Time to retire (I wish)

[PhædrusR]

I agree but is it just me, but there seems to be a chasm between younger and older people nowadays. I rebelled against my parents and adults when I was in my youth but our basic values were the same. Even a simple saying like "treat others as you'd like to be treated yourself" had meaning but now that's completely out of the window even though today's buzzword is "be kind" which doesn't seem to encompass Tories, Boomers, the rich, meat eaters etc etc etc!

I think it stems from a broken 'contract'.

Parents of each generation wish for their children to have better lives, prosperity, opportunities than themselves. And that has generally been the case.

But the recent generations, Millennials, GenY/Z are the first to be finding it harder financially, socially/work/environmentally and less prosperous and less optimistic of the future than their predecessors, parents/grandparents.

And this has led to a sense of antagonism towards the perceived 'better off' older generations.

 

[merryone]

I think it stems from a broken 'contract'.

Parents of each generation wish for their children to have better lives, prosperity, opportunities than themselves. And that has generally been the case.

But the recent generations, Millennials, GenY/Z are the first to be finding it harder financially, socially/work/environmentally and less prosperous and less optimistic of the future than their predecessors, parents/grandparents.

And this has led to a sense of antagonism towards the perceived 'better off' older generations.

I guess that makes sense!

 

[donna255]

I don't take offence, but conversely I think some of you are applying your personal experiences to the general overall picture.

I'm talking the macroeconomic view of how subsequent generations progressed.

I don't think it is controversial to say that economists agree that the post-war generations, had better work, housing and pensions opportunities than more recent generations, perhaps post-market deregulation in the 80s.
Graduates (far fewer as a percentage then) were able to obtain employment, and solid employment and duration, far more easily and many on leaving school/college would also be able to get jobs more easily and move around.

"You've never had it so good"...

But yes, there are of course, exceptions and strata of those in society who did not have these opportunities or struggled more.
But generally, overall.

Even with a degree, I wouldn't like to be faced with today's rental, overpriced housing/property market, complex recruitment, unstable job market, zero hours contracts, side hustles, gig economy, AI etc., etc.

And this comes from someone brought up in a council maisonette and house.

Okay, this is shopping telly forum. We talk our personal experiences it has always been like this.

I am sure there are forums who love to look and discuss macroeconomics. This is not it, and you need to read the room.

Humans always want better than others and then blame it on others because they don't get it. That is life. You live and try your best with what you get and on the journey hopefully show compassion to others and not blame the older generation or the disabled as your whipping post.

My mum and dad working class paid weekly in cash but through the books no hope of buying a house. My dad 12 years older than mum time for him to retire it was we cannot afford the rent, move to a smaller place with an outside house. I am talking the 70s and I hit 16 right you go get a job. I did get O Levels by doing night classes. We never went on holiday, my aunt used to take me for a week as she lived by the seaside. Always lived in council property. Never wanted to buy a house even if I could afford it. You get your repairs done by the council.

This strange thing now where children expect as their right for the parents so save and made sure the house and money go to them when the parents pass. No. Parent's money they should be able to spend and enjoy it does not belong to the children. My parents died when I was in my early 20s, so I had to look after myself. I was jealous as hell of other young women living at home who gave money into the house and able to keep the rest for themselves each month. No, I had the rent, the electric, coal and food out of my wages.

 

[PhædrusR]

Okay, this is shopping telly forum. We talk our personal experiences it has always been like this.

I am sure there are forums who love to look and discuss macroeconomics. This is not it, and you need to read the room.

Humans always want better than others and then blame it on others because they don't get it. That is life. You live and try your best with what you get and on the journey hopefully show compassion to others and not blame the older generation or the disabled as your whipping post.

My mum and dad working class paid weekly in cash but through the books no hope of buying a house. My dad 12 years older than mum time for him to retire it was we cannot afford the rent, move to a smaller place with an outside house. I am talking the 70s and I hit 16 right you go get a job. I did get O Levels by doing night classes. We never went on holiday, my aunt used to take me for a week as she lived by the seaside. Always lived in council property. Never wanted to buy a house even if I could afford it. You get your repairs done by the council.

This strange thing now where children expect as their right for the parents so save and made sure the house and money go to them when the parents pass. No. Parent's money they should be able to spend and enjoy it does not belong to the children. My parents died when I was in my early 20s, so I had to look after myself. I was jealous as hell of other young women living at home who gave money into the house and able to keep the rest for themselves each month. No, I had the rent, the electric, coal and food out of my wages.

