Millennial's Rant from an Alternate View

[GC Josh]

well unfortunately some of those I cants are 100% true and there has just been no way around it. Housing prices are insane, college tuition even crazier, the economy's been smashed like a 2 dollar hooker for the past 15 years and certain areas have just gone to ****.

Now none of this has stopped ME from achieving but i 100% know folks who by no fault of their own haven't been able to move on from livign paycheck to paycheck just to cover the rent.

That’s total BS, I’m sorry. Education (while it isn’t the only way) created an avenue through which ANYONE willing to work hard can succeed and beat any sort of paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. Unless they are handicapped, and if they are then you’re using a very poor example, then it is their fault. Sorry, harsh truths.

OP, this is awesome. I’m a few years older, but a 90s baby as well and completely sympathize with you. It’s a shame what is happening. Incredibly well written and passionate. Thanks for sharing.

 

[300_whisper]

I’m in the same boat. Born in 97, I’m a driller/blaster and I work my ass off for what I have and provide for my family. The only reason people fail is because they want the end result but not the road to get there. I’ve seen that a lot with people I went to school with. I’m a conservative Christian (southern baptist) and will tell absolutely anybody that. **** being afraid of your beliefs and what somebody will think, that’s part of the problem. Lots of people I went to school with had it all handed to them and they’re bums now still living at home or crashing with a friend.

Social media is also a big problem. I have no social media other than this site. Everybody compares and tries to make their lives seem perfect when in all reality it’s in shambles and they don’t have their crap together.

I’ve also had a full time job since I was 15 and graduated high school in 2015. If people around our age would put their heads down, work and do their best it would make a difference but nope... it’s “too hard”. Blue collar young workers are also getting scarce. Nobody wants that manual labor regardless of how rewarding it can be.

I’m extremely disappointed in people my age though no doubt.

Yeah man. Minus gun forums, no social media for me. Straight poison.

 

[CBH13]

That’s total BS, I’m sorry. Education (while it isn’t the only way) created an avenue through which ANYONE willing to work hard can succeed and beat any sort of paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. Unless they are handicapped, and if they are then you’re using a very poor example, then it is their fault. Sorry, harsh truths.

OP, this is awesome. I’m a few years older, but a 90s baby as well and completely sympathize with you. It’s a shame what is happening. Incredibly well written and passionate. Thanks for sharing.

lolol glad it worked out for you but not for others. i know folks with every type of degree and plenty of them including those with masters in engineering still live paycheck to paycheck. 1600 dollar rent doesnt help much nor the fact that when they told everyone to get a degree those degrees became fairly worthless and why now you can make better money going into a technical degree.

As much as everyone just wants to try and say all you need to do is work hard the truth still is, all you need to do is work hard, get lucky, already have a few people in the industry, pray you dont have any early medical issues, and then yah you can be pretty well off. Now again do NOT take this as me bitching. I did my degree and live a very comfortable lifestyle making more than the vast majority of americans and will have my house paid off before 35, im fine.

but to say ALL it requires in the current state is hard work is laughable. Stagnant wages over quickly inflating economy are pretty basic facts and its not just younger folks. I know plenty of gen X and boomers that worked their entire lives that have now been priced out and are one bad day from living on the street.

 

[300_whisper]

lolol glad it worked out for you but not for others. i know folks with every type of degree and plenty of them including those with masters in engineering still live paycheck to paycheck. 1600 dollar rent doesnt help much nor the fact that when they told everyone to get a degree those degrees became fairly worthless and why now you can make better money going into a technical degree.

As much as everyone just wants to try and say all you need to do is work hard the truth still is, all you need to do is work hard, get lucky, already have a few people in the industry, pray you dont have any early medical issues, and then yah you can be pretty well off. Now again do NOT take this as me bitching. I did my degree and live a very comfortable lifestyle making more than the vast majority of americans and will have my house paid off before 35, im fine.

but to say ALL it requires in the current state is hard work is laughable. Stagnant wages over quickly inflating economy are pretty basic facts and its not just younger folks. I know plenty of gen X and boomers that worked their entire lives that have now been priced out and are one bad day from living on the street.

