciate your honesty around money on all your platforms, whether that’s to do with fashion or (especially for me) around your home and the work you’re doing on it — making clear that you can’t just wave a wand to achieve a picture-perfect space, that it’s a process over a long period of time because you’re not Mr Moneybags, that you’re doing lots of the DIY yourself in order to move it forward, etc. Home ownership and interior design are a lifelong interest for me but long deferred (I’m a wary London renter) and I feel like I’m learning a lot, and living vicariously, through your own journey through the process!
I think this is an excellent article and I hope that one day you can be flattered by people asking how you make money, in a British back-handed sort of way.
I wish you every success with your e-book, you deserve to make money from your hard work and sharing your knowledge. I love your mentality towards spending, your interiors style and am sure there are lots more e-books in you.
Yes, I need to change my outset!
Really great post albeit a little bit defensive “if you’re here for free content go through my archives for the last 7 years”. Not sure if you’ve had lots of negative comments in the past which has had an impact but I’m sure the majority of people wouldn’t expect you to essentially write a book and get it for free. I have often wondered how bloggers earn enough money, only in the sense that its not a conventional job like a “lawyer” nothing more than that. I’m all for money advice and tips (whether written by a blogger or renowned author) and will be purchasing.
Yes, I regularly get messages from people enraged that they have to buy tickets to events, blogger that ‘sell’ content etc – a LOT of people expect to read content from me for the last seven years and then feel very happy to say they’re ‘disappointed’ that I do ads, it’s sadly a huge part of our industry x
Fantastic post thank you for sharing. I love reading your posts and your ways of saving and investing in things for the long term. I am the same age as you and most of my career worked as a graphic designer within the retail sector. It didn’t pay well but I enjoyed my job. Due to the recession and the retail industry suffering so much pay increases never happened and it was more a feeling of “we were lucky to have a job” although moral was difficult at times. There were so many redundancies and restructures.
I also love following your renovation work. My husband and I are doing a huge amount of work on our house and our weekends and evenings are much like yours in that its spent on the house. I think your patience for all the painting you’re doing is amazing and giving me encouragement for when we get to that part!! Also, totally appreciate juggling a baby and renovation work…its not easy as we have the same. Looking forward to buying your budget guide….I haven’t received an email to confirm my email address so I hope its worked. Looking forward to your next post!!
Very interesting and useful. Was also going to ask how it was possible to have bought in London on your salary but someone already has. You have obviously worked hard but your golden ticket is that you have parents who live in London who you could live with whilst you interned and who were able to help you with house purchase. So again really highlights issues for aspiring young people who do not live in London and who do not have family to help out. It does make me worry that London becomes an echo chamber, with little diversity. You are very lucky .
Yes completely! This is isn’t a ‘you could do this too’ post, it’s a candid personal experience piece…I am absolutely aware of the privileges I have had, but also aware of assumptions people make of everyone online x
I love your honesty and integrity. Thank you for putting this topic out there. It’s so important to talk about and think about, and there shouldn’t be any shame (especially for women) in being open and educated about this.
I also love your website! I’ve been reading it for many years (as some of my woredrobe will reflect) but felt compelled to comment now.
Well done you, for everything you do.
Thank you so much, this is much appreciated x
Alex, thanks so much for this! I’ve been reading your blog/work in some form since I was a teen (22 now lol!) and I am so glad I discovered it when I did as you give such fantastic and empowering advice that I’ve always carried with me. As someone about to enter the big bad world with 45k of uni debt it is really inspiring to see another woman making life work financially whilst also always looking chic. Much love! X
Oh thank you so much – my uni days were before the fees went up so dramatically, it is really crazy. I’m glad I can help empower x
Hiya, I liked this post but I do struggle a bit with the PR samples/gifts. I agree that this is a job, you need paid and it shouldn’t be an issue whether that is in cash or products – it certainly doesn’t bother me and I think transparency is always key. However it does skew things a bit – over the last few weeks I’ve seen a mirror appear from Next, PR make up samples from fairly high end brands etc. While these would rarely appear on people’s essential spending, I think it does fall into the aspirational category of spending, and to say that you do all that on £30k isn’t really the case – I think you would need to add the value of those things to your salary (a bit like when a company would include healthcare, company car etc when calculating a package being offered to an employee). I think that would help people to understand what it is you do – you provide a service to a brand, they pay you!
