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- 🇯🇵 Japan's resignation agencies 📈 Upskilling and side hustles that pay + 💡 5 tips to slash your energy bill
🇯🇵 Japan's resignation agencies 📈 Upskilling and side hustles that pay + 💡 5 tips to slash your energy bill
The 99 - 25th November 2024
Good afternoon and welcome to The 99: the home of financial news and insights made simple. You can count on accessible, trustworthy, and unbiased news insights every Monday.
Every week we share a guide to a specific topic in bite-sized and actionable steps. Scroll to the bottom for the November Explainer: Growing Your Income.
Alice x
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6
The number of countries it would be cheaper to fly to and send Christmas cards back to the UK from, rather than using Royal Mail’s domestic service. A Telegraph and Skyscanner analysis found that sending 100 first-class domestic cards now costs £165. Meanwhile, in Albania, international stamps are just 100 Lek (85p), and return flights in December are £27, making it £50 cheaper in total.
Would You Pay Someone to Quit Your Job for You? |  |
Quitting your job can be awkward and stressful—especially if your boss is difficult.
So in Japan, 1 in 5 workers in their 20’s are starting to outsource the task to ‘resignation agencies’, paying professionals to handle the awkward conversation on their behalf.
📈 One Tokyo-based agency, Momuri, has seen massive demand.
🚷 They’ve handled 350,000 online consultations and have completed 20,000 resignations since launching just 2.5 years ago.
In Japanese, Momuri means…
How Do These Agencies Work?
The process is surprisingly simple:
 | You reach out to the agency via a messaging app. Fill out a short questionnaire, sign a contract, and pay a fee: ¥22,000 (£110) for full-time workers or ¥12,300 (£60) for part-timers. One of their agents will then contact your employer on your behalf. From start to finish, the whole ordeal can be wrapped up in just 20-30 minutes. Agencies even have lawyers on hand in case things get legally sticky. |
Who’s Using These Services?
60% of Momuri’s clients are in their 20s, many of them fresh graduates. While most users are young, agencies also help older workers and have even handled mass resignations—like submitting 45 notices at once for employees with 1 company. |  |
🛞 Over 30% of new grads leave their jobs within 3 years, a sharp contrast to Japan’s older generations, who often stayed at 1 company for life.
😰 Some workers turn to these agencies to escape the stress of toxic workplaces, where harassment, unpaid overtime, and even “karoshi” (death by overwork) remain grim realities.
🕳️ Japan’s chronic labour shortage—with just 2.3% unemployment and 163 job openings for every 100 seekers—has also shifted the power dynamic, making it more understandable for workers to walk away.
Why Do People Need Help Quitting?
In Japan, workplace pressure can make it feel downright impossible.
🚫 | 40.7% of resignation agency clients said they sought help because their employer tried or was likely to block them from leaving. Nearly 25% were worried their firm would react badly |
💔 | Some employers intimidate workers into staying by ripping up resignation letters or forcing them to find their own replacements. |
Would you consider using a resignation agency? |
 | Sow UnfairWhy Farmers Are Protesting the Autumn Budget |
Last week, thousands protested, some driving tractors through central London, to protest changes in inheritance tax (IHT) rules announced in the Autumn Budget - dubbed the "tractor tax".
Who’s Protesting?
 | Farmers and rural groups, led by the National Farmers Union (NFU), are furious about changes to agricultural property relief (APR). |
10,000 protesters rallied in Westminster last Tuesday. The NFU also hosted a conference to lobby MPs about the potential impact on farms and food production.
What’s Changing in the Autumn Budget?
🗓️ Agricultural property relief (APR) currently allows family farms to avoid paying IHT on land, tractors, buildings, and crops if they’re actively farmed for 2 years or more. | 🚜 From 6 April 2026, APR will only apply to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property. |
🔻 Any value above £1 million will be taxed at a reduced rate of 20%, compared to the usual 40% IHT rate. | 🔂 Families will be allowed to pay this tax in interest-free instalments over 10 years. |
 |  |  |
Why Are Farmers So Angry?
⛑️ In 2021/22, APR and business property relief (BPR) saved families £4.4 billion in IHT. BPR alone saved £2.9 billion and helped over 4,170 estates.
😪 Farmers feel these reliefs are essential. Without them, some fear they’ll have to sell up rather than pass on to family members, take out hefty loans to cover the tax bill, or stop farming altogether.
🪙 And when they earn as little as 1p from every loaf of bread or block of cheese sold as it is (NFU), plus losing subsidies post-Brexit, farmers are unhappy.
 | The Treasury claims most farms won’t feel the pinch, pointing out that couples could still pass on up to £3 million tax-free when other exemptions are factored in. |
 | But Rupert Burchett, an agricultural property solicitor, disagrees: “If you just use bare agricultural land values, 40% of farms will be affected. When you add on the value of farmhouses, diversified farm buildings and so on, that figure skyrockets.” |
The reality? With a single combine harvester costing £500,000, for many farmers, £1 million barely scratches the surface of their total assets.
