I‘ve been watching the program “Til debt do us part“, the series on TV where couples apply to get a money makeover from Gail Vaz-Oxlade. It is incredible to me how seemingly intelligent people can be so incredibly stupid about money. It’s really quite simple. If you make $4000 net a month and you spend $6000 a month, remarkably you will be in debt for $2000 a month. If you do this for 12 months, you’ll be $24K in the hole. Why this is so complicated to people is the topic of this week’s blog. You eat what you kill. In caveman days if you didn’t go out to hunt, you didn’t eat and you didn’t survive. It was that simple. Life is a little more complex now but if you have a job that pays minimum wage, you will never be able to afford a house, car, vacations and plasma TV’s. Nevertheless this same person often believes they are somehow “entitled” to live with the same lifestyle their parents had.
Unfortunately the credit card companies, banks and the big box stores are more than happy to advance you money you haven’t earned. People are so shocked that the “buy now pay later” scam where if you don’t pay when you are supposed to the 30% interest is retroactive to the day you got the merchandise. At 30% interest per year, a $1500 TV paid over 3 years will cost you $1360 in interest alone for a total of $2860. Does it still sound like a good deal? People don’t want to wait to save up and buy it. They want it right now, everything now!
I have a friend who laments against the evils of the workaday life but let me ask a question. Will your children get braces if they need them? Will they be supported to go to higher education or will they be saddled with loans well into adulthood? Will they have a yard to play in? All these things take money. The generation X and Y are disgusted by what they saw their parents go through to support their families - and with good reason. With companies laying people off, recession taking a big bite out of retirement savings and companies closing resulting in the loss of pensions they worked all their lives for. It is normal that they would look at this and say, “No way. Not for me!”. That’s fine but they don’t have an alternative to get all that cool stuff they want. They just know they don’t want to work like their parents did. Meanwhile they want to be able to go out to restaurants, take a taxi because public transit is such a drag, have designer clothes and go on holidays they finance on credit cards - not to mention all the electronic goodies like plasma TV’s, cell phones, computers, video games and stereos.
I remember when my generation was in university and so many majored in teaching. When they came out there were no jobs. Imagine working for 4 years and having to work at McDonalds. That’s because they didn’t do their research to know that it would be years before there were sufficient retirements to accommodate new teachers. It’s supply and demand. You need to find something that interests you and something an organization will be willing to pay you for.
Please don’t think that I want people to work at jobs that they hate because can be soul-destroying, but you have to be practical. Decide what is important to you. What lifestyle fits your dreams? Do you want a house, kids and a car? If these things are not important, it will be much easier for you to reach your financial goals. My middle son wants none of those things so his requirements are easily fulfilled. But if you do; you’ll need to think ahead about how you’re going to get there and let me tell you it’s going to take sacrifice and a lot of work.
If generation X and Y don’t want to go down the corporate highway that’s fine with me but they will have to reduce their expectations. Did you know that 58% of baby boomers are still partially or completely supporting their adult children? What I find is that people of this generation want to be paid to pursue their hobbies. Guess what folks; hobbies are for after work and the weekends. For those who can make their hobbies become a sustainable means of income, that’s fabulous; more power to you. For the rest of you, grow up get a job. And if you want a better job, go back to school at night and get the skills you need to get a better job. One area we baby boomers failed miserably was to prepare our children for the rigors of adult life, me included.
It would be nice if you would take a moment to thank your parents for what they sacrificed to provide for you if indeed they did. It will make them feel better because they will probably have to work into their 80’s.
P.S. besides… we need you to be financially secure so you can care for us in our golden years - diapers are very expensive.
Thanks Jason for the inspiration for this post.
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
hi Kay,
I really enjoy reading your posts, sensible and informative. I tried to regularly visit your site.
I think one of the biggest problems I see (I work in a high school), is that kids have too much too soon. This fosters the belief that they need all this “stuff ” when they move out (you know, big screen TV, cable, expensive cell phones and laptops, a new car, etc.) The parking lot at school is FULL of shiny new cars, many of which are paid for by the parents. Kids get expensive presents like $300 phones and the latest hi-tech gadgets for Christmas. An alarming number of them even have entertainment systems in their bedrooms (and are you kidding me??) I’ve always felt that these parents are doing their children a terrible disservice by not teaching them how to pinch pennies. My parents made me learn and I know they had a whole lot more pennies than we have (that’s for sure :o)
Josie, welcome to the family. I hope you stop by often and bring friends.
