To think “Side Hustle” can get in the bin?

One generation ago was the year 2000. People weren't buying houses on one high school grad's salary then.

Is there actually judgment though? Mumsnet is obsessed with Vinted. If people disapprove of selling on Vinted, then how would they find their Reiss dress for £15?!

I agree that the notion of buying a big house and living a comfortable middle class lifestyle by today’s standards being possible on a single average wage 50 years ago is fanciful. But you have generalised hugely by assuming all young people will receive a ‘massive inheritance’ - most won’t. The issue is stagnant wages in the UK. A one-time cash injection one might receive in their 50s or 60s won’t solve that.

Agree

I agree @courageiscontagious
Side hustles sound dodgy anyway and I think most employers should be wary of hiring people with side hustles. Mainly because those people would be more tired as they are working extra and would not be able to give 100% effort and focus as others who have the 1 sole job

I agree with this, but can we get away from the 'My parents brought us up on one wage and lived in a mini mansion' trope. It is bollocks. Yes, house prices were lower 50 years, but so were salaries. Mortgage rates were astronomical compared to today, I laughed the other day at a report on the news that mentioned the high mortgage rates. My daughter has just remortgaged at 3.8%. When we bought our first small flat rates were at 17%, 10 years later we thought we had done well to arrange a 10 years fix at 8.99%, it was an hours commute from where we worked, couldn't afford to buy any closer, it took both our salaries to afford the mortgage, we both had to get bar work at first as the bills were higher than we anticipated. It was a struggle. I know it's difficult for this generation to get on the housing ladder, but for most it has always been a struggle. This generation also have the benefit of massive inheritances coming their way in the next 10 to 15 years too.

Well, you could stop buying your double decaf capuccinos every day, for a start! (JOKING!!)

I was born in the seventies, very working class family. Both Dad and Mum worked two jobs for as long as I can remember. But, and it’s a very big but, we lived in a lovely council house and my higher education was free. Regardless of salaries keeping up with inflation, or the need for a ‘side hustle’, the money required for decent housing now (as a percentage of salary), is just ridiculous.

Interesting thread.

I know the economics of buying a house at the peak of the market and seeing it worth much less a year later, of seeing my mortgage interest rate increasing 3 months in a row (fixed rates not really a thing back then) and I definitely know the economics of needing to find work as no maternity leave and needing to find a job with a toddler and baby, hardly any nurseries and record unemployment.

So maybe experience versus theory.

your post suggests you don’t understand economics @TheignT

some of the main changes have been much higher housing costs relative to wages and reduced employer contributions to pensions.

Well pretty obvious we'd know what life was like because we lived it. Still living now so we can also see that.

I love when boomers step in. Knowing exactly how very different life is to how they were young.

I think the pont is that almost every second thread is about how people cant have their kids sharing bedrooms, MUST have a holiday abroad each year, the countless en suites houses have now, must have a car and it must be on finance.

People choose to have lifestyles that necesitate a double income.

Yes, because we know from threads on here that people expect to pay tuppence for home made cakes. Every other week there is one moaning about it

My DH makes the most amazing cheesecake- a friend suggested seriously that he should sell them. But they cost about a tenner to make just for the ingredients and there’s no way anyone would pay that lol.

@courageiscontagious In the good old days only 10% went to university. So of course a secondary school education supplied trades and lower managerial jobs. I’m 70 and in my generation teachers needed degrees for secondary teaching and nurse degrees came in. However it was easier to buy a home. Many people even then did have to save up for a deposit.

You also need to look at what degrees you have and where you live. Not all degrees are a great platform for high earnings. Career choice matters too. If you are a London lawyer with your degrees you would be ok. I’m assuming you haven’t aimed for this. If you live in a cheap area, two teachers certainly can buy a nice house! No problems. So look at job snd area you live in. The country doesn’t owe you anything. I’m guessing lowish pay means little repayment of loans. The government stumped up for them in the first place. Hopefully your parents didn’t pay up front and spend a house deposit equivalent. I’d stop moaning and take action.

I wasn’t asking to try and catch you out! I was just interested I promise! 😊

Hard agree. I despise the monetisation of hobbies under capitalism, and the drive to have 'productive' hobbies.

The women I know with a side hustle work part time as they want/need time at home with children and make up some of the loss in wages by making some money with a side hustle.

It seems a lot if working full-time.

I'm probably more than a generation older than you but always had to work as my husband's salary wouldn't cover the mortgage and basics like eating. Obviously some people lived that life but nowhere near all of us.

Side Gig is a better term, imo.

Side line is better surely? I hate side hustle and boss whatever.

And some side hustles produce the most niche products and services. “Oh I build unique play equipment for rabbits because when I had a rabbit I noticed it looked a bit bored.” Hilarious but also annoying!

words on fire OP - totally agree!

I also don’t think hobbies and passions need to be monetised.