£60k salary. £22 left each month.
Hey Jude,
I’m a Regulatory Strategy Manager at an energy company in the UK, earning £60k.
On paper, I should be fine. I’m not.
Most months, I’m left with very little. Last month it was £22.
A big part of my income goes to supporting my parents in Kenya and my younger brother at university here in London. I’m the eldest, and culturally, this is what you do. It’s expected.
I didn’t question it before. They sacrificed a lot for me.
But now I’ve got a family of my own, another child on the way, and rising costs everywhere. It’s starting to feel unmanageable.
What makes it harder is how invisible this is at work. Colleagues on similar salaries live very differently. When I asked about a pay rise, I was told my salary is standard, and questioned on why I send money abroad.
It made me realise this isn’t just financial. It’s cultural, and it’s not understood in corporate spaces.
So I’m stuck.
Do I keep pushing for more money?
Do I set boundaries with my family, even though that goes against how I was raised?
Or do I accept that this is just how it will be?
How do you navigate this without feeling like you’re letting someone down?
Milo
Hi Milo,
A lot of the messages I’ve been getting recently are about money. Yours stood out because it reflects something many Black professionals carry, but rarely say out loud.
Globally, migrants send huge amounts each year to support family. Many send around 20% of their income, sometimes supporting more than one household.
There’s a name for it. The “black tax”. The expectation to support family, shaped by culture and sacrifice. It can feel like a privilege. It can also feel like pressure.
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Many Black professionals will recognise this immediately. It’s just not often spoken about in spaces like work.
At work, none of this is taken into account.
Salaries are set against the role, not your responsibilities outside of it. So when you ask for more, you’re being compared to people who aren’t carrying what you are.
You’re trying to honour where you come from, while building something sustainable for where you are.
Here’s where I would start:
1. Get clear on your numbers and get support
Know exactly what’s coming in and going out. Then speak to a financial advisor who understands your situation. Not just budgeting, but structuring how you support family without leaving yourself exposed.
2. Speak to your family
This is about sharing where you are now. Expectations don’t shift unless they’re discussed.
3. Focus on increasing your income
If your role has limited growth, it may be time to look elsewhere for a step up.
4. Create some breathing room
Even short term. Whether that’s extra income or reducing certain commitments.
You’re carrying more than your own responsibilities. It’s worth finding a way to make that sustainable.
Jude
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