On the Great Company podcast hosted by Jamie Laing, Rochelle opened up about growing up without much, the reality of music industry money and the shame around getting hired help.
The moment she realised she was different
Rochelle’s mum started life in a hostel as a single parent. From there, she secured a council house and eventually bought it. She worked multiple jobs to keep her family afloat and did so in a way that meant Rochelle never once felt like they were missing out.
“I never knew what we didn’t have – a lot, life wise or financially.”
Her mum did everything in her power to make sure her daughter felt safe, normal and enough. And it worked right up until the day Rochelle was put in a different queue at school dinner time to claim her free meals.
“I used to be really, really embarrassed about standing in the queue”
For many, being treated differently from the other kids at school due to being from a low income family can really have an impact. Deep down, kids just want to fit in and there’s a fear of being found out.
The music industry didn’t pay what you’d think
It might surprise you to learn that Rochelle made more money as a member of S Club Juniors than she did as part of The Saturdays. The music industry changed massively in the years between.
By the time The Saturdays came along, record label deals had become increasingly weighted in the label’s favour. Artists were finding ways to build income outside of music using brand partnerships, endorsements and appearances because the money from their label simply wasn’t enough to live the life people assumed they were living.
Then the labels caught on. Enter the 360 deal, a contract structure that gave labels a cut not just of music revenue, but of brand deals, endorsements and personal appearances too.
The public perception of pop star wealth is rarely accurate and for Rochelle and her Saturdays bandmates, that gap between image and reality created real pressure. When everyone around you, fans, press, even people close to you assumes you’re rich, it becomes harder to push back against a lifestyle you can’t actually afford.
“You were expected to live a lifestyle that you can’t always prop up. Everyone expects it of you”
Whilst this is absolutely true of those in the spotlight – it’s a feeling many “regular” people get caught up in also – the need to “Keep Up With The Joneses” is very real.
The shame in asking for help
Rochelle shared that she has someone who helps her at home Monday to Saturday. Her take on it is simple: “I couldn’t have a career if I didn’t.” But telling her mum was terrifying. Her mum’s response? “Too good to do your washing up are you?”.
Rochelle reflects on why her mum reacted in this way explaining that growing up, people with nannies were rich people who didn’t look after their own kids. Rochelle felt that paid help felt like a betrayal of where she came from. It took her mum time to come round and Rochelle had to work through her own guilt to get there too. So many women carry this quietly: the fear that spending money on support makes you look like you’ve forgotten your roots.
When money is tight, it goes towards essentials and every penny counts; help around the house to many can seem like a luxury. For Rochelle, this was help around the home and with the kids. For others, it may be a cleaner, it may be a gardener, it may be a meal preparation service that costs more than cooking yourself.
Ultimately, it’s about what is right for you at that moment in time and making sure it fits in with your budget.
In Rochelle’s case, investing some of their money into help in the right areas can free her up to take on the quality work she wants, which in turn provides for the family.
At Financielle, we loved hearing Rochelle’s money story and we’re looking forward to seeing her various business ventures and revenue streams flourish in the coming years – as an inspiration to so many.
The content produced by Financielle is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice
Featured image: Rochelle’s Instagram