A young engaged couple ‘constantly feel poor’ despite having an impressive high income of US$235,000 (AUD$396,000) along with an eyewatering net worth.

Paul, 33, and Maddie, 29, moved from America to London and live off one salary.

Paul quit his job leaving Maddie to support them both financially, but it’s left her feeling anxious and stressed.

Joining money expert Ramit Sethi on his podcast ‘I Will Teach You To Be Rich’, the pair admitted they’ve been spending US$7,000 (AUD$10,464) monthly to fund travels, shopping and their engagement.

But this is means they’re now spending more than they earn every month – the core of the issue.

Maddie takes home $19,583 monthly and the couple spend 63 per cent on living expenses such as rent, groceries, subscriptions and other miscellaneous items.

They don’t owe any debt besides a small loan, have US$27,000 (AUD$40,361) in savings, and invest US$1,000 (AUD$1,494) per month. Paul said he has US$627,000 (AUD$937,275) invested and a net worth of USD$649,000 (AUD $970,162).

Yet Maddie said she teeters between two different mindsets when it comes to money.

Paul, 33, and Maddie, 29, moved from America to London and live off one salary – and they’re still able to go on holidays regularly. But it’s their spending habits that’s the issue (stock image)

‘I think I’m going to live a boujee, great life. I work hard. I’ve made great money. I can do what I want, and we can travel a ton and have a great wedding, and all these things,’ she said in the podcast episode.

‘And then the other side, constantly feeling stressed and guilty about it.’

She added: ‘I think I have a scarcity mindset – it feels like anything can be taken away from us at any point. And we almost need to be hoarding money.

‘I know all about compound interest and investing over time. But for some reason there’s a mental gap between what I understand and how I emotionally feel. I’m freaked out.’

But Paul doesn’t feel the same way about finances – he’s optimistic about the future and said when he thinks of money he thinks of what it can do for them.

The pair currently live in London and admitted they’ve been spending US$7,000 (AUD$10,464) monthly to fund travels, shopping and their engagement (stock image)

Now that the couple solely rely on Maddie’s income, she has a ‘constant fear of being let go’, which she described as a ‘reoccurring nightmare’.

‘I just feel so much pressure that I am the only one bringing in an income,’ she said.

Paul used to be a corporate lawyer, so the couple were surrounded by ‘immense stability’ financially. He quit because it wasn’t an exciting job, he worked ‘100 hours a week’ and wanted to get into something more creative.

Now while Paul is unemployed, Maddie helps by ‘micro-managing’ him and wants him to find a job soon.

Maddie agreed she has an unhealthy relationship with money and feels stressed when shopping or ordering another appetizer at restaurants.

The couple also acknowledged they need to work on declining social invitations to save money and put it towards their future if they want to have kids (stock image)

‘I think you earn the right to feel OK about being in the red occasionally if you have a very large net worth,’ Ramit said.

‘But I think when we factor in the fact that you’re losing money every single month, that you’re planning to continue that for the foreseeable future… that starts to be trickier.’

Paul estimates he will earn up between USD$150,000(AUD$224,228) and USD$250,000 (AUD$373,714) once he lands a job.

But Ramit said spending habits are the issue.

‘It’s not actually normal for people making $230,000, which is a very good income, to be travelling eight times a year internationally, plus your own personal travel, plus Barry’s Bootcamp, plus shopping and golf trips,’ he said.

The couple agreed their spending and lifestyle habits are based on feeling pressure from social occasions and culture.

‘We hang out with people (for whom) money feels to be less of a concern due to their backgrounds. There’s definitely a sense like we need to keep up. Or not we need to; we want to keep up,’ Maddie said.

Paul added: ‘It’s this compulsion to be at everything and live such a social life (that) just drains us.’

The couple are planning to get married and want children in the next few years, so they want to ensure they set themselves up for success.

But Ramit said things will need to change to help this vision come to life so they can support themselves and future kids.

Maddie speaks about ‘lifestyle creep’ and how if they’re earning more, she wants to spend more – something Ramit agreed with.

The couple also acknowledged they need to work on declining social invitations to save money and put it towards their future.