To not work during 8 weeks off?

[mirabellyache]

So our daughter has just finished her postgraduate degree. She has 8 weeks off before she starts a super intense (and well paid) job in finance. She's 'completely broke' in her words. She has a wonderful boyfriend who she lives with, who is happy to support her during this break. He thinks its best she enjoys this time off as she is not going to get such a long and proper rest for a long long time.

I agree with him, and I'm happy to throw a bit of money now and again so she can enjoy herself. Their flat needs some DIY and she's said she's looking forward to doing it, and keeping the house tidy/doing cooking etc.

AIBU to think it's ok to not work, even if it means she's not earning?

My parents are from a different generation. Working class, and still think that you can get a job for the week by just signing up at the factory or whatever. They keep badgering my DD about why she isn't working, and it's lazy with all this time off.

She shouldn't need to pay any NI: if she's starting a well paid job in 8 weeks, she should manage to pay the minimum contribution within the 7-8 months remaining of the tax year, because the amount of NI is a function of salary. And if by any chance, she doesn't, she can always top it up retrospectively.

I started work in October after I'd graduated (and only having worked 6 weeks in the summer in a low paid hospitality job) and my insurance record for that year is complete

And absolutely, she should enjoy the break

She's 'completely broke', she's skint, poor, penniless, potless. Hence the following mention of her boyfriend supporting her for the 8 weeks. And I daresay mentioning it to her mum doesn't mean she stops people in the street to tell them.

I think the grandparents need a reality check. Your daughter will have some long slog ahead of her with exhaustive hours. These are different times and a serious career will be draining. This is not 9 to 5 territory. I'd be having serious words with them to back off and not spoil this for her.

Agreed. And I fear they may also be the GPs who then make her life more difficult by telling her off for working ‘unpaid overtime’. Some of my peers lost the plot with their families over that, others (DH) simply lied about their hours to get relatives off their backs.

Lucky her, getting to have a lovely relaxed summer with a good job lined up afterwards. She deserves the rest, the time to do home projects, and is probably unlikely to have 8 consecutive weeks off again for a very long time.
Some people don't understand life balance; the grandparents sound like that. She can just tell them that yes she does actually have a job, it starts on x date and in the meantime she's focusing on the domestic. 8 weeks isn't even a very long time to be supported both by a partner and a parent. Again, lucky her!

Good for her. As long as she can make it work financially somehow / her boyfriend pays a bit more during those 8 weeks then it's no-one else's business.

I took 3 months off between jobs in 2019. Next time I'm changing job one of my priorities would be to negotiate a delayed starting date so I can do the same again.

She will be a long time working. Let her have a break.

Hope she enjoys her time off and grabs the opportunity while she can. Good luck to her.