39. Parenting in 1990 vs 2025: The Brutal Money Gap

The Mama Circle

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why can’t I just cope like my mum did?” — this episode will make you feel seen.

Nat breaks down the real numbers behind the parenting struggle in 2025, comparing wages, housing, childcare, energy bills, food, holidays, and petrol costs today with those from the 1990s. Spoiler: the maths is brutal.

💥 Jaw-drop stat: In 1990, the average UK family had the equivalent of £2,870 a year in today’s money left over after essentials. In 2025? The same lifestyle leaves the average family almost £9,000 in the red.

We’re talking about:

• How wages have risen — but not enough to keep up with the essentials.

• Why two incomes are now a necessity, not a choice.

• The staggering cost of childcare (and why it feels like a second mortgage).

• The jump in everyday bills — from electricity to broadband.

• Why holidays have gone from a yearly treat to a once-in-a-blue-moon luxury.

• And all the extra emotional and mental load that our parents simply didn’t face.

By the end, you’ll see why it’s not you — it’s the system. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stop blaming yourself for not keeping up in a game that’s completely changed.

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