Jen, my husband made me realize that my 5 year old grandson received a WII for his birthday from his uncle and a TV for his room from his other Uncle and Aunt for Christmas. I didn’t give this stuff but it’s still happening. At this rate he’s going to expect a Jaguar at 10.
Kay, you flatter me. But I suppose I owed you one since you’ve been inspiring us to think about all theses profound aspects of living with your periodic and insightful editorials.
I am too a fan of Till Dept Do Us Part, my girlfriend and I particularly enjoy the theme song that comically goes, “money money money money money money monehhh”. It is absolutely mind-bending to see how far-gone some folks are, particularly the all-encompassing denial that reigns in the lives of these otherwise lovely people. And I think that therein lies the source of their financial recklessness; their severe irresponsibility seems to originate more from an emotional place than a logical one. It would explain the sheer stupidity of somehow amassing a half-million dollar debt when (for instance) both partners have successful careers, or even burgeoning small businesses. Even the hostess of the show seems to look for the relationship issues that lie beneath the debts, kind of like Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) who pretends to interview the owners about their pets, when in fact he’s trying to discern what the owner’s psychology might be doing to negatively impact the animal’s behavior.
I guess what I’m saying is that I believe that many of these people who have lost control of their finances may be doing so for emotional reasons, like over-eaters, hoarders, masochists. The bad behavior is motivated by irrationality, not faulty math.
About your observations regarding money and labor, I do want to clarify some of the comments I have made in my past responses. I don’t fundamentally dislike or reject the notion of putting in a hard day’s work to put food on the table and maybe putting together some kind of a nest egg for the future. I am more opposed to the idea of powerless surrender to the mindless 9-5 toil for the unique purpose of survival, a life devoid of any personal, artistic, or spiritual journey, beyond a good book or a trip to the Caribbean once in a blue moon.
I reject this notion of working solely out of some sentimental notion of sacrifice, with no real concern for one’s own health, security, and emotional wellness. I look at my mother’s generation, perhaps the last of the “hard workers” that rarely asked why, and never put themselves first in any circumstance. My generation is certainly indebted to hers, more than words could describe, for keeping their head’s down and pounding those rocks relentlessly to promote a more comfortable future for their children.
Unfortunately, the “establishment” has viciously betrayed this generation (and the one previous) by letting the educational system fall into decay, mismanaging/defrauding pensions and savings, and foremost, promoting a new breed of extreme capitalism with deferred responsibility (credit) that was designed to target their children (namely us and future generations) from the very moment we come into this world. It’s the repackaged and re-branded return of good old fashioned feudalism with entire generations now being born into economic slavery. Think of the “stimulus” schemes, the “pay nothing until…” schemes, the credit cards, the credit lines, etc.
So what do we do, you ask? Do we simply thumb our noses at the world and decide not to participate in the madness? That would be ideal, if we were truly willing to burn our belongings and take off to what’s left of the wilderness in a grand exodus. I am certainly not willing to do that, but I think there still exists a way to reach some kind of a compromise between keeping a roof over your head and taking care of your family, and giving yourself an opportunity to take active part in your life. To actually be a participant instead of victim of blind consumerism.
There is so much more to say about this, but I have tried to condense it for purposes of responding to another awesome Kayway topic.
Oh Kay, you write so much sense. This topic is heartbreaking. I do so worry about the future of my children and grandchildren. My two still come to me lookiong for ‘loans’ to help them out. And I am past retirement age and still having to find some income to supplement my pensions.
jakill, I’m disturbed but not surprised by your story. When I recently heard that 58% of baby boomers are still supporting their adult children I was shocked. You know of course that you are enabling them. I know it’s not easy, I too was guilty but I have to say after I realized I really wasn’t helping I did stop. Not easy, we spend many years trying to make things as good as we can for them and it’s hard to stop. I was doing it for the wrong reasons and I was worried on some level they might not love me anymore which is ridiculous. If they don’t love you for not giving them money, they didn’t love you in the first place. Good luck I know it’s not easy.
My dear Jason, I had to ponder my response to you. One concept in your response resonated with me, the one about toiling and the best we could hope for was a good book and a trip once in a while. I guess you captured my life but if I die today, my children grew up with a nice home to live in, they were born out of love, they always had good food and care and will be left with a significant inheritance because I am worth much more dead (financially of course). I stayed home with them for 12 years which I believed this was the right thing to do and they each had the opportunity to go to school to whatever level they desired. I would have done whatever it took to ensure they had what they needed. I consider that a parent’s duty. Providing for our children is No.1. I did my job and fortunately they agree. I am your classic baby boomer but I hope for you that when you’re where I am you can say the same. I know you are not criticizing we mindless workers (which includes your beloved Mother) and I wish you luck to find a balance. Humans aren’t good at balance. Normally the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other without stopping in the middle.
