Boomer parents being judgemental about gig economy income

[Cupofteaandnewspaper]

This is something I’ve noticed with myself but also a close friend. Our parents don’t understand our gig economy incomes and are very against it all, and only encourage us to have one job that’s a salaried thing they understand (e.g. run of the mill admin for a large company they’ve heard of).

I’m very into diversifying my income and developing a trickle portfolio through multiple platforms, all I get is negativity when I discuss this! I’m doing the safe thing of having a salary and building up on the side, I really see a lot of potential in what I’m doing and I wish my parents could see that it’s paying for various things. All I want is positive encouragement rather than being told it’s a bad idea!

I'm a boomer, and when I was her age, we were busy smoking dope, partying and going to gigs, funded by our well-paid and secure public sector jobs.

Things were so different in the 70s.”

For you, maybe. Not for others. I’m a bit younger than you, 58, but began working at 13, part-time. The income was needed by family. Never smoked dope, didn’t go to gigs, worked two part time jobs whilst at school then a pub job 3 evenings and weekends on top of full time job thereafter, for several years.

Several part-time jobs really isn’t new.

[quote Ponoka7]@Lesperance, the boomer year's end in 1964, so you could be a boomer and have children in their 20's.

My youngest DD was in a job that she'd had enough in. My eldest DD, who is mid 30's couldn't get her head around that my youngest could earn more on agency etc. She's now in a job she likes, which I think was helped get through the variation on her CV. Great when you are in your 20's and depending on what you do, you can still get a mortgage, because the lenders know what industries always need workers. It might not be as practical in more expensive areas, or as you get older and of course not everyone wants a mortgage.[/quote]
This . I was born in Dec 1964 so just scrape in as a boomer ( DH born in 1968 delights in telling me he is young enough to be generation X unlike old me . My son is 17!

Ah so like how my dear departed Nan used to work in a launderette, but also taught dancing, and also took in mending to do, in the 40's and 50's?

Yes, exactly like that.

What's changed is that it's now the middle classes doing several jobs at once. It's a choice for them. It is, and always was, a necessity for the poorer section of society.

OP thinks she's being cool and clever. Her parents recall times when having to do several jobs at once was an indication of being financially insecure.

@blueshoes

As an aside, the use of “trickle” conjures up an image of a very slow leak of urine. Or is that just me?

It is not just you

Makes me think of that inco pad advert (Always?) where she talks about a 'little trickle'.

[quote Silversprinkles]@Eightiesfan you can show this to your son - his Dad is likely Gen X ! The coolest generation [/quote]
Laughing at the implication that Brian Blessed is from the "Silent Generation"

Maybe they don’t understand all the corporate bollocks you spout? I’d have to Google to know what you’re talking about in your OP

@saraclara

What's changed is that it's now the middle classes doing several jobs at once. It's a choice for them. It is, and always was, a necessity for the poorer section of society.

OP thinks she's being cool and clever. Her parents recall times when having to do several jobs at once was an indication of being financially insecure.

Exactly this - and in order for it to be acceptable to the MC they’ve given it some wanky name that differentiates it from the WC ‘working several low paid jobs at a time to keep us in food and electricity’

It doesn’t matter what you do you parents don’t understand that my mum thought I was in IT for bloody 28 years and then when I tried to explain to her I was in product management and she said to me can’t you get a proper job ?

I did this through the 1970s and 80s, though I called it “having a number of part time jobs”. I settled down and got a “proper” job once I had children.
It’s nothing new.

Oh - and I’m doing the same now I’m retired! Three “side hustles” (as I have learned to call them) on the go! (Not Only Fans I hasten to add.)

Boomer here (born towards the end of the post-war baby boom)! Do lots of gigs myself (freelance, zero hours etc) . I enjoy what I do, and it gives me the flexibility to undertake my caring responsibilities.

One company that I did some freelance work for, started offering permanent positions. Younger people applied, mainly because they needed secure contracts for financial arrangements such as mortgages etc. Perhaps it is the financial insecurity of gig work that your parents worry about.

Borntobequiet - Yes exactly! Having a few jobs is nothing new :)

Parents worry.

Mine worry about me with my almost MN 6 figure salary and horrible working week, my sibling and their free lance but very sought after IT contractor job which means they can pick and choose their work, my cousin who works as a nurse in the nhs.

They do you no favours if the just tell you that you are great all the time with no questions. I got my kids school reports this week. They were mostly really great and I was very proud but one didn't do so well in a subject and she was surprised. We looked through the comments her teacher had made in her written work and we think we've sorted out what she has to work on. I didn't tell her it didn't matter or ignored it, I tried to help her work out how to get better. You sure your parents aren't doing that?

Woe is me, I'm even older than a Boomer, being born at the end of WWII. No idea what that makes me, decrepit I guess.

Sorry OP but is there any chance you could re-write your post in English because I barely understood a word.

Also a couple of posters mentioned Only Fans - what is it/are they? Thanks.

I’m putting my money on MLM rather than Only Fans. I’ve lost friends to the MLM cult and they speak in corporate bollocks too.

@Crankley

Woe is me, I'm even older than a Boomer, being born at the end of WWII. No idea what that makes me, decrepit I guess.

Sorry OP but is there any chance you could re-write your post in English because I barely understood a word.

Also a couple of posters mentioned Only Fans - what is it/are they? Thanks.

Only Fans is a site where you can host your photos, videos and live streams, available only to paying viewers. You can put anything up on there, but it's got a reputation for sexual content.

Thank you DrSbaitso I hadn't heard of it.

The OP seems to have disappeared!

@Cupofteaandnewspaper
Hello, I’ve been reading your post regarding gig economy employment and your experience. I’m a university student writing my dissertation on the experiences of women in the gig economy, freelancing, or gaining multiple sources of income on multiple platforms and would be amazing if i could chat with you and you could share more of your experiences. All confidential and anonymous.
Kind regards, thank you in advance :)