Yeah, agree with all. I’m a “top performer” in a Fortune 500 company and selected to move up in leadership roles fairly quickly. Well it was luck. A VPs son was an intern and I took him under my wing for 6 months. I didn’t know his dad was a VP. He never told me. Well he tells his dad about me and the next thing I know I’m working for a VP. I didn’t even do anything special. I just treated the kid with respect. He was smart so he was easy to manage. Now imagine if he never interned where would I be? So I agree 100% luck. Guess how I got my job when I left the army? Had a family friend who was retiring from this company and they hired me on to take his spot after he recommended me for the position. Again…just who you know and luck. I have multiple degrees from the best colleges in the US, and if it weren’t for this job, I honestly, couldn’t find work. Your assessment is spot on. Truth is brutal and it sucks.

 

[GC Josh]

lolol glad it worked out for you but not for others. i know folks with every type of degree and plenty of them including those with masters in engineering still live paycheck to paycheck. 1600 dollar rent doesnt help much nor the fact that when they told everyone to get a degree those degrees became fairly worthless and why now you can make better money going into a technical degree.

As much as everyone just wants to try and say all you need to do is work hard the truth still is, all you need to do is work hard, get lucky, already have a few people in the industry, pray you dont have any early medical issues, and then yah you can be pretty well off. Now again do NOT take this as me bitching. I did my degree and live a very comfortable lifestyle making more than the vast majority of americans and will have my house paid off before 35, im fine.

but to say ALL it requires in the current state is hard work is laughable. Stagnant wages over quickly inflating economy are pretty basic facts and its not just younger folks. I know plenty of gen X and boomers that worked their entire lives that have now been priced out and are one bad day from living on the street.

Life is based on choices, and our choices create outcomes both positive and negative. If someone makes enough money monthly to afford $1.6K in rent and lives paycheck to paycheck, that is their choice. "Living to your means" is a very real concept. The vast majority of Americans "make more, spend more."

This is a very different conversation than what you said in your first message of

Now none of this has stopped ME from achieving but i 100% know folks who by no fault of their own haven't been able to move on from livign paycheck to paycheck just to cover the rent.

If someone is paying $1.6K in rent and can't move on from living paycheck to paycheck because of housing costs, they need to reevaluate and find a better arrangement. At most, housing should account for ~25% of pre-tax income, otherwise, said person is being a poor steward of their money.


Also,

I know plenty of gen X and boomers that worked their entire lives that have now been priced out and are one bad day from living on the street.

Again, not trying to be harsh, but life is full of choices. Too many millenials/zoomers people like to blame everyone else for their problems and/or the problems of others. Had these "plenty of people you know" lived below their means for the last ten years and invested even a little of what they made, they'd be in a different situation.

 

[Trailrider]

Good post. Gen X myself, born in 1980. I agree with what you said in your first paragraph as we've all witnessed those things happening. But you're absolutely right, it's all in what you make of it and how you deal with it. Folks are getting lazier, want to take the easy road, and have everything handed to them. You want a house? Work hard and save your money. Nobody makes you buy the latest iPhone, tablets, cars, clothes, etc. Put your priorities in order. I know people who bitch about not being able to afford a nice house but drive $70k F-350s. Drive a beater and save for that house. I know people who go in to massive debt getting a useless liberal arts degree. Go to school for something actually useful, like engineering, the medical field, law, IT, business, or even better yet go to a trade school and learn a skilled trade.

We now have entitled people who think they deserve 15+ an hour to flip a burger and get my order wrong in the drive-thru. Or people who get a useless $60k degree in gender studies who end up at Starbucks. My first job paid $5 an hour. I kept busting my ass, learning new skills, and moving on to bigger and better careers. I didn't sit there and demand to get paid more for what I did. I used those cheap jobs as learning experiences and moved up.

Every one of us born in this country are blessed. We have the ability to achieve our goals if we work hard for them. Problem is, folks want to take the easy route in college, get that lazy degree in history or psychology. Or can't save money because they always need the latest gadget or car/truck.

Anyways, that's my rant.

 

[300_whisper]

Or can't save money because they always need the latest gadget or car/truck.

Sir, do you realize what forum youre on??? lol

 

[Trailrider]

Sir, do you realize what forum youre on??? lol

OK you got me there. That's why I just trade everything

 

[CBH13]

Life is based on choices, and our choices create outcomes both positive and negative. If someone makes enough money monthly to afford $1.6K in rent and lives paycheck to paycheck, that is their choice. "Living to your means" is a very real concept. The vast majority of Americans "make more, spend more."