P.S. remember that those benefits people enjoy like hospitals, daycares, CLSC’s, unemployment insurance and maternity and paternity benefits are all supported by people who work and pay taxes. The less people work and pay, the less social programs there will be regardless of who is in power.
I totally agrees Kay, I’m really having a hard time looking for a job right now and I’m thinking of having a credit card for emergency purposes only. I know it really sounds enticing but you can never tellwhen you need a credit card. “always embrace the lifestyle your salary can support” thanks for the info…
Ethan, thank you for sharing. It is a difficult time in the job market for sure. A credit card is a good thing to have, keep the available credit low ie: $1000 and never use it for things you should save up for before buying but it is good to have in an emergency. Good luck, keep us posted.
Maybe I’m one you’re talking about, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to find creative outlets that let you fill your life with things you care about being the same as what you’re paid to do. I mean, you must enjoy writing, and you have ads on your site - so you’re making money (however much) from something you enjoy - is that bad??
I was right there with you for most of it, but you came off sounding pretty harsh about the younger generations. Well, we just learn what we’re taught, right? I *WISH* my parents would butt out and let me grow up and not be there pushing their money and support on me at every turn! … and I’m almost 30!! So now maybe you need a follow-up post to chew out the Baby Boomers, since you’ve started with the generations younger.
I’m sorry to sound harsh, too. I think I know where you’re coming from. It’s hard to watch people spend money so foolishly when it seems so obvious that they don’t have to!!
QurlyQ, I’m so happy to hear from you. I was wondering when someone would get mad at me for writing that piece. Just a note of clarification, this site is not monetized. The ads here are an exchange between bloggers. I don’t make a cent, in fact the website costs me every month to maintain. I have a full time job, this is my hobby.
Nevertheless, I have to agree that we have created the monsters even as well intended as we were. I’m pretty sure you could stop your parents give you money and being controlling if you wanted to. I assume you don’t make enough money doing the things you care about otherwise they wouldn’t feel the need to supplement your income but perhaps I’m wrong. Another thing some parents do try to control their children with money which is a serious mistake.
I didn’t think you were harsh, this your view and I respect it. Good luck I hope you find the right balance, we seem to have missed the mark.
Hi Kay
The Baby Boomer generation is leaving an interresting legacy behind. The Wii in your example makes a good point. Maybe giving a complex but oh so cheap system assembled in a foreign country is making the Baby Boomer generation feel better for robbing the next generations of these jobs. Generation X is the lost generation that will be a solid contributor. Generation Y will be very skillful at robbing the Baby Boomers of their assets. What goes around … eventually comes around. I think nonetheless that the future has never been so bright
Dotane, OMG I never thought of it like that. Your insight is amazing but not surprising. You’re absolutely right. I guess we deserve what we get. Our good intentions are just that but the results are the results. Some spoiled, unmotivated, entitled people waiting for their allowance. On the other hand we have amazing and thoughtful young people working to save the planet and have some balance in their lives without selling their souls to a corporation.
When I was growing up in the 60’s, we never bought the things we could not afford and the only things we borrowed money for were Cars and House. I learn how the balance a checkbook, which I remind you the X&Y generation think if they have checks and an account they have money.
I think we need to change it for the up coming generation. I did read some of the comments and it is true we Aunts and Uncle do spoil the kids. However I only give presents at birthday and Christmas, never take them to a toy store and am very careful on the items given.
My teen is learning not to spend what you don’t have. Do not borrow money from credit card people, Plan your spend on your income. We really need to go back to 1/3 for housing, 1/8 for car and take transportation til you can afford it. Unless you are a straight A student and get one for your graduation. that we have promise my daughter. However she will have to pay the insurance herself. Let’s teach savings again.. I hate to admit it but mostly the parents and school systems are the culprit of this problem… the solution is we need to take back the reins an teach them.
Auntie E - thanks for chiming in. There is nothing wrong with sharing what you have with your children as long as it is understood that it’s a special gift. I too received a car at the age of 16 partially because my Father did not want to drive us around and there was no public transportation. My car cost $3000 and because I was (am) female the insurance was about $25 a year added to his policy. I agree that I have never put items on a credit card for gifts or things I want. It is good to have one for emergencies and an emergency is not a great shoe sale.