You've just given me your personal experience, when I'm just saying generally, overall, the post-war generations, up until perhaps the 90s, had better living, employment, financial security, housing and growth opportunities than the most recent generations who are finding it harder to secure stable housing, work and saving or pension and future financial planning opportunities.

And the more recent cost of living, debt-ridden economies and inflationary pressures and fear of WWIII isn't helping!

 

[Muttley]

I was talking to a 21 year old intern in the office and had said that I had never taken a long haul flight. She was shocked and "OMG you've never been to America? I first went when I was 5 years old". I went to Clacton when I was a child.

 

[PhædrusR]

I was talking to a 21 year old intern in the office and had said that I had never taken a long haul flight. She was shocked and "OMG you've never been to America? I first went when I was 5 years old". I went to Clacton when I was a child.

Her parents paid and went with her.
I wonder if she could afford to go herself now?
Their priorities are often a bit warped. £3 on a coffee, or £12 pizza takeaways, Netflix, etc. but then complain they haven't got enough to pay for essentials.

I also worry they often think they are more skilled, or capable than they are due to the over-praise 'no losers' attitude of modern educational standards.

Or is that a gross stereotypical over-exaggeration and generalisation?!

 

[PhædrusR]

I was talking to a 21 year old intern in the office and had said that I had never taken a long haul flight. She was shocked and "OMG you've never been to America? I first went when I was 5 years old". I went to Clacton when I was a child.

Loved Clacton when I visited a number of years ago. The pier (and the view of the largest wind farm matrix in Europe, in the North Sea) was excellent.

Nice coastal location, greens and parks. Nice in the Summer, would visit again. Not sure about their MP though...

 

[Wanderer]

I was talking to a 21 year old intern in the office and had said that I had never taken a long haul flight. She was shocked and "OMG you've never been to America? I first went when I was 5 years old". I went to Clacton when I was a child.

Never taken a flight anywhere, never even had a passport. Can't see that changing now.

 

[historymystery]

I don't take offence, but conversely I think some of you are applying your personal experiences to the general overall picture.

I'm talking the macroeconomic view of how subsequent generations progressed.

I don't think it is controversial to say that economists agree that the post-war generations, had better work, housing and pensions opportunities than more recent generations, perhaps post-market deregulation in the 80s.
Graduates (far fewer as a percentage then) were able to obtain employment, and solid employment and duration, far more easily and many on leaving school/college would also be able to get jobs more easily and move around.

"You've never had it so good"...

But yes, there are of course, exceptions and strata of those in society who did not have these opportunities or struggled more.
But generally, overall.

Even with a degree, I wouldn't like to be faced with today's rental, overpriced housing/property market, complex recruitment, unstable job market, zero hours contracts, side hustles, gig economy, AI etc., etc.

And this comes from someone brought up in a council maisonette and house.

Didn't MacMillan say this in 1959 though? That doesn't mean there weren't many problems in the sixties and seventies - 1959 wasn't a starting point for things to only get better (with acknowledgements to New Labour and the two B's - Tony and Gordon I mean - for quoting from 'their' song). I remember when we bought our first house - interest rates at 15% shortly afterwards, anyone? And very few of our friends had recourse to the Bank of Mum and Dad to help with a deposit, because relatively few of the previous generations owned their own homes and had savings/equity in their property to pass on.

Off topic, but SuperMac's was a typical supercilious champagne comment. Even if reflecting conditions for many in 1959, the older generation of the day had suffered two World Wars and a depression, when many people went through unimaginable hardship, and they bl%%dy well deserved to have something good.

 

[Muttley]

Never taken a flight anywhere, never even had a passport. Can't see that changing now.

A few years ago my passport was mainly used for ID as I don't have a driving licence. It has been used a bit since.

 

[historymystery]

Okay, this is shopping telly forum. We talk our personal experiences it has always been like this.

I am sure there are forums who love to look and discuss macroeconomics. This is not it, and you need to read the room.

Humans always want better than others and then blame it on others because they don't get it. That is life. You live and try your best with what you get and on the journey hopefully show compassion to others and not blame the older generation or the disabled as your whipping post.

