To think that living off a trust fund or parental income is no better than living off benefits.....

[Ravenspeckingearly]

.....in terms of the example you set your children.
I’ve crossed paths with a few of these types lately.....grown adults who do nothing except the school run twice a day (both parents do both trips) and spend the money that drops into their accounts on a monthly basis. Surely it just teaches their offspring that adult life is all about the gym and lunching? Can you teach your own children about ‘adulting’ if you’ve never had to do it yourself?
I know a couple of other adults who have trust funds or are heavily supported by parents to live a very affluent life, but they also have jobs, mostly in highly competitive professions.
Thoughts please.

We felt sorry for them. They will not experience fully autonomy as an adult. They won't have the life skills that others have. Also they have just the right same right to vote (as is right) but so much less life experience

What life skills do you think they lack? The ability to hold down a job they don’t need?!

Pegasus, you don't know what they will do when they are adult. Plenty of well off people with trust funds, etc, do useful work in the world. Sometimes they do more than they would otherwise because they are not chasing a crust. The advantage they have is they can pick and choose but wouldn't most of us like to be able to do that?

Good luck to them.

@jessstan2

Pegasus, you don't know what they will do when they are adult. Plenty of well off people with trust funds, etc, do useful work in the world. Sometimes they do more than they would otherwise because they are not chasing a crust. The advantage they have is they can pick and choose but wouldn't most of us like to be able to do that?

Good luck to them.

The Kennedys are a good example of that (although their private antics are a different matter).

@Tyresmanc

What a shame we don't have a button that says

Mind your own damn business

👌

What life skills do you think they lack? The ability to hold down a job they don’t need?!

There are loads. Obviously some will have some of these skills whilst others will not be as fully developed: taking public transport (true!), time management, social interaction with people you don't like/respect, negotiation, knowledge of a certain sector, computer skills, coping with boredom, balancing emotions after a shit day, stringing your money out till payday, balancing your priorities (family, friends) versus others' priorities (boss wanting bullshit task completed now), learning from others reflection on skills, filling in job applications presenting to others, dealing with rejection, building friendships and networks, coping with the sunday dread. The list goes on - some positive, mostly negative (that's why they have to pay you to do it!). But most importantly empathy for others who may be struggling due to the need to pay the bills.

I forgot one: self esteem that comes from contributing to something greater than yourself.

@Yogatomorrow

I forgot one: self esteem that comes from contributing to something greater than yourself.

🤣🤣🤣

Fuck yeah, lining the pockets of elites gives so many employees a real boost.

@jessstan2 I don’t understand your point.

Op it impacts on your own life how exactly? Why are you worrying yourself about other people's financial situation?

@Yogatomorrow

I can’t see that any of those are particularly relevant. You’re basing necessary life skills on what is required if you need to work.

Why should anyone need knowledge of a certain sector or how to fill in job applications if they’re never going to need to work or know how to string money out till payday if they’re never going to be short of cash?

There are a million and one interesting things people can do aside from work.

I forgot one: self esteem that comes from contributing to something greater than yourself

You can do that through volunteering, advocacy, campaigning etc.

They may be volunteering, writing a book etc
Holding a job doesn't give you much value in society. Not that many jobs are actually really 'useful' or making the world a better place.
I'd like to look back on my life and think I've made the world a tiny bit better. By supporting loved one, giving to the community, raising good children. My job? Well I'm an HR consultant and I love my job but I don't think it really contributes to making the world a better place (I try though and maybe in time).
We can all contribute in different ways.

I think we all need a purpose in life. Some find it in their jobs but many don't. Nothing wrong with not having a job if you don't need one...

@Yogatomorrow

I forgot one: self esteem that comes from contributing to something greater than yourself.

You can do so many things that contribute hugely and don’t attract a wage. In fact, not needing a salary frees you up to invest your time in potentially much more socially valuable activities.

If I won the lottery next week and packed up work to found a social project/charity, there is no way you would convince me I was being selfish or setting a poor example to anyone, or any of that nonsense.

YABU many people wouldn’t work if they didn’t have to. I would love to be that rich myself. It harms no one if they fanny around all day spending their inheritances. In fact, it’s good for the economy.

Plus there’s nothing wrong with needing benefits.

To all the PPs who think it's OK for a minority to live of inherited wealth, how do you think we'd cope if everyone could?

I'm jealous, I wish my parents were rich I'd be lunching everyday and pay someone to do the dreaded school run for me

@Ifailed

To all the PPs who think it's OK for a minority to live of inherited wealth, how do you think we'd cope if everyone could?

I think the trust laws need reforming, for sure.

The two points in the OP I disagreed with were;

“is no better than living off benefits”

It’s perfectly acceptable to live on benefits, sick pay, disability pension, PIP, income insurance, or whatever else if you need to, for as long as you need to.

“Surely it just teaches their offspring that adult life is all about the gym and lunching? Can you teach your own children about ‘adulting’ if you’ve never had to do it yourself?”

“Adulting” isn’t defined by earning a salary. I’ve been employed, self-employed, a SAHM, off sick for a few months once. The so called “adulting” (adult competence and responsible living) I have always demonstrated to my DC are meeting your responsibilities, running a house, paying your bills, striving for goals, working hard, timekeeping, cleanliness, caring for dependants, being an active member of the community etc.

I hold no grudge against anyone who chooses the option to do this things on trust income. I do have reservations about trust law being so generous in the first place, but that’s not the beneficiaries’ fault.

Robots

I literally know no one like this though. All my friends are poor 😆

Well, all people who currently have inherited wealth don't give up work. So presumably if everyone had inherited wealth, everyone wouldn't give up work

Sorry! That was in response to ifailed. Unemployment caused by automation is a scenario some think we should be planning for.

Keynes, the founder of modern macroeconomics thought it was what we should be aiming for (a life of leisure). Google 'The economic possibilities for our grandchildren'.

Mind you, he was a workaholic himself so...

To all the PPs who think it's OK for a minority to live of inherited wealth, how do you think we'd cope if everyone could?

The world would look like a very different place. Not necessarily a bad thing.

The world would look like a very different place. Not necessarily a bad thing.
So no hospitals, no policing, no roads, no rubbish collection, no maintenance, no fire-fighting, no social care, no shops, no delivery, no manufacturing, no trades, no anything.
everyone just lives in their home, counting their gold, waiting to die of hunger or disease.

I couldn't give a shiny shite, it's not coming out of my pocket.