This is a very different conversation than what you said in your first message of



If someone is paying $1.6K in rent and can't move on from living paycheck to paycheck because of housing costs, they need to reevaluate and find a better arrangement. At most, housing should account for ~25% of pre-tax income, otherwise, said person is being a poor steward of their money.


Also,



Again, not trying to be harsh, but life is full of choices. Too many millenials/zoomers people like to blame everyone else for their problems and/or the problems of others. Had these "plenty of people you know" lived below their means for the last ten years and invested even a little of what they made, they'd be in a different situation.

i dont know what kind of better arrangement you're talking about. pretty much all housing is over 1200 at a minimum if you're renting, have a kid and need an extra bedroom and you're looking at 1500 easy, the housing market is ****ed and theres no "just work" that is going to change that. and as far as "living to your means" these folks scrape by, nothing new bought and live well below the means of most. and agian the "life is full of choices" argument is a joke. I know PLENTY of folks who would gladly work from sun up to sun down but still dont have the opportunity.

reality sucks and just having a work ethic will not always get folks beyond that, that is the harsh truth.

the math isnt even that hard to see how ****ed its gotten.

"Average" rent around Atlanta is 1700 from what i can find but we'll use 1500 as its a nice round number. and we'll use the often called for $15.00 "livable" wage.

at 15 bucks an hour working full time every week you net around 31,200 lets be generous and say you only lose 15% to taxes and medicare and similar so $26,520 if your rent is 1500 then your paying about 18000 a year leaving you with 8,520 or 163 bucks a week and this isnt including utilities. Food and gas to get to work will eat through 163 real fast again ESP if you have a kid. But now lets also say you do the good ol rule of thumb of save 10% or 16.30 a week and after a year you may have a grand total of about $850 or One good car repair.

Now many dont even make that and by no fault of their own as again a harsh reality. There are only so many decent paying jobs out there, thats how competition works and not everyone can make good money. But the harsh reality is in the current landscape even living at a bare minimum means is becoming unachievable for many. And again i actually know more boomers and gen x'ers falling into these situations than millennials right now.

 

[GC Josh]

i dont know what kind of better arrangement you're talking about. pretty much all housing is over 1200 at a minimum if you're renting, have a kid and need an extra bedroom and you're looking at 1500 easy, the housing market is ****ed and theres no "just work" that is going to change that. and as far as "living to your means" these folks scrape by, nothing new bought and live well below the means of most. and agian the "life is full of choices" argument is a joke. I know PLENTY of folks who would gladly work from sun up to sun down but still dont have the opportunity.

reality sucks and just having a work ethic will not always get folks beyond that, that is the harsh truth.

the math isnt even that hard to see how ****ed its gotten.

"Average" rent around Atlanta is 1700 from what i can find but we'll use 1500 as its a nice round number. and we'll use the often called for $15.00 "livable" wage.

at 15 bucks an hour working full time every week you net around 31,200 lets be generous and say you only lose 15% to taxes and medicare and similar so $26,520 if your rent is 1500 then your paying about 18000 a year leaving you with 8,520 or 163 bucks a week and this isnt including utilities. Food and gas to get to work will eat through 163 real fast again ESP if you have a kid. But now lets also say you do the good ol rule of thumb of save 10% or 16.30 a week and after a year you may have a grand total of about $850 or One good car repair.

Now many dont even make that and by no fault of their own as again a harsh reality. There are only so many decent paying jobs out there, thats how competition works and not everyone can make good money. But the harsh reality is in the current landscape even living at a bare minimum means is becoming unachievable for many. And again i actually know more boomers and gen x'ers falling into these situations than millennials right now.

I'm never going to change your mind; it is what it is.. but that's okay. I'm certainly not going to sit here and waste the day arguing with you about it. Your entire argument resides on the "woe is me" mentality and that "the system did someone wrong." It really is not hard to find a job/career that with a little hard work and grit pays/will pay more than $31.2K annually. You CERTAINLY don't have to live in Midtown and sacrifice $1,500/month in rent to find a $15/hr paying job.