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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry that DD's chosen career can only earn a maximum of £27,000??

305 replies

soups1 · 08/01/2017 09:35

dd is clever. she has 3 a-levels in maths, psychology and law. She has a lot of potential for many areas. They are not amazing a-level grades, so uni is possible but maybe having to do 4 years or just a local uni, but there are lots of jobs she could do with those a-levels and go on to earn well.

She has decided she wants to do embalming/funeral work. I don't have an issue with the chosen career (although i don't get it!) but it doesn't pay well. A maximum of 27,000 and that is a lot of graduates starter money! she is hoping to go on an embalmer 2 year course soon and a lot of the time they can get jobs through there, as people contact that school and ask for people who are finishing. i am just worried about her choice.

aibu? 27000 forever isnt that much

OP posts:
clumsyduck · 09/01/2017 19:38

Could not c oils ?!?! Wtf

ReasonsToBeModeratelyHappy · 09/01/2017 19:51

I remember that thread the OP mentioned, about what careers you'd encourage your child to do - I was quite shocked at how strongly people felt that they should be pushing their child toward specific, high paying jobs, independent of their interests or aptitudes. People were also talking about doing this with very small children. I think it's a real shame to do that, and seems to give the message that money is more important than any enjoyment. I also doubt it would actually work (especially with teenagers!).

Nimmykins · 09/01/2017 19:57

She won't have £60k+ of student debt.

It is a great profession, let her go for it.

NewBallsPlease00 · 09/01/2017 19:58

I wanted to work in a v trendy industry according to my mum
She and I fell out over a level choices and again degree ones but I df what I wanted and walked into a job at a sought after company and earned well for years. My mum wasn't being unsupportive just worried like you are, assume your daughter probably knows a little more about it than you think- in my case I think my mum assumed if had to be a London luvvy to get a role and was relieved (and bragging rights) to find out not so- turns out she had no idea about all the jobs in the industry that 'normal' people do!

Professionalcakelover · 09/01/2017 20:06

This is a better salary than a lot of people earn, including what I used to earn, and we managed and manage now with a family. You don't necessarily have to earn lots of money to have a good life. Being happy in a job is just as important if not more :-)

catwoman0815 · 09/01/2017 20:14

I have a postgraduate degree and never earned £27k as do most of my friends with social sciences degrees. my best friend studied law and now is a SAHM earning nothing and a lot of other friends in better paid jobs still sit in ££££ of student loans.

27k is not a bad wage esp in the North. If she enjoyes it, then great. Also, she will be earning money when most of her peers are at uni and paying fees instead. And she won't have a student loan to pay back.

Overall, she might earn a lot more over her life time than a lot of graduates.

LumelaMme · 09/01/2017 20:23

It's a steady job, and it won't be outsourced to China.

silky1985 · 09/01/2017 20:40

are you kidding with those skills she can travel the world and she can own her own parlour she wont be stuck at £27k and like everyone said she will never be short of work. also she can learn so much just working in a funeral home I wouldent worry about her earning potential lol

Daydream007 · 09/01/2017 20:42

It's good that she's not a slave to money and is choosing a job that she actually wants to do instead of taking a job just for the money that could make her stressed and unhappy.

Pritchyx · 09/01/2017 20:49

I'm glad your DD has found a career path that would make her happy... I had no idea what I wanted to do when I did my a-levels so completely refused the idea of university.

I'm 22 now and I already have a DD who is 3.
I earn an absolute crap wage working for a large car dealership, but I'm part time over 4 days (33hrs)... however, I enjoy my job, and I enjoy dealing with the people I come into contact with.

I still don't know what I want to do career wise, ideally I want to train as a florist but competition is extremely high as there is florists popping up everywhere in my area and also interflora links all over the place. However, have been thinking about sales as a possible route but currently not viable due to DD being so young still and will have to work 45-60hr weeks if I choose that route.