Borrow money only for cars and houses and keep the car payments in line with your income not your ego. Cars are a cost not an investment for most people. If you have to borrow the down payment for your house you can’t afford a house. Save up properly and don’t put yourself in the position of being house poor. It is not fun, I’ve been there.
This is a great thread, and this may be to late for any other responses and/or readers but I’d like to add my two cents anyway. I am on the cusp of millennial and gen-x. I know and understand there is a healthy (unhealthy) proportion of young people that feel entitled to lifestyles of their parents without consideration of the decades of work the boomers have given to the country and to the family. That said, there are an equally large amount of boomers that feel entitled to overly generous retirements and executive/senior pay; particularly in the public sector; the difference is that the boomers are realizing their entitlements.
I went to grad school with a great group of young people, most of whom understood there was a long road still ahead of them in terms of success, but we are willing to work. However, we weren’t prepared to enter the working world which valued seniority above all else. We are usually on the low end of the spectrum on most payscales, and the problem is that if/when boomers at the other extreme retire, there is no way that our companies and organizations can afford to pay enormous pensions and provide us with the same financial opportunities as boomers recieved; it is impossible. Pension double-dipping, 70%-80% pensions for life, pension spiking, etc. Will all cost us as a country, and specifically us as boomer children and grand children more than we will ever be able to pay without huge sacrifices.
As a group, the younger generations may not have dealt with the same problems as Boomers, but we have our own that Boomers have never experienced (i.e. massive education debt, skyrocketing housing costs, higher entry-level standards). Its hard to blame Boomers for anything more than we as a younger generation can blame ourselves for, but I’m not so sure Boomers’ hands are clean either.
Denverado, thanks for weighing in and BTW it’s never too late to comment. I hope you read my other blog where I take the Generation X/Y viewpoint because you’re absolutely right there are two sides to this coin for sure. i realized after I had written the first part that there was another story to tell and I did my best to tell it even though I am definitely a “boomer”. I had some help from my children both X and Y. Once you’ve read it, I would appreciate if you would give me your feedback.
After reading this posting, I just had to leave a comment for the baby boomers. I graduated from college in 1994. I worked well over 40 hours a week. Went to school in evening for a masters degree. From 1994 to 2004 I watched probably over 100 coworkers get laid off. They were mostly young folks but some older baby boomers - the ones that cried were always baby boomers (I still have the image of that fat middle aged guy being escorted out by security bawling his head off with his shirt untucked). There were a total of 10 layoffs in those ten years. Nice stability. I didn’t get laid off and yes the money was easy and good. I kept my head down and worked and saved my pennies.
But I did notice lots of self congratulating baby boomers REGULARLY talk about how hard they worked but were, amazingly, gone by 3 o’clock on Friday. One baby boomer manager actually came in REGULARLY at 10 am to sell jewelry at her desk and was gone by 3 pm. I am not exaggerating. I watched baby boomer managers get together and fire their staff only to leave… just managers. Needless to say, that company’s stock isn’t doing too well.
All this would be fine if you guys wouldn’t talk so damn much about how hard you worked. I never saw it. I saw lots of people in my generation staying late. Sometimes the managers would stay late doing quarter numbers. But can’t say I saw very many from YOUR generation staying late. When you did, you practically got up in your chair and yelled out how you stayed til 6 pm the night before (it was actually 5:30 because I was there getting ready for a teleconference with Malaysia).
So this is what you guys need to understand: you guys developed your career during a VERY stable economic period in history. Jobs for corporations were largely domestic. You didn’t have to compete with someone in India at 1/4 to 1/10th your salary (I dunno how many baby boomer managers smirked at me when they would go over labor rates in presentations). Anyways, your career also developed when employment could generally be obtained by being aggressive - the Christmas party scene in Kramer v. Kramer is one example. If I tried that, a SWAT team would show up and I’d be a felon. Your jobs were also paid very well relative to the required education and skill levels. Wages have been flat for blue collar workers in the last decade. Your careers also developed when labor and employment laws were regularly respected and enforced. For example, did you know that the expected billing rate at large law firms have inflated to over 3000 hours year? It wasn’t like that when the baby boomers were associates (the partners won’t admit it but independent data confirms it as well as some more honest law professors). Yes, those young folks sure are slackers - 3000 hours a year of slacking. Even after generating that kind of income they STILL might get laid off. So much for the associate to partnership mentor path YOUR generation had. So, is it any wonder they are a bit skeptical about working for a ‘corporation.’ It isn’t as nice as it was for you guys.