My mum and dad working class paid weekly in cash but through the books no hope of buying a house. My dad 12 years older than mum time for him to retire it was we cannot afford the rent, move to a smaller place with an outside house. I am talking the 70s and I hit 16 right you go get a job. I did get O Levels by doing night classes. We never went on holiday, my aunt used to take me for a week as she lived by the seaside. Always lived in council property. Never wanted to buy a house even if I could afford it. You get your repairs done by the council.

This strange thing now where children expect as their right for the parents so save and made sure the house and money go to them when the parents pass. No. Parent's money they should be able to spend and enjoy it does not belong to the children. My parents died when I was in my early 20s, so I had to look after myself. I was jealous as hell of other young women living at home who gave money into the house and able to keep the rest for themselves each month. No, I had the rent, the electric, coal and food out of my wages.

A lot of truth in what you say, Donna. Perhaps today's generation Z, milennials and whatever should stop moaning and being resentful and stop looking for whipping boys and girls from previous generations (and this talk of feeling 'let down' by previous generations just makes me laugh out loud - oh, shame!). Life's a bitch - and then you die, as the saying goes. Whoever said life was fair - for any generation? You do the best you can and be the best you can.

Part of my work brings me into contact with a lot of employers, and many of them have a very dim view of the passive attitude, 'it's always someone else's fault' syndrome and sense of entitlement of some - I stress, 'some' - of the younger generation, both graduates and non-graduates.

 

[Anna]

I'm sick of being called a Boomer too, as if I'm some sort of parasite. I heard a lot of the young staff at work going on about Boomers and how they are lording it with their paid for houses and free money from their state pensions. It makes me so mad. I've struggled a lot in life to pay my way and once had 3 jobs to keep afloat so I think I deserve my tiny paid up cottage. The staff had no idea that I am actually in my 60's or they may well have kept their mouths shut!

CC

I agree with you. We saved up to buy our first home, our parents were not in a financial position to help us, unlike some these days. I dislike immensely someone saying 'oh, you lot had it easy', no we didn't. We had interest rates at 15%, and times were tough, so good for 'boomers' I say,(I hate that word). We worked hard for what we have. We did not have jobs for life, nor gold plated pensions either. We did not waste our money on fripperies but got our priorities right.

 

[PhædrusR]

No one's saying 'you' (they) didn't work hard.

No one is saying you had it easy.

Many did have jobs for life and good pensions that matured with guaranteed final salary guarantees.

But many may have had it easi-er than many of the current aspirational generations.

 

[Anna]

No one's saying 'you' (they) didn't work hard.

No one is saying you had it easy.

Many did have jobs for life and good pensions that matured with guaranteed final salary guarantees.

But many may have had it easi-er than many of the current aspirational generations.

Don't agree. Are you a Boomer? Or are you one of ones thinking we all had it easy?

 

[historymystery]

I guess that makes sense

Don't agree. Are you a Boomer? Or are you one of ones thinking we all had it easy?

I don't agree either, Anna.

Talking of things that are funny, anyone got any humorous experiences from their early years at work/apprenticeship?

 

[candycane]

Many may have had it easier but many more did not. I didn't own a car until I was in my 30's yet today everyone that age drives around in a range rover (around here they do) or BMW, Merc or Audi. I agree it is hard for people to get on the housing ladder these days but sometimes young people have to lower their expectations. You can't have a four bedroomed detached house as your first home if you can't afford it.

CC

 

[PhædrusR]

Don't agree. Are you a Boomer? Or are you one of ones thinking we all had it easy?

No, not a boomer. I think I'm GenX, but don't quote me.

No, I don't think 'you all had it easy'.
I'm sorry you didn't.

Any chance you could reply to what I say and not what you're thinking I said?

 

[Wanderer]

Many may have had it easier but many more did not. I didn't own a car until I was in my 30's yet today everyone that age drives around in a range rover (around here they do) or BMW, Merc or Audi. I agree it is hard for people to get on the housing ladder these days but sometimes young people have to lower their expectations. You can't have a four bedroomed detached house as your first home if you can't afford it.

CC

I was in my early 20's when I had my first 4 wheeled car, think I paid £100 for it.

My current car is now 18 years old, paid £1600 for that three years ago and that's the most I have ever spent on buying a car.

I would like to replace it, but looking around even something 10 years old with 100k miles on is around £4000.

On housing the government want builders to build more homes, but how in tarnation is anyone able to buy one to get a foot on the ladder now? They talk of affordable housing, but all that is when buying they must be 20% less than the market rate.