👀 What This Means For You 👀
It’s not only about farmers and inheritance; it’s about food supply….
🛒 Prices: If small farms go under, domestic food production could suffer, and prices at the supermarkets might rise.
🌎 Food supply: With fewer farmers producing locally, the UK would need to import more food. This makes the country more vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and trade issues.
😓 Rural decline: Rural communities could also feel the economic blow if family farms sell out to large corporations. This could means large-scale unemployment, and the erosion of UK heritage traditions, skills, and identity in rural communities.
Winter Is Coming
& Energy Bills Are Rising
Here’s How to Stay Warm and Save
🔋 Energy bills are creeping up again this January. Ofgem’s latest announcement bumps the energy price cap by £21, pushing the average annual bill in England, Scotland, and Wales to £1,738.
📈 While it’s a small rise compared to the surges we’ve seen recently, it’s still an extra £1.75 a month many of us could do without.
🙋 What is the energy price cap?It’s the maximum suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity, reviewed every 3 months by Ofgem. | 🧾 Before 2022The average household paid around £1,216 per year for energy under the cap. |
⚠️ The Energy CrisisRussia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022 sent gas prices soaring, leading to fears of bills exceeding £4,000. Government support measures prevented that, but the cap still climbed dramatically. | 🥶 After 2022In Jan 2023 the cap peaked at £4,279, leaving households struggling despite government energy bill discounts. Now at £1,738, the cap is far lower than last winter, but it’s still 43% higher than pre-crisis levels. |
5 Winter Energy-Saving Tips
Looking for ways to combat the cold and save on bills? We’ve got 10 simple winter tips to help you stay cosy without breaking the bank.
☑️ 1. Check Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Insulation is your best friend in winter. Topping up to 270mm of loft insulation could save you £200/year in a semi-detached home. Some Age UK branches offer free energy checks and provide free energy saving devices.
🥅 2. Hunt for a Better Energy Deal
If you’re on a standard variable tariff, your prices will rise and fall with the energy cap. While this worked well when prices dropped last summer, the January increase might make fixing your tariff worthwhile. Look for a 12-month fixed deal that’s cheaper than the cap and has no hefty exit fees, so you can switch again if prices drop.
ICYMI
GFY has partnered with Nous to offer GFY members a £50 sign-up bonus when they switch using Nous, an AI-powered tool that manages household bills and saves users £500+ annually.
Sign up for free via this link to claim your £50 bonus and enjoy stress-free bill management.
🧠 3. Use Appliances Wisely
Certain appliances are energy guzzlers. On average, these cost the most to run annually, according to Which?…
 Washer-dryers: £209/year |  Condenser tumble dryers: £127/year |  Fridge-freezers: £110/year |
You can save money on your appliances by:
Washing clothes at 30°C instead of 40°C (38% cheaper).
Using eco settings on appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.
Defrosting frozen food in the fridge to help the fridge stay cool more efficiently.
Drying similar fabrics together – items of the same material dry at the same rate. No need to keep running the dryer over and over!
Showing your appliances some love – time to clean out your laundry filters, descale your kettle, defrost your freezer, and give the fridge coils a quick vacuum. It’ll keep them running smoother and save you money.
💨 4. Draught-Proof Your Home
Small gaps = big heat loss. Check your windows, doors, chimneys, and loft hatches for draughts. Use some easy at-home DIY foam strips, draught excluders, or chimney pillows to seal the gaps. But be cautious not to block essential ventilation like trickle vents, as these prevent damp and mould.
♨️ 5. Only Heat What You Need
Shut doors to unused rooms to keep the heat where it’s needed most.
Consider a smart thermostat to control heating schedules and avoid wasting energy when you’re out.
Heat the person not the home by using things like a heated blanket
🍑 🎙️Kate Nash’s OnlyFans Makes More Than Her 5-Country Tour |  |
“Butts for Tour Buses”
🪩 After a successful three-week US tour, Kate Nash kicked off her UK dates in Glasgow last week and is heading to Europe next. Her London show? Completely sold out.
🚌 And yet Nash has joined OnlyFans to help fund her tour, coining the slogan: “Butts for tour buses.” Why? Touring doesn’t just fail to make money— apparently it racks up major losses.
🎧 Streaming ≠ Earning - she can’t depend on income from streams either, saying she gets about “£0.003 of a penny per stream”.
