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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

MIL called me and DH yuppies?

60 replies

socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 09:33

I feel like it's supposed to be derogatory based on what I read online. I am 30 so I think this term is not used often nowadays.

And the thing is I don't feel like a yuppie! We earn above national average but around median for London (DH earns 65k, I earn 45k), we have a mortgage on a z3 flat.

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 20/03/2023 09:42

Ah so you stealth boasted about earning too much for child benefit if you had a child but then were offended by be called young upwardly-mobile professionals (YUP) which is where the term comes from. Which of those 3 descriptions causes the offence?

BarbaraofSeville · 20/03/2023 09:43

It stands for Young Upwardly (Mobile) Professionals but YABU to say you don't 'feel like a Yuppie' because you absolutely are, but @YukoandHiro is right, you're DINKYs in today's language.

With a household income of £110k at 30, and a mortgage on a London property, which most people couldn't dream of, you're in a much better position than almost everyone.

If you compare yourself with all other childfree couples, not just the rich ones you associate with, you're better off than 98% of the country, and off the scale of the chart:

ifs.org.uk/tools_and_resources/where_do_you_fit_in#tool-results-section

RampantIvy · 20/03/2023 09:43
Grin It's factually true though and not an insult.
5foot5 · 20/03/2023 09:44

So if DH is 30 same as you then MIL is what? About 60? Roughly same as me.
So she can remember when Yuppies were a thing.

I don't think it is meant in a derogatory way. She is probably proud of you both for doing well and having good jobs and a nice lifestyle

5foot5 · 20/03/2023 09:54

sonichits.com/video/Fascinating_A%C3%AFda/Yuppies
This is a blast from the past

Iwantmyoldnameback · 20/03/2023 09:55

5foot5 · 20/03/2023 09:44

So if DH is 30 same as you then MIL is what? About 60? Roughly same as me.
So she can remember when Yuppies were a thing.

I don't think it is meant in a derogatory way. She is probably proud of you both for doing well and having good jobs and a nice lifestyle

I expect she'd like a grandchild and thinks you could afford one.

BrainOnFire · 20/03/2023 09:56

Haven't heard that word for years!

notacooldad · 20/03/2023 09:59

What is the point of your post?
Are you offended? If so you are being ridiculous
Are you wanting to mock your MIL? If so you are being ridiculous.
Are you stealth boasting because you have over 100k dual income? If so you are being ridiculous.

Xiaoxiong · 20/03/2023 10:00

Haha I'd take it as a compliment. I'd love to be a yuppie again...I'm more of an osppie now (old suburban professional!)

RampantIvy · 20/03/2023 10:04

notacooldad · 20/03/2023 09:59

What is the point of your post?
Are you offended? If so you are being ridiculous
Are you wanting to mock your MIL? If so you are being ridiculous.
Are you stealth boasting because you have over 100k dual income? If so you are being ridiculous.

😄

Doesthepopeshitinthewoods · 20/03/2023 10:06

CRbear · 20/03/2023 09:39

Yuppies - young unmarried professionals? It’s hardly insulting is it? Sounds descriptive to me!

Young urban/upwardly mobile/up-and-coming professional.

Original poster
socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 10:07

SeasonFinale · 20/03/2023 09:42

Ah so you stealth boasted about earning too much for child benefit if you had a child but then were offended by be called young upwardly-mobile professionals (YUP) which is where the term comes from. Which of those 3 descriptions causes the offence?

Well my younger SIL was saying stuff like working overtime is pure slavery. I explained that the reason my DH and I put up with it is because we hope to get big increments in our next jobs and this has happened for us in the past (15k-20k increments).. my MIL said it's cos we are yuppies.

I was confused because to me, that is just the natural progression of life, we all hope to earn more in future hence putting in effort into our careers and going the extra mile. Maybe it will take quite a few years (so actually 20k isn't that big a deal if you haven't been getting inflation linked increases in your old job).

And then my other SIL said she is looking for a new job as she doesn't have enough hours in current one. She doesn't live in UK and doesn't want to live in London (she grew up in London where her mum currently lives). I suggested that she could get a remote only job from US/UK firms and work from the country she is living in, this would give her more opportunities as she isn't fluent in the language of the country she is living in. I told her that I once got an interview for a 35k job that was remote only from a US firm and it hired a lot of fresh graduate (SIL has a masters degree). I said it's not great for London but for a remote job it's ok. My SIL said '£35k! Wow!' and my MIL said - ahh this is why they are yuppies. They apply for £35k jobs

Ummm

OP posts:
Doesthepopeshitinthewoods · 20/03/2023 10:08

I think it’s one of those terms that when broken down, isn’t in the least insulting. But colloquially became (when, way back in the 80s?) a bit of a mocking label.

