As a millennial I agree there is a lot of whining, but there are definitely some things the older generation doesn't understand about how life is different for us compared to back then.
I remember two of my retired neighbors telling me I was "foolish" for not getting a job right out of college with a pension. Meanwhile the same jobs they retired from earning a pension with their full six figure salary were both hiring and those benefits were no longer included.
I disagree with the post above stating millennials will be able to retire earlier, it simply isn't the case unless you do pretty much the opposite of the societal norms these days. Retirement benefits are MUCH worse at many employers now than they ever have been. I'm fortunate to work at a university now with good benefits, but it is not the norm. All of my previous employers the healthcare and retirement were pretty sad, but inline with most corporate benefits these days. I'm very fortunate, but I have also never taken on a car loan, and was able to work full-time all through college to graduate with no student debt while also owning a business. Those are not the norm for most people these days. I have a few student employees who are also commuting and working full-time like I was during college, and even for them there is no way they will be in the financial shape I was in when I graduated. I'm not saying "oh life is so hard now" but times have changed. It is no longer financially possible to work a run of the mill part-time job, pay for school as you go, and also live in an apartment by yourself like my parents did. You wouldn't even qualify now.
Sorry, can not agree. Want to be a free person then one has to take charge of their life. Simple stuff.
I could counter everything a millennial says and still come back that life has never been more easy in the history of mankind.
This stuff about the same jobs? Well then go into a different field. As time goes on the fields that make money do to. Become a plumber, tradesman/woman. Your salary is whatever you want it to be. College? go to a trade school many make more money than traditional college kids. Not only that but in the medical field they will pay for your education to advance even further. Same goes for technology.
These opportunities did not exist decades ago except for very top management.
and oh, I do get tired of hearing about retirement being pretty sad. The young do not even know that 401k plans did not exist before 1978. Good for you on cars loans (really not kidding and want you to know I am just discussing) SO many of the young (and many old) can not resist buying stuff instead of saving money. How many younger people are driving around in cars that decades ago would hace been unheard of for someone young, youth who take out 60 and 72 month car loans, finance the latest most expensive cell phones on the market instead of a $100 one, actually pay monthly subscription fees for EVERYTHING, music, internet, television, sports packages, its endless. None of this stuff existed decades ago. Let's not even get started on housing and the homes they buy now adays. Filled with luxury and sized MUCH larger than decades ago.
GO down to the coast and large lakes on days, see people having fun on their $12,000 jet skis, $50,000 +++ boats.
Life is good, many happy young people out there who know how to make it happen. The others on social media complaining.
My son, works at BMW, largest plant in the world, largest exporter of cars in the USA was never college material, has a wife, 2 kids, a home of their own, drives not one but two BMWs (not that I agreed at the time but one is paid off the other a BMW employee lease which is a pretty nice deal). Was never college material but he knows how to work hard and the value of $60 an hour overtime. His benefits are of all the wall great. I dont want to misquote but maybe his medical has a deductible as low as $250 for the family. Works 10 hour days but every month gets 5 days off in a row in addition to his normal 2 days off a week. Lots of PTO etc.
My daughter was college material, did her 4 years at Clemson University, before she even started her FIRST day of college she started working at a local tavern for her spending money. < knocked out student loans in five years with us matching 50% of the extra priceable she was paying. Now holds an amazing job with an international company and one of the largest employers in the USA and Canada. Doing so well they created a department that she runs and now on her 3rd promotion taking place soon.
Life has never been more easy for those who want to work and more easy to move anyplace in the USA and make