[You’re either relying on selling] enough T-shirts to cover the debt, or you cut people's wages, or you fire band and crew, or you travel dangerously.”
Where’s the Money Going? The Cost of Touring Crisis
Even with packed venues, artists often struggle to make a profit. Pirate Studios recently did a survey of 1,700 musicians (bands, solo acts, and DJs) - to get a sense of how rising ticket prices are affecting their earnings on tour.
👇 29% of artists have seen their gig fees actually drop.
🚎 88% said costs of touring (like travel, accommodation, crew wages, and promotional material) - have gone up.
👌 Not a single musician reported any decrease in these expenses.
💷 After all those costs, only 29%, saw any earnings from touring. Even fewer, 26% of artists said they actually made any profit from gigs.
👕 Venues now take up to 40% of merchandise sales. | 🎟️ Artists have no control or ownership over extra fees (looking at you, Ticketmaster). | 🏨 Costs for the basics e.g. hotels, lighting crews—have ballooned in the post-pandemic era. |
Not Just Nash
 Even megastars like Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny have concert axed dates, blaming weak ticket sales and expensive touring logistics. |  🦶 Lily Allen recently revealed she also turned to OF and makes more from foot pics than her Spotify streams. |  Singer-songwriter Tessa Violet admitted she hasn’t made a profit from touring in 6 years, adding: “That’s literally every artist I know.” |
November Explainer:
Growing Your Income
Week 4: Legit Side Hustles & The Upskilling That’s Worth It
Part 1
Side Hustles
What is a Side Hustle? | A side hustle is an income stream that provides financial flexibility without quitting your day job |
Examples:
A dental nurse during the day spending their evenings crocheting cute items to sell on Etsy. | Or maybe you work part-time in PR and use your free hours to do freelance writing about topics you’re passionate about… | Full-time electricians moonlighting as pet-sitters. |
How to Choose a Side Hustle
What are you good at? 🏆 Tip: Play to Your Strengths | What do you enjoy? 🥰 Tip: Turn Passions into Profits Find your niche—quirky passion projects often make great side hustles. If you’re obsessed with houseplants, maybe you can buy struggling plants, bring them back to life, and sell them. Love gaming? Start a Twitch stream. Love photography? Sell stock images. |
What do you already have? 🥰 Tip: Reduce Your Overhead Costs | Solve a Problem You Know 🙋 Tip: Scratch Your Own Itch Some of the best ideas come from fixing a problem you’ve experienced. Airbnb, for instance, started because the founders noticed a demand for affordable short-term stays during popular conferences. What problems have you faced that others might pay you to solve? |
How much time can you realistically commit?
Are you looking for a quick cash sum or a long-term development project? If the latter, make sure your hustle is future-proof.
Platforms That Make Side Hustling Easier 🛜
 | Fiverr is a hub for all kinds of freelance work—from graphic design to voiceovers. You set up a profile, list your services, and start getting clients. Fiverr charges a 20% service fee per job. |
 | Taskrabbit is great for handypeople selling DIY projects like cleaning, painting and decorating, moving, home repairs, or furniture assembly (+ more!). You also take home 100% of your hourly rate, and all tips. |
The familiar names of Vinted, depop, Etsy and Ebay are also great options.
 |  |  |
💰 What About Taxes? 💰
If you’re in the UK, you’ll need to know the rules around paying taxes on your side hustle income.
Under £1,000: If your earnings are under £1,000, you’re covered by the tax-free trading allowance and don’t need to report this income.
Over £1,000: You’ll need to register as self-employed with HMRC and file a self-assessment tax return.
Don’t forget, side hustle income might push you into a higher tax bracket, so plan accordingly. But here’s the good news - you can claim expenses like equipment, travel, or even internet costs to lower your tax bill.
Part 2
Upskilling
👀 What Does Upskilling Mean? | Learning new and enhanced skills that relate to your current role. Think about it as “leveling up” your skills. - Coursera |
Upskilling helps you unlock new opportunities and boost your earning potential. By adding valuable skills to your toolkit, you can boost your earning potential, switch careers, or even negotiate a higher salary in your current role.
Why Upskilling Works 🏆
Instead of spending years studying something broad, you focus on specific, in-demand skills that boost your earning potential right now. Employers value workers who stay current with market trends and add new skills to their repertoire.
For instance:
Tech skills like coding languages like Python for data-driven roles, or Excel for financial analysis.
Creative skills like video editing or graphic design are increasingly valuable as businesses ramp up their online presence.
Even soft skills like negotiation or leadership can land you better pay or help you stand out when applying for a promotion.