That sounds so critical, but hopefully you’ll take my word for it that it’s not really personal, just a point I wanted to make. I think what you get across really well in this post is that by actively managing your money, prioritising and being respectful of what you have, you can stay in control while having a lifestyle that you enjoy. And you’re clearly a grafter, and I am very inspired by your commitment to paying others. It could be very tempting to just reap the rewards yourself! That actually had more of an impact on me than the stuff I’ve mentioned above, as does the fact you have done so much work yourselves in that house. Well done and hopefully you’ll get some time to relax in it soon!
I completely undertsand and I hear you. I will probably go into this in my e-book but for now, this post is about normalising the discussion of salaries x
Thank you for your honesty and positivity! I was 30 and on £23,000 per annum as a curator for a major London museum and it took a surprise pregnancy for me to ask for £30,000 and I got it. I gave valid reasons and benchmarked it with similar jobs, I feel silly for not asking before and was told I would have got it if I had. I think we just need to open up communication about salary and it would be so much easier
Great blog post. Follow you on Insta but have never read one of your blog posts.
I’m 46 and earn just shy of £30,000 as a F/T lecturer with a post grad degree. This too is the most I have ever – and probably will ever – earn and I run a department so unless I want to go into management, which I don’t, this is it for me as we don’t get pay rises anymore. Love my job though.
My two girls are teenagers now and I had no shame in buying most of their clothes from NCT sales when they were babies and toddlers. I earned so little then working part time. I still shop in charity shops and most clothes are bought from eBay as I adore TOAST and you can get such bargains.
Keep up the fab work ⭐️
Great post!
Love this. Talking openly about salaries is so frowned upon! My company recently sent out a job advert (for a job that quite a few of us are also doing) and offered a much higher salary than we are all on. They assumed we wouldn’t see the advert or that we don’t discuss our salaries with each other (ahem, we do!) We created a little uproar about this, and appraisals came early. I went in and told them I felt undervalued etc. They were shocked by this and had assumed I was happy having never complained before. Lo and behold they found some more money to pay me. Lesson learnt!
Yes! This is amazing.
Thank you for sharing this Alex, love your honesty and truly value your sentiments.
I work as a freelance branding designer and have always been open about how much my rate is when other freelancers ask. Some are secretive but I’ve always thought that if we’re not open about it, the industry or clients will try to take advantage and it’s in our interest to make sure we’re being paid fairly.
I think to charge for your book is a great. If it’s anything like your archive, it will be more than worth it. Have you ever read anything by Paul Jarvis? He is a designer that talks a lot about money and creating his own products (courses, books) that you might find interesting.
No! Thank you, sounds great – will look into! x
How did you get a mortgage for a property in Wood Green and even afford to save for renovations on 30k? I am genuinely curious as I earn similar and the banks just laugh!
Lots of factors – I actually did a post on why we moved to North London – we made equity on our flat mainly – and will go into detail in my e book x
Brilliant post!!! And well done on the house ? you’re doing an amazing job ?
Such a good post Alex thanks. I had a very similar upbringing and knowing I was earning more than my parents meant I also found it difficult to ask for a raise (which also always went with a promotion and more work!). I even had to put together a business case for why I deserved more money. Now, being a freelance writer, it’s even harder to up my rate as you become a commodity, with hourly rates compared with others. So it feels difficult to prove why you’re worth more. But thanks for opening the conversation. And I think it’s great that you’ve explained how being a blogger can make money – while it may be rude to ask, I think it comes from a place of not understanding and curiosity. Our children probably won’t even wonder, it’ll all be so normal to them!
