To be shocked that a man in his mid-twenties does not work for a living?

[queenofsheep]

DD's boyfriend, older than DD by a year, does not work. He got his degree, now lives off rental income and an allowance through a family trust fund. AIBU to be shocked that there are men/boys in their twenties who are allowed to do this?

He and DD seem happy. DD isn't concerned at all. He insists that it is work because he has to manage his houses. He and DD go on nice holidays and attend parties.

It depends on how much work is involved in managing the properties. I think I'd expect him to have at least a part time job in addition to this. An educated young man who has no ambition to do anything other than enjoy himself for the rest of his life would be a real turn-off. If you don't use your brain, work ethic, etc, they degrade. He'll probably become boring, lazy and frustrated. He could use the freedom the private income gives him to choose a job or to set up a small business in an area that interests and challenges him.

Allowed? What planet are you on? He’s earning an income and not relying on government handouts. He’s also paying tax on that income.

Are you jealous???

Why be a wage slave when you don't have to be?!

He's running a property portfolio, that is a job

Managing properties is a hard work, unless he uses agency, which charges and not always delivers. He’s running his property business. Sounds like he’s a landlord. I'm a bit surprised by the answers though, as on MN landlords are scum of the earth.

It depends on the extent of his property portfolio and level of passive income.

If it’s one flat he inherited, then I’d think he’s pretty lazy. If it’s multiple properties, then he my have more on his plate. Also, living a low cost life and dossing about is fine when you’re young and single. It doesn’t go far with a family to support. I’d be worried about my DD having to prop him up longer terms.

Exactly. He does work. He might even be a half decent landlord, maintaining the properties to a good standard and fixing them quickly when things go wrong.

If his family is wealthy, he doesn't need to work in the conventional sense, but he's gained a degree and manages properties. Maybe that's the conditions his family has put on him having access to his trust fund? They want him to do something useful rather than just spend money.

Would you rather he be taking a job he doesn't need from someone else?

Unless you want to go and work for a hedge fund or some other despised City job it's surprisingly hard for young middle class white men to get jobs these days - especially if you went to a public school.

A friend of my son is in the position, he's a quiet sensitive sort who is interested in literature and publishing. He has applied for hundreds of jobs over the last two years and has had one interview. He's been working as an unpaid intern during that time and has finally thought sod this.

He has an inheritance and frankly has some pretty high expectations for the future, so is going to make his own career somehow. I don't blame him.

This.

He can afford not to work, good for him.

But to sit around and live an unproductive, lazy and indolent life? No.

I agree with the OP.

I wouldn't want my adult DCs to live like that even I was able to give them enough money to live on. The beauty of independent wealth is that it allows you to find something that you want to do rather than taking any old job to pay the bills.

I’d be worried about my DD having to prop him up longer terms

Well that depends on his income doesn't it? He may have thousands coming in every month, with no risk of losing his income due to redundancy, illness etc.

If he's making good money, he's making good money. My only concern would be if he doesn't have a long term plan, although that said there doesn't seem to be any sign that renting is getting any less profitable if you have multiple properties and low mortgage liabilities.

As others have said, plenty of independently wealthy people don't work and just have passive income of this sort.

You've made a hell of a lot of assumptions there based on absolutely nothing.

I'd be pleased if it was my daughter. I'd he hoping they would teach her about property/ stocks and shares so she didn't have to work like a dog all her life too. 😂

"Allowed"

Of course the other point of view is that by relying on his private income he is not taking a job from someone who may need it more?

Anybody else picturing Hugh Grant Will from About a Boy? I guess houses are a more likely source of income than a hit Christmas song.

If you're worried about his emotional well-being and personal development you could have worded it a lot better 😂

Can we have a drip feed where we find out he volunteers in a soup kitchen please?

He's a lucky son of a gun.

I think the important thing is that your DD remembers to maintain her financial independence. As long as she does that, it doesn't matter where his money comes from.

Was his degree in Real Estate Management?

Indeed, and partnering up with someone with a guaranteed lifetime income takes a lot of life stress away. Never worrying about the mortgage payments etc. I'd caution my daughter to make sure they they're either (eventually) married, or jointly own property though, just living in his properties forever would leave her vulnerable.

I suggest you don't investigate how many people don't have to work for a living any further. It's maddening. They tend to be the people who want to ban inheritance tax too - I cannot for the life of me imagine why...

Ha, ha, I both do what the indolent boy does and volunteer in a community cafe.

It's described as passive income btw but it's certainly not, well, not done well anyway!

That was exactly my first thought 😁

‘Allowed’?? Strange perspective.

Bit sad if you prioritise work over life, don’t you think?

'An honest living. How is his income dishonest in any way? He owns property and manages it. Where is the problem? In fact, he does work. Management of properties can be a full time job.

Why are people quoting “allowed?” and acting confused?

Yes he gets an ALLOWANCE from daddy.

He might be a nice guy or he might be a spoilt twat who couldn’t cope with a hard days work if his life depended on it.