How to Choose a Skill
🎯 Assess Your Goals | 🕳️ Identify Gaps |
📊 Follow Market Trends | ⚡️ Pick Something You’ll Enjoy |
Affordable Ways to Upskill
1. Use Online Learning Platforms
There are too many to count. Udemy, Skillshare, the Project Management Institute, Adobe Creative Cloud, Hubspot Academy + many, many more.
✅ Pros ✅ Access to courses from top universities like Stanford or Yale. Certificates that are widely recognised and can boost your CV. | ❌ Cons ❌ Deadlines on some courses can feel rigid. Certificate pricing varies, and some courses are pricier than others. |
✅ Pros ✅ Focuses on career-relevant skills like Excel, project management, and leadership. Seamless integration with LinkedIn—certifications appear on your profile. | ❌ Cons ❌ Requires a subscription (though free trials are available). Content can feel surface-level for advanced learners. |
Youtube
✅ Pros ✅ Completely free with no subscription required. Diverse range of tutorials, from coding to creative software. | ❌ Cons ❌ Quality varies widely—some tutorials lack depth or structure. No official certifications. |
2. Ask Your Employer
Employers often provide free or subsidised training programs. If your workplace has a budget for professional development, make sure to take advantage of it.
3. Find A Mentor & Network
Mentors can provide insight, feedback, and even hands-on guidance in building your skills.
But where can find a mentor?
🖇️ Look within your workplace - managers or senior colleagues are often eager to talk about their passions. Join industry-specific communities, LinkedIn groups, or meetup events, or you can even use virtual mentoring platforms.
🤝 Network. Attend workshops, trade shows, or free webinars to meet like-minded people. Stay active on professional forums or social media spaces where people share advice and opportunities, and ask for informational interviews to gain perspective from professionals in roles you admire.
Top Skills For A Larger Paycheck 📈
1. Generative AI (GenAI)
Average Salary Band: Varies by role; AI-related roles average $100,000 - $200,000+
Key Skills: Proficiency in developing and using AI tools, including prompt engineering to refine GenAI outputs; understanding of machine learning algorithms; and familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
2. Software Development & Engineering
Average Salary Band: $80,000 - $150,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Coding languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript. Software frameworks such as React, Angular, or Node.js. Tools like GitHub, Docker, and Kubernetes.
3. Data Analysis & Data Science
Average Salary Band: $70,000 - $130,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Programming languages such as Python and R. Statistical analysis and machine learning.
4. Cloud Computing
Average Salary Band: $85,000 - $120,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Cloud architecture and security. Virtualisation technologies. DevOps practices (CI/CD).
5. UX/UI Design
Average Salary Band: $60,000 - $110,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Prototyping tools like Figma or Adobe XD. Design principles, accessibility, and user testing. Basic HTML and CSS for front-end implementation.
6. Digital Marketing
Average Salary Band: $50,000 - $100,000+
Key Skills to Learn: SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing). Social media management and analytics. Email marketing and content strategy.
7. Cybersecurity
Average Salary Band: $80,000 - $120,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Ethical hacking and penetration testing. Risk assessment and vulnerability analysis. Security frameworks like NIST and ISO 27001.
8. Project Management
Average Salary Band: $70,000 - $110,000+
Key Skills to Learn: Agile and Scrum methodologies. Tools like Jira, Trello, and Asana. Budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
⚖️ Balancing Upskilling With Life ⚖️
Make Use of Dead Time: Listen to podcasts or audiobooks while commuting or working out.
Set a Small Weekly Goal: Even 15 minutes a day.
Practice Through Side Hustles: Use freelancing to both earn and learn.
Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself when you complete a course or land your first paid gig.
Upskilling is an investment in you. With the right strategy, it can be a game-changer for your income and career prospects.
✅ Week 4 Checklist ✅
Pick A Hustle/Skill
Side Hustle: Think about skills you already have or hobbies you love. What could you turn into a business? (e.g., tutoring, photography, freelance writing).
Upskilling: Pick a skill you’d like to improve or learn. Is it something that could make you more marketable in your current job or help you get a better one?
Pick A Platform
Side Hustle: Pick a platform to get started. See above for inspiration.
Upskilling: Choose an affordable way to learn. Look into free resources like YouTube, or sign up for a course on Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or even a certification through a site like PMI.
Set Your Goal
Side Hustle: Decide what success looks like (e.g., making an extra £200/month). Break it into smaller steps (e.g., set up an online shop or reach out to 5 potential clients).
Upskilling: Set a deadline for mastering the basics of a new skill (e.g., learn the basics of project management in 3 months). Track your progress weekly.
Sources/Read More:
Would You Pay Someone to Quit Your Job for You?
Sow Unfair - Why Farmers Are Protesting the Autumn Budget
Winter is Coming & Energy Bills Are Rising
Kate Nash’s OnlyFans Makes More Than Her 5-Country Tour