Original poster
socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 10:08

notacooldad · 20/03/2023 09:59

What is the point of your post?
Are you offended? If so you are being ridiculous
Are you wanting to mock your MIL? If so you are being ridiculous.
Are you stealth boasting because you have over 100k dual income? If so you are being ridiculous.

How is it a boast? There are women on tiktok with 40k income crying about how she can't afford rent or food? I only earn a bit more than that and am lucky to be married..

OP posts:
premicrois · 20/03/2023 10:12

There are women on tiktok with 40k income crying about how she can't afford rent or food?

I mean TikTok is hardly a measure of reality.

The majority of people chatting about how they can't afford basics are fishing for monetary gifts.

SchoolTripDrama · 20/03/2023 10:14

WimpoleHat · 20/03/2023 09:41

Yuppies - young unmarried professionals?

Young, upwardly mobile professionals. But agree it’s not an insult as such; it used to conjure up images of City types (as other have said, with the first mobile phones!)

I think you mean Young Urban Professionals. Young Upwardly Mobile Professionals would be YUMP

SchoolTripDrama · 20/03/2023 10:15

SeasonFinale · 20/03/2023 09:42

Ah so you stealth boasted about earning too much for child benefit if you had a child but then were offended by be called young upwardly-mobile professionals (YUP) which is where the term comes from. Which of those 3 descriptions causes the offence?

It's actually Young Urban Professional

Comedycook · 20/03/2023 10:27

my younger SIL was saying stuff like working overtime is pure slavery. I explained that the reason my DH and I put up with it is because we hope to get big increments in our next jobs

Overtime in a career job is a vastly different experience to overtime in a low paid job with few prospects.

Original poster
socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 10:38

Comedycook · 20/03/2023 10:27

my younger SIL was saying stuff like working overtime is pure slavery. I explained that the reason my DH and I put up with it is because we hope to get big increments in our next jobs

Overtime in a career job is a vastly different experience to overtime in a low paid job with few prospects.

I agree.

OP posts:
Georgyporky · 20/03/2023 10:45

Tell her she's a wally.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 20/03/2023 10:45

I'd be like OK calm down Del boy

Timeforchangeithink · 20/03/2023 10:47

socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 10:07

Well my younger SIL was saying stuff like working overtime is pure slavery. I explained that the reason my DH and I put up with it is because we hope to get big increments in our next jobs and this has happened for us in the past (15k-20k increments).. my MIL said it's cos we are yuppies.

I was confused because to me, that is just the natural progression of life, we all hope to earn more in future hence putting in effort into our careers and going the extra mile. Maybe it will take quite a few years (so actually 20k isn't that big a deal if you haven't been getting inflation linked increases in your old job).

And then my other SIL said she is looking for a new job as she doesn't have enough hours in current one. She doesn't live in UK and doesn't want to live in London (she grew up in London where her mum currently lives). I suggested that she could get a remote only job from US/UK firms and work from the country she is living in, this would give her more opportunities as she isn't fluent in the language of the country she is living in. I told her that I once got an interview for a 35k job that was remote only from a US firm and it hired a lot of fresh graduate (SIL has a masters degree). I said it's not great for London but for a remote job it's ok. My SIL said '£35k! Wow!' and my MIL said - ahh this is why they are yuppies. They apply for £35k jobs

Ummm

Show quote history

You're all about the money tree aren't you.

Original poster
socialmedia23 · 20/03/2023 11:01

Timeforchangeithink · 20/03/2023 10:47

You're all about the money tree aren't you.

Show quote history

Money doesn't make you happy but money you earn gives you choice and a degree of autonomy as long as you are not too dependent on your employer (and can leave jobs). Money from family often comes with strings attached and can mean you feel powerless. Hence why I value the money earned from work even though sadly in our asset economy, it is taxed at twice the rate of unearned income.

It's true that money isn't the be all and end all, but even the people who FIRE to live somewhere picturesque had to earn their money first...

OP posts:
TheClash2023 · 20/03/2023 11:08

Cor that's a blast from the past! Me and DH were yuppies back in the eighties! Get your Filofax out and start planning for Beaujolais day!

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 20/03/2023 11:21

I immediately thought of Del talking on his brick size mobile in Only Fools and Horses when I read this. He would have definitely considered being called a yuppy a compliment.