Encourage her to go for it, job satisfaction will overrule pay.. if she decides further down the line that it isn't for her, there's always time and opportunities to retrain is different fields Smile

Yvemen · 09/01/2017 20:50

You're not being unreasonable. From a Londoners perspective £27k isn't great. Fine in first 2/3 years of your career, but worrying if that's the max earning potential.

deesco · 09/01/2017 20:51

Yes!!
It doesn't matter what she earns as long as she is happy and doing what she enjoys! Surely that should be your main concern?
That is a hell of a lot more than I earn and I have a degree and a masters.

TheCatsMother99 · 09/01/2017 20:52

My only piece of advice is to let her do the job she wants.

My DM massively put me off doing what I wanted to do when I was younger and I'm miserable in the job that i'm in now and resent her somewhat for saying what she did back then to basically tell me not to do it.

Money helps but it doesn't buy you happiness.

haveacupoftea · 09/01/2017 20:53

It's her life, not yours, at the end the day. It's not your choice.

dangermouseisace · 09/01/2017 20:59

hahahahaha I have a degree (1st class) and a postgrad. When I was working I didn't earn 27,000. Ever.

It's more important to have a job you feel passionate about than one that pays lots surely? If you can pay for the roof over your head, food and clothing and have a bit left over for fun, surely that's enough? And people tend to budget according to whatever they earn…I chose a job I loved rather than one that paid…when my mates were well off but stressed out/miserable I thought I'd won the jackpot!

dangermouseisace · 09/01/2017 21:01

TBH I think her choice of job would be really rewarding.

bringbacksideburns · 09/01/2017 21:09

Wow. Are people really so out of touch? I have a friend with a PhD who , after her temporary fellowship ended, now works full time at a University here in the North for less than that.
Average salary up here is 25K.

Maybe she'll move up North.

You know life isn't all about money, it's about finding something you enjoy and being happy to do that and live comfortably.

Mumsnet .....

AteRiri · 09/01/2017 21:11

There was this study about how happiness does not increase significantly past 70k USD/year of income.

GimmeeMoore · 09/01/2017 21:25

I grew up in a poor household,we scraped by.no holiday abroad,no fripperies
Don't get me wrong we were very loved,very happy.but I knew we were skint
Bills were a stretch.hand me down school clothes.first in family to go to uni
That family grind of never having enough money,low level Financial worries.
Made me never want to be skint,and being solvent is important.

It's worth talking to her about the impact of a low wage upon mortgage, spontaneity,etc. not to put her off in any way but to be realistic about living on a low wage

Of course it is up to her to chose whatever career she wishes.

And yes I get plent of high earners are unhappy,but they're also solvent

TheProblemOfSusan · 09/01/2017 21:30

Honestly, I think this is a really sensible plan. Relatively niche because by everyone will be able to do it, but vital job role, with the ability to run her own business or more likely franchise at that end of it.

Encourage her to parlay her maths skills into some basic accountancy quals so she's ready to run her own books in 5-10 years and she'll surprise you with this.

happy2bhomely · 09/01/2017 21:32

My DH left school aged 15. He has dyslexia and left school unable to read and write much more than his name and address.

He was never interested in school but was very keen to work. He was branded lazy by teachers, but he is the most driven person I know.

He started as an apprentice in a trade at 15.

He is now 33 and earning almost 40,000 a year working (long, hard days) in a trade that he loves.

Let your daughter be driven by what makes her happy. She might surprise you.

clumsyduck · 09/01/2017 21:34

But 27k isn't a low income in most places Confused I earn less than that and am certainly not skint by any stretch !

Daisyfrumps · 09/01/2017 21:37

hand me down school clothes

On 27K? Whilst most probably living with a full time working partner?! This isn't a low wage. In fact calling it a low wage is insulting to those of us earning an actual low wage.

cheval · 09/01/2017 21:40

It's a growth industry! Did actually think about doing same job a while ago. Also, once she's experienced, could set up her own funeral firm. Think what they do is amazing. It's part theatre, part caring, part business. Tell her to go for it.

Daisyfrumps · 09/01/2017 21:41

No wonder kids are stressed with this amount of pressure being put on them by parents :(

Not good enough unless you're running your own business, or earning above 27K...

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