Inflation is always driving the cost of living upward. As a result, the hourly wage of Millennials and GenZers doesn’t stretch to the same comforts as Boomers had.
Sure, pay increases help, but they don’t seem like a lot. On a “real” level, the hourly rate Boomers received was better than Millennials and GenZers. Here is what the spirited community on an online forum has thought about the matter.
Splashing Out on Dinner
“I went fancy last night and got Cup Noodles.”
Boomer Mentality
“Once I told my dad, ‘Dad, I make $13.50 at my skilled labor job, I can’t afford to buy a house on that. I feel hopeless.’ And he literally replied, ‘Well, that’s how much I made when your mom and I bought our first house.’ And I was like ‘Yeah, Dad in the early 80s, haha, come on.'”
Things Were Cheaper Back in the Day
“Not going to lie, if my parents didn’t die and left me their house, I’d be struggling right now. And I’m not even a millennial! I’m on the young end of GenX. They don’t even talk about how not only were wages higher at the time, but houses were extremely cheap as dirt!”
Boomers Don’t Know How Good They Have It
“By the time my dad was my age, he was married, a home-owner, and soon-to-be father. He also had a job with a pension, a bachelor’s degree with no student loan debt, and had every expectation of collecting 100% SS benefits. I am unmarried, do not own a home, and do not have children. I do have a job but only have a company-sponsored 401k (no matching). My bachelors/master’s degree put me about $45k in debt which I spent the next eight years paying off, and as of the last notice can only expect to collect 60% of SS benefits. In my eyes, I am far worse off than earning 20% less.”
Get a Clue, Boomers!
“I’ll never forget when I was living at home at 21. Working three jobs trying to make my way in the world to afford a place. My dad said, ‘Boy, I graduated high school, got a job as a carpenter, and bought this house a few years later. You’re messed up and not doing something right. You should be doing great with your high school education.’ I said I’ve been working non-stop for 3 years in minimum wage service jobs, I have no kids, and I can’t even afford rent. I can’t get a good job because I don’t have a college degree or any technical training. Do you think I’m the problem here?’”
Let’s Get Some Perspective
“Many boomers do not have perspective, either. One boomer told me that fast food workers should still get paid $1.60 an hour because that is what they were paid when they worked in fast food as a teenager. The same man did not agree that his pay should be $9,000 a year, however, even though that was the median household income at the same reference point he was using.”
Converting Boomer’s Hourly Pay Into Today’s Money
“$1.60 in 1960 was $12, almost $13 in today’s dollars. I’d flip burgers for that much.”
Dad, You Have No Idea
“Tell that to my dad. He apparently stopped believing in inflation after 1988. He constantly tells me how much more money I make than he did when I was his age, except adjusted for inflation, I technically make 20k less, AND I got my MBA, and he has his nonsense. And he wonders why I can’t save up for a house…and then forgets when he last bought a house, it was appraised at less than 1/2 of what it is today.”
Everything Is So Expensive
“Our paychecks are 20% lower, to begin with. Even adjusting for inflation, our rents/general real estate values are higher, the cost of most goods are more expensive, health insurance is outrageous, and our college is much much much more expensive than it was back then. Back then, it wasn’t even a necessity. And most had pensions, where we will need to put away money for retirement. Oh, and all that money we paid into social security might not be there when it’s time for us to retire. So at the end of the day, after the bills are paid, your paycheck is probably half of what theirs (Boomers) was.”
Boomers Be Thankful
Boomers can look at Millennials, GenZers, and even the current generation and wonder why it’s hard for these people to live. The problem is that Boomers are using their experiences to dictate what life should be like now. Yet, the reality is far different. Inflation is a significant issue. Education is expensive, with many forced to pay off student loans (something Boomers didn’t have). The hourly wage may have gone up, but in real terms, it’s barely enough to cover the cost of living.
16 UNACCEPTABLE THINGS BOOMERS GOT AWAY WITH IN THEIR YOUTH THAT WOULD SPARK OUTRAGE TODAY
Looking back on the childhood of the boomer generation, it becomes evident that certain things once considered appropriate would never pass today’s standards. The cultural landscape has evolved significantly, leading us to recognize 16 aspects of their upbringing that would be deemed wholly unacceptable today. From unsupervised outdoor adventures to unfiltered television content, the boomer generation got away with various experiences that would undoubtedly raise eyebrows in today’s world. Let’s delve into these intriguing elements of their upbringing and reflect on how far society has come.
16 UNACCEPTABLE THINGS BOOMERS GOT AWAY WITH IN THEIR YOUTH THAT WOULD SPARK OUTRAGE TODAY
AUTOMOTIVE MONSTROSITIES: THE 10 CARS THAT PROVOKE BOOMER WRATH UNLIKE ANY OTHER
There’s no age quite like the Baby Boomers. Born between 1946 and 1964, this group has witnessed some of the most transformative periods in automotive history. They saw the rise and fall of the muscle car era, the oil crisis of the ’70s that led to a change towards smaller and more fuel-efficient cars, and the technological leaps of the 21st century that introduced a new era of hybrid and electric cars. Yet, not every car model has managed to win their hearts. In fact, some have attracted quite the opposite reaction. From design tragedies to mechanical misfits, here are the car models that achieved the questionable honor of being the most hated by the Boomers. Buckle up as we take a reflective yet bumpy ride down memory lane.
AUTOMOTIVE MONSTROSITIES: THE 10 CARS THAT PROVOKE BOOMER WRATH UNLIKE ANY OTHER
IT’S TIME TO LET GO: 30 OUTDATED BOOMER HOME TRENDS THAT DESPERATELY NEED TO BE SHOWN THE EXIT!
With the advances of social media, home trends, décor, and fads change faster than ever before. While some trends become instant classics, others can be redundant, unsensible, or just downright hideous. In a popular online forum, users shared the home fads they’re tired of seeing. We’ve compiled a list of these most disliked home décor fads, so grab a cup of coffee, and let’s look into these less-than-inspiring home design options!
IT’S TIME TO LET GO: 30 OUTDATED BOOMER HOME TRENDS THAT DESPERATELY NEED TO BE SHOWN THE EXIT!
BOOMERS FED UP: THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF MILLENNIAL BLAME FOR FINANCIAL FAILURES – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Millennials look at their current economic situation with despair. The feeling amongst them is that the boomers are the cause of their woes. Boomers are considered to be a group of individuals who are self-serving, greedy, and short-sighted. But is this the case?
BOOMERS FED UP: THE NEVER-ENDING SAGA OF MILLENNIAL BLAME FOR FINANCIAL FAILURES – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!