Gen Z Says Boomers Will NEVER understand today’s struggle

[williamcomtois]

I told my dad that rent is not 400 dollars anymore it’s like 1300 and he looked at me like I was speaking German

[Dgsbeast]

Damn I really should’ve been saving money and going to a job when I was 11 instead of pretending I was Batman

[purple-headedyogurtslinger]

My dad told me that he “slaved away” as a bus boy for only a few dollars an hour when I brought up that I only made $20 an hour for a mid level sales job. I did the time value of money thing and found out my dad made the equivalent of $19.60 an hour as a bus boy. My job required a two year degree and 2 years of experience.

[doubleleterlady]

My rent in 2004 was $590. The same place rents for $1600 today. Don’t tell me this isn’t a problem.

[tsoliot]

My dad was talking about how my brother needs to buy a $500 car and I had to tell him like, four times that it's impossible to buy a working car for $500.

[Clouddbb]

Hearing this man talk about 15 years ago is actually depressing, that seems unimaginable

[avivagodfrey]

I told my mom just tonight, "Being independent does not exist anymore. If you aren't dependent on your parents, you're depending on friends/roommates. If you aren't depending on THEM, you're depending on a spouse. And if none of those? You're dependent on the government."

[pcphantom]

20 Years ago, I lived in a small 2 bedroom apartment that was $320 /month.
10 Years ago, I lived in a 2 bedroom townhouse that was $800 / month.

Today, that same apartment from 20 years ago, they are $2600 / month and that same townhouse is $2950 / month.

My daughter rented a studio apartment, and it was garbage, the cheapest one she could find, it was $1800 / month.

Those good ole days of being able to get a job out of high school and get your own place are gone. Might as well stay at home because now you're just going to end up renting a bedroom somewhere.

[TheAndroidNextDoor]

The scary thing is my father actually admits this to me and no longer offers me any life advice because he can't anymore. The things that worked and that were applicable to him no longer do and he knows this.

[dasse]

I told my parents i found some affordable apartments that were just under $3k a month. Their mouths dropped. I feel like my generation was robbed.

[Classical]

Boomer, here. My first job as a professional landed me in Pasadena in 1973. My salary was about $13K. I didn't know anyone who could sfford a frickin Cadillac. But all of my cohort could have bought a house. I declined to buy a great house on a huge city lot with a full tennis court snd seperate 3-car garage. Asking price was $28K. Now, it's worth $1, 500, 000. Adjusting for inflation, that salary would be $204, 000. Believe me on two scores: 1) I should have bought that house 2) I don't how a young person today avoids starvation.

[ladytess]

I live in FL and was at TJ Maxx one day recently and said they were hiring. I asked what the pay was. The manager said $12.00 per hour!!!! I laughed and said I made more than that babysitting as a teenager!!!!

[TheLadyWolf]

Tried telling this to my grandparents one day. I was only making $17.50/hr. and struggling and they accused me of having a spending problem.
My Granddad: "You're making a dollar an hour more than I did when I retired."
Me: "You retired in '98, Pop. Gas was $1.75 a gallon, and rent for a two bedroom, 670sqft apartment in the nicer part of town only cost $650 month. That same apartment is now STARTING at $2500 a month. Not including utilities."

[raymondturpin]

Allowing companies to buy up houses and rent them has made it nearly impossible to get an afordable home.

[LiminalThought]

I think this is the biggest generational disconnect. The, “Work hard and climb the ladder all the way up.” Doesn’t apply anymore. Hard work is not rewarded with a promotion, it’s rewarded with more work.

[Nana-wtek]

When my parents moved to America in the late 70s early 80s, the rent of their first apartment was $175. In New York City.

[dannyacevedo]

Remember when the government thought $1200 stimulus checks would last us a year

[lizalee]

My mom said, ” I feel like you aren’t having a fun time in life growing up like I did.” No shit. Anxiety around every corner and not enough money to get ahead, let alone save money for whatever the future holds. I told her once that I don’t think I’ll be able to retire and she asked “ you really don’t think that do you? “ I knew at that point she was clueless about the current world

[Peaches-ii]

My boomer parents bought multiple brand new cars, raised two kids, went on vacations at least once yearly, and bought a nice house while still being able to save for retirement. Neither needed a degree, both worked non-management level jobs. I make more than either of them now, scrimp, save, and still can't afford a house, a new car is insanely expensive, and I'm just staying out of debt. Everyone else is in debt to get a family and decent life. Some of the boomers in my workplace complain constantly about how they need to raise rents on their few homes. They boast about how girls today will look terrible when they get to their age. Truly the generation that had everything and pulled up the ladder behind them.

[asterghst]

they don't want to admit they had it easy compared to us