NEED TO KNOW
- A woman is feeling disappointed by her friends’ reaction to her announcing that she’s turning a hobby into a “small side business”
- In a post on Mumsnet, she revealed that she already has a 6-figure job and her husband out-earns her
- “More or less all of them have questioned why I need to do this as they don’t feel I need the money,” the woman said of her friends
A budding entrepreneur is feeling disappointed by her friends’ reaction to the launch of her side business.
The woman explained in a post on the UK-based forum Mumsnet that she “comfortably” earns 6-figures while working a stressful job that also provides generous bonuses. She said her husband earns more than she, which has put them in a “very fortunate” financial position.
However, she’s now attempting to turn a hobby into a “small side business” and has spoken to several friends about it.
“More or less all of them have questioned why I need to do this as they don’t feel I need the money,” the woman said. “That isn’t the motivating factor, though, it’s for enjoyment and linked to my passion.”
The woman admitted that she was hurt by the lack of support from her friends and revealed she spoke to her husband about their reactions.
“AIBU [am I being unreasonable] to feel a bit upset at their outlook with this? Even after I explain my reasons, they still turn it back to money,” she said. “I don’t think it’s jealousy as my DH [dear husband] suggested, but I just feel a bit deflated and that my friends should be supporting me.”
Responses to the post were quick to argue that the woman doesn’t need her friends’ approval to pursue her business idea.
Several commenters also agreed with the woman’s husband that they seemed jealous of her wealth.
“They don’t really sound like friends, unless your side hobby is exploitation?” one person wrote. “Even if they think your hobby is dreadful/tacky/unbecoming of a lady, they shouldn’t be so rude. What you earn isn’t really relevant; a lot of people earn a lot more than you and like to sell items on Vinted, etc. Do you talk about it a lot? Are they bored of it? If not, then I think they’re just rubbish friends.”
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“It’s prob jealousy. Do they earn the same as you?” another asked. “Most side hustles require funds to get off the ground (in my sad experience at several failed side hustle attempts!)
“I might find it hard to see a mate making even more money cos they had the capital to start something off with,” the same person continued. “But I’d like to think I’d manage that quietly and not let them know about it. It shouldn’t matter what they think and don’t let it stop you.”
Other responses to the post suggested that the woman misinterpreted her friends’ reaction.
“Is it because they think you already have a full plate & possibly moan or let off steam to them about how busy you are juggling everything, currently? And they are thinking why, why, why is she taking on something more when she is ‘struggling’ already with the responsibilities she has? I have a friend like this,” a commenter said.
“Doesn’t sound like they’re judging. Just sounds like they don’t think you’re that good at it,” someone else said of the woman’s hobby.
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