Money: Why I Hate Comparisons

Money:

Why I Hate

Comparisons

If you are a social media user, you will undoubtedly have happened upon the oft-shared post comparing the salaries of UK soldiers and professional footballers.

I absolutely despise these comparisons when it comes to their finances and feel it is most unhelpful. Let me explain why that is.

First of all, both roles are incredibly different. Soldiers are public sector workers, so their pay comes from our taxes, with the government having overall control. Footballers work in a completely different industry: entertainment combined with sport, you could say. Their wages are paid for by the clubs themselves. It is a matter of supply and demand. If footballer salaries were decreased, the UK would not attract the caliber of players from abroad and our home-grown players would choose to work elsewhere.

Secondly, it is also a case of supply and demand. Football fans demand their clubs buy the best players. To do that, high wages are necessary. Imagine a player from sunny Spain willingly going to live in scummy Sunderland (disclaimer: I am a Newcastle Fan and this comment was made in jest... just). It simply would not happen if the money weren’t an incentive.

Please do not assume that I believe soldiers are not worthy of a pay rise. That is absolutely not what I am saying, just that the comparisons are not helpful nor are they meaningful.

Comparisons, in general, when discussing money can be crude. Discussions about incomings and outgoings do not sit comfortably with me. I was taught by my parents that money should be something kept within the family and I am tempted to agree. As soon as someone tells you what they are earning, the comparison, whether out loud or in your head, is made. You may find yourself feeling quite frustrated that you hold a similar role yet your recompense is a lot less. Conversely, you could find the situation embarrassing if you recognise your job as being less stressful and timeconsuming than a colleague on a lower grade.

My advice: be assertive and change the subject when the topic of money crops up. Perhaps try to avoid football though!