This is so refreshing, I love it! While most of my friends chased big city jobs with fat salaries but ridiculous hours, I always wanted to do something I enjoyed whilst being comfortable which sometimes made me feel that I must lack ambition but now I am confident with my decisions and happy with my lot!
thank you for raising this issue! I needed that , living in an expensive area of south England makes you think everyone earns more money and has bigger houses than you and you end up thinking about money all the time . also find it refreshing when someone admits they have or had a lodger so they could pay the mortgage. we should all be a bit more honest about these things. i love budgeting and a bargain so I can then buy our family a nice holiday, treat etc. a bit like you!
btw i also love the How I spend it series on the Guardian. Count me in for your money book/app! xxx
I think this is very interesting. I assume, although perhaps I’m wrong, that there are lots of things which other people might pay for, but which get as gifts/ payments in kind – clothes, accessories, make-up, baby kit, mirrors, soft furnishing, furniture, paint, tiles… I wondered if you have calculated the value of this, and how it corresponds to salary that you don’t need to pay yourself to have the nice things that you have? I say this not accusingly – it’s a choice that you have made to earn in this way and all credit to you for leveraging your skills in this way – but because some people might think that £30k is enough money to afford your lifestyle in Lonond and of course, it isn’t.
I am going to go into this in my e book, as there is to much to discuss here. I get product to do my job as an editor a lot of the time, they are non essentials though and usually part of a paid project which are necessary to do my job. This post, specifically, is about normalising talking about our salaries so I am focusing on that here. But yes, when I was on £16k a year, buying some shampoo at the office beauty sale for 50p instead of £3.99 really did help me out x
How refreshing to read such an honest piece of writing about money in the creative industries. There is sooo much smoke and mirrors around this subject that really doesn’t help anyone. I bet it was an uncomfortable post to write but thank you for writing it.
Great post Alex. It’s such an important conversation we should all be having. Sorry to sound trivial but I love the larger abstract print on your office wall. Who’s the artist please? Thank you
Not at all! The pink and blue one? It’s by Paper Collective x
This is so good to hear! Talking about money has always made my anxiety worse but reading this has made me feel so much better. I now realise that I’m actually doing ok. I wish more people were as open about it!
Thank you so much for being bold enough to post this. As a single mother of two teenagers working full time in the City, I often feel I am not earning / providing enough and am struggling to pay off debt / save. Your views on how you measure ‘success’ has made me readjust my own thought processes and see that I am hugely successful in holding down a job, running a home and keeping reasonably sane as a consequence of the teenagers. Cant wait for your e-book to be available, it’s definitely something I can justify spending my ‘free’ cash on!.
🙂
Oh this has made my day! xx
I’m new to your blog and really enjoy it! Thank you!
Your overalls are adorable–where are they from?
Thank you – H&M but old x
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an honest and open post Alex. As an actor I only really feel uncomfortable about money because of the judgment people very often have (as you know). But I completely agree it’s something we need to be more open about. I’m very interested in reading more when your book is out 🙂 x
thank you for this article! Admirable courage and straightforwardness to deal with a topic that nobody wants to talk publicly about. Thank you for encouraging women and showing your example! 🙂
Love your posts Alex. Very honest in a world where we don’t see that and true to yourself which is absolutely integral in this day and age. My mum always said, you get out what you get in – you deserve everything that comes your way. Have a look at Sugar Mamma on youtube – I think you would like her minimal money style… S x
Thank you – will check it out! x
I started out in fashion too. I remember running social media at Monsoon in 2011 for £18,000. It wasn’t enough to pay my rent, student loans, credit card debt and food. I had to jump ship to private education, which doubled my salary. I always felt sad about giving up my dream to work in fashion, but I physically couldn’t live on that money (my Canadian student loans were $65,000 at 5.2% interest, and that was a government student loan 😱). I learned all my financial lessons when I moved to London and just could no longer “wing it”. It’s taken me until age 31-32 to get totally in control of my finances and future. You might want to read the book The Little Book of Common sense Investing by Jack Bogle. It basically covers everything you need to think about in terms of investing for the future, conceptually at least. Great blog post, I will subscribe.
Thank you for this – I will take a look! Yes fashion jobs are often seen as so glamorous, but the reality is often so different! xx
Just read the post about money – I know, late to the game..
Found it really interesting- gonna pass it on to my 21 year old daughter who has left uni with a 1st class photojournalism degree and is struggling to find her place. It’s a world I don’t understand, so have found it hard to give the right advice Well done you x
1st class – wow, what an achievement! I think social media has really allowed creatives to flourish in an often misunderstood world! It’s so lovely to be able to make a career out of something she enjoys! xx
Great post. It is very helpful. Thanks for sharing