"Hello Moneybags". AIBU?

[Flatpackjackie]

I'm a violin, viola and cello teacher, charging £14 for half an hour and £25 for an hour (standard rate in my county).

My friend is a cleaner and charges £15 per hour (also standard for our area AFAIK).

She's recently cottoned-on to the fact that my hourly rate is higher than hers and keeps making snide remarks about it; sometimes face to face, but also online, in chats with friends.

For example, I invited a group (via WhatsApp) to a barbecue at my house. Just a small thing, nothing posh at all. Her reply "Yes please. The champagne will be flowing if it's at yours, Moneybags!"

This morning at drop-off, it was "Hello Moneybags", in front of everyone, which was confusing and really embarrassing.

I don't earn a lot in fact, and I'm certainly not flash. I've never commented on her earnings. The only reason I know what she charges is because she told me, after seeing my fees on my website.

AIBU to wish she'd drop it and also to I should expect to charge the going rate for my lessons? So as not to drip-feed, I've been playing string instruments for thirty five years; have a degree in music and also teaching qualifications. I haven't just set-up shop with no experience.

Thanks

She sounds like she has a cello-sized chip on her shoulder and is trying to put you down. I don't think anyone would seriously think that someone with qualifications to teach music would be on the same hourly rate as a cleaner who most probably has no qualifications to do their job.

As pps have mentioned, a lot of prep goes on - choosing pieces, reviewing exam syllabus etc. Just flicking through a book and doing a couple of photocopies, internet searches for music, recordings etc take me long enough just for myself - with a good few pupils the ‘admin’ side could take ages so the rate has to include that too.

smallest violin in the world playing
my heart bleeds for you

goodness me.

She's overcharging and you are undercharging.

You have a skill, she doesn't.

Ask her if she wants to swap. "Next week - fine by you? There's So-and-so on cello - not very talented, needs a lot of encouragement - Grade 5. then there's So-and-so - grade 8, you'll need to accompany. then Whatsisname - grade 7, thinks he knows everything, doesn't practise, answers back, you'll need to keep your temper and stay in charge. Ok by you? I'll need a bottle of Jif and a few cloths, won't I? No probs.

Why exactly are you friends with this person?

You sound wonderful, she seems an idiot and rude with it.
Your dedication to your chosen career is worth every penny.
I would drop her, she's not worth your time.

She sounds utterly horrible. Does she have any redeeming features? I would drop the rude, chippy bitch. How would she react to being called out? Not well I bet.....

But I think I would say “Honestly? It wasn’t very funny the first time you said it and now this moneybags thing is wearing really thin. You probably work more hours than I do so are probably on more money. But who cares? Why does it bother you? If you went in for surgery, would you be moaning that the surgeon earns more per hour than you do? Seriously, please drop it now”.

Another one for put your rates up. South east admittedly but I pay £23 for 30 mins and £34 for 45 mins. I also pay £10/£12 ph for cleaning/ gardening.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I'm glad I'm not being grumpy for no reason.

My rates are average for my area, in the East Mids and I'm presuming that my friend's are for her work.

The thing is, that I'm not well off and I don't 'flash my cash'. She never mentioned money until she saw my website and told me the differences in our hourly rates.

Over the years, my parents and then I have spent thousands on music tuition, instruments, maintenance to instruments, sheet music etc, etc. I also worked hard and still do practise (almost!) daily. I never mention this to my friend though.

I'll tell her to stop next time she does it in front of someone.

Thanks again everyone.

I say this as a cleaning business owner who has to charge £18 per hour (inc VAT) to make a small profit margin:

Tell her to TWAT OFF.

All business are different and can command different rates! Wtf is it any of her business how you charge compared to how she charges even IF you were within the same industry, there are so many variables to consider what people will pay for a service.

Honest to god I was already in a bad mood today but YADNBU

Next time she invites you out for a drink say you can't because you've got to do 3 hours of practice, 2 hours of preparation for the following days classes etc...

Better yet, just say you can't afford it.

‘Hi moneybags!’
‘What ho peasant!’

Or even “Hi Moneybags.”
“Hi you old Scrubber.”

Think I chose the wrong career. Good degree from a RG university and earn less ph than the cleaner. Moral of this story, don't get a job in the public sector, however much you enjoy it.

Some of the suggestions here are really awful and wouldn’t reflect on you well either if you used them. I think you can make your point in a way that isn’t denigrating to other people in less skilled jobs. You’re trying to make a point about her attitude, and that can easily be done without bagging out everyone who earns less than your hourly rate.

Her attitude suggests that she feels inferior to you and doesn't like you, so she's attempting to ridicule you and give you a derogatory nickname.

Typical bully behaviour.