Now lets take a look at the economic policies that your generation pursued - deregulation of banks (smart move), spent all of the so called Social Security trust fund, wars based on lies, eviscerated a progressive tax policy, expanded tax deduction policies that have little to do with anything except it is what the middle class wanted, housing market (anything more need be said?), etc. And what is your example of affluence of the youth? A wii? I dunno about you but I see a LOT of baby boomers on 25k dollar Harleys. That is really wise. Of course you’re going to say ‘that money was from hard work.’ Yea right. That money was from the bubbles you guys kept blowing up that your kids and their kids and their kids are going to have to pay for.
Also, I don’t remember anyone buying me anything. I recall saving up my money for my car. But I do remember my baby boomer dad getting a job because his dad was high up in the company. I also remember my dad having a car when he was younger. I also remember my dad getting rapid promotions to management even though he didn’t have a college degree (can you even get a decent paying job without a college degree?). I also remember my parents starting to ask about moving in with me after my dad got laid off. Luckily he got a job. I am not faulting my dad. He did indeed work hard and I do respect him. My point is that generalizations on the basis of anecdotal evidence is largely confirmational - so just stop it. Younger folks don’t run around talking about how you guys are lazy because some of you ran into bad luck. They say you got screwed.
So you guys can do everyone a favor. You baby boomers need to be quiet about how much the younger generation are slackers, lazy, etc. I went to law school recently and the kids are hard workers. Yes, they multitask. Yes, they are demanding when they really want something. But when push came to shove, they PERFORMED and were excellent team players. Based on my experience, you guys just talk and talk and talk and then you bitch and bitch and when things didn’t go your way… you’d undermine whatever you said you agreed to. I’ve seen it so many times in the corporate world. In contrast, uncooperative people in a younger group are usually sidelined in favor of the project. Saw it more than once. The younger ones just want to get the job done and get it done right. It was quite refreshing after spending the first ten years of my career working for and with you baby boomers.
Aside from being immature is it is, quite frankly, dumb to bad mouth your kids because they, mostly the Gen Ys, are going to start shaping policies in a decade or so. They’ve already influenced the last Presidential race. The way you guys have been running things, there isn’t going to be much of a Federal budget. Also, enough of you will have died off that you wont have the political clout you have had the last thirty years. So things are going to get cut. I mean, Boehner (your favorite Republican) is openly talking about raising the retirement age to 70. I am a Democrat, but this is one policy that seems fair to me. I for one am going to eat what I kill… and it just might include your retirement (via ERISA litigation)… if you guys keep it up. So my recommendation is just stop bad mouthing your kids.
Thank you for your consideration.
GenX, Thank you for taking the time to express your views. I hope you will take the opportunity to read the sister story where I take your side. I used information from Gen X and Yers I know to show the “other side” of the story. I’m sorry to see that you are so bitter about Boomers, your country and management in general at such a young age. You demand that I stop generalizing however most of what you’ve written are generalizations about Boomers. It seems you are a hard worker and are responsible about money. It sounds like you are looking forward to sticking it to the Boomers. I can assure you there will be little joy in that but I’m sure you can’t see that now. Your ability to criticize is very strong, let’s hope your ability to build something better is even stronger.
Ugh. I can’t believe I’m about to defend baby boomers. I’m going to need to take a shower after this comment
@GenX
Okay, where to start?
How about with the author’s assumed favorite Republican, John Boehner?
Well, I very much doubt the author HAS a favorite Republican, considering she is Canadian. Anyways, it certainly wouldn’t be Boehner. Isn’t he the one with the bright orange perma-tan? In truth, the rest of the world pretty much agree that the lot of American Republicans are batshit crazy. So really, yours in a US-specific problem, not a generational one (after all, Canada’s housing market is doing fine, as are its banks).
But okay - I’ll bite. Let’s talk about the US.
Now it seems to me that pretty much all the policies you object to are Republican platform policies (though also endorsed by several conservative Democrats). So, if, in your opinion, the Republicans (and conservative Democrats) have ruined your country - an opinion with which I heartily agree - it is fair to ask the question, “Who’s voting for these morons?”
Now, allow me to direct you to a recent Gallup poll outlining party identification on a generational basis:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118285/democrats-best-among-generation-baby-boomers.aspx
In case the link fails to appear, allow me to quote the title: “Democrats Do Best Among Generation Y and Baby Boomers, Republicans do better among Generation X”
Oops! It seems that Republican support is actually strongest in Generation X. Now, that wouldn’t happen to be YOUR generation, would it?
