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Gardening can become millstone

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  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    You get what you pay for in every walk of life. Gardening is a professional service and should be paid accordingly. It’s quite simple, if you can’t afford it you can’t have it. You can’t expect professional people to lower their rates to accommodate you. 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    My gardener charges £19 ph. She also gardens for my friend the “celebrity” garden designer who lives in the village.
    Rutland, England
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Even when unemployment figures were high, many in horticulture and agriculture were unable to get people from this country to do the work.  Pre-pandemic a farmer was interviewed who said he had one person from those who attended interview actually turn up for the job.  They didn't return on the second day.  I'm not saying all youngsters are idle, but I do stand by the belief that most don't want jobs where they get their hands dirty.  That's why building trades etc are so short of workers.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    KT53 said:
    Even when unemployment figures were high, many in horticulture and agriculture were unable to get people from this country to do the work.  Pre-pandemic a farmer was interviewed who said he had one person from those who attended interview actually turn up for the job.  They didn't return on the second day.  I'm not saying all youngsters are idle, but I do stand by the belief that most don't want jobs where they get their hands dirty.  That's why building trades etc are so short of workers.
    and Brexit hasn't helped the jobs market either
    Devon.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I would actually say anything under £20 is too low to make a decent living.  That's even more apparent with the current massive increases in gas, electricity and fuel costs. When travel costs, equipment maintenance etc is factored in, that equates to a low income job.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Half of the recipients of Universal Credit are in full time work. 
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I think £20 per hour is on the low side. I had one chap charge me £40 ph some years ago.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited August 2022
    I was paid at least £20 an hour when I worked in Hants and that was 11 years ago.
    As @debs64 says, if you can't afford it, you don't have it. 
    I'd love an E type Jag, but I can't afford it so I don't have  one. 
    I don't expect anyone to change the price just because of my age, nor do I expect sympathy from anyone either.
    Devon.
  • I'm almost young (42), and all I can say is chance would be a fine thing, to have a garden too big for me to cope with (in 40 years' time I mean). I've never had financial help from anyone and having spent most of my life single, I rented until age 35. At that point I decided to really do something about it, so I took on two part time jobs on top of my full time one. That enabled me to buy a shared ownership house, and I got 50% of it. I do have a husband now but we're no further on in getting better ensconced onto the property ladder for various reasons. Not sure if we even will - the clock is ticking on the mortgage front at my age.
    It's a new build so definitely not a big garden - I wish I could one day feel overwhelmed by it. 
    I actually still do one of the extra part time jobs and work six days a week so not all young people are lazy.
    It's not a woe is me post, but we all have different circumstances and one person's problem is another's dream!
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited August 2022
    I'm almost young (42), and all I can say is chance would be a fine thing, to have a garden too big for me to cope with (in 40 years' time I mean). I've never had financial help from anyone and having spent most of my life single, I rented until age 35. At that point I decided to really do something about it, so I took on two part time jobs on top of my full time one. That enabled me to buy a shared ownership house, and I got 50% of it. I do have a husband now but we're no further on in getting better ensconced onto the property ladder for various reasons. Not sure if we even will - the clock is ticking on the mortgage front at my age.
    It's a new build so definitely not a big garden - I wish I could one day feel overwhelmed by it. 
    I actually still do one of the extra part time jobs and work six days a week so not all young people are lazy.
    It's not a woe is me post, but we all have different circumstances and one person's problem is another's dream!
    I couldn't agree more. 

    Both my daughter and her partner ( both in their 30s) have good jobs, University degrees and can't afford to get on the property ladder .
    They were paying £1,350 to rent a one bed, ex council flat in Brixton and those sold for £330,000 on the open market.  Both have student tuition fee debts over £20,000 each .
     I hear folk say, " they need to save a deposit " etc etc. I ask those people " HOW ?" 
    Devon.
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