There is a thread where a user managed to complete fATPL for £48K.
Then read what the same poster wrote nearly two years later.
My MEIR is going to expire in May this year which mark 2 years of unemployment from completing my training.
I was also debating the question at first.
My position:
I'm currently working in a supermarket and any other work I can get paying for living costs etc and now having to fork out probably the best part of £2,000 (if im lucky) to keep the ratings I have not used outside of training for them.