Come to think of it, pretty much all the craziest policies, the ones that really screwed up your country, have come into place AFTER the bulk of Generation X reached voting age. What a strange coincidence. =D
Marc, what a wise and clever young man you are. You must have a wonderful Mother.
Some of these young adults you mention who need to “grow up and get a job” could have a mental illness (ex. moderate to severe depression.) I’m not saying that it’s a typical thing to have… but there are some out there with that kind of problem as well as many other mental or physical issues. Those kinds of people should be helped, and not told to simply “grow up.” My brother is a young adult and severely depressed (he has help) and I should hope my parents don’t throw him out. When they can’t help him any longer, my fiance and I will take him in. Anyway, my point was…. sometimes there is a good reason why some adults are living with their parents. I just wanted to get that message out there for those who don’t understand that mental illnesses can be disabling.
Melissa, I am truly impressed by your sensitivity and if you perceived that my blog wanted parents to throw their children out that was certainly not my intent. I hope you will read the mirror blog where I took the other side of the argument. Mental health issues are very difficult to deal with and I’m glad your brother has help. The fact that you will stand by him is a tribute to you and your parents for having raised you. Good luck to you, your brother and your parents.
I think the saddest thing absent from this debate is that the great economic surplus that resulted from the GI-Bill, the post-war boom, the deregulation of the 80s, and the productivity boom of the 90s was not re-invested in America at all. If the Gen-X and Gen-Y had the same educational and infrastructure and employment opportunities as the Boomers, they would not be living at home losing out on their most productive years. It is more profitable for corporations to invest in Asia and there is no incentive for the private sector to spend on American education or infrastructure. As the ‘Boomers’ leading our country in the 90s chose to sideline government investment in these things and subsidize private profits instead, we are now in a hole where are best educated generation as no job opportunities open that would allow them to ‘work hard’.
The greatest generation were ants.
The boomers were Grasshoppers.
And the Gen-X/Y are going to be screwed as retiring boomers vote to spend taxes on Medicare and Social Security rather than investing in our own economy.
Rather than bickering about who has it easiest in some contest to see who is morally most righteous by merit of being the most unnecesarily-poorly off… it would be better to work on how all of us can be better off so that none of us has to work 60 hour weeks leaving our children to fend for themselves.
Thank you Ben, this is an interesting viewpoint. You make some good points and I agree with many of them. What I find missing in your post is at what point do Gen X and Y take responsibility for their lives, stop blaming others and step up? Every generation has blamed the one before and certainly Boomers have more than their share of blame, but at the end of the day they will be dead and you’ll be left,… with what…a very good aptitude for video games? Good luck, I don’t have the answers just questions. Thanks for sharing.
Surely, this is an old post, but I find it so naive to say “grow up and get real jobs”…if we could have those! Creating businesses in sake of creating them is expensive, not only for the individuals involved, but also the systems (at least this side of the ocean, but I don’t think it’s free even there, without any investments). While people struggling to come by, it’s really that annoying arrogance of baby boomers, who rub their face saying it’s our fault that you made the world to work like this, depriving the ones, who work the cheapest. I don’t blame kids to smooch of the most they can from their parents, because honestly, the next time they will see any decent money, will be when those parents kick the bucket for good. That’s the damn reality I’m living in and man, I’m not liking one bit to think that way about my parents being my meal ticket to get a damn apartment.
You can call me lazy, and working from comfort, yet I’m one of those rare ones here holding two jobs, and still not making enough money I’m expected to make to get by myself. Like it’s MY FAULT my value as worker has gotten half since I started college because of current situation, because investors have to keep happy and the costs are skyrocketing all over the world.
I’m not against people, who invest in things, nor I’m against free market, but as long as the governmental duty in US can be compared to complete fuck retard, there will be serious problems. And the problems aren’t lazy people.
Hi Jenny, thank you for your input. I hope you take the time to read the sister blog where I turned the tables on the baby boomers. I appreciate your point of view and certainly if you are working two jobs and still not getting by that is indeed frustrating. Perhaps the post war time was a unique time because I know that working two jobs was not unusual at all during my parents times. Maybe that’s where we are getting back to. I will stick to one of my opinions that young people feel entitled but don’t worry that is our fault too. At the end of the day what is your generation going to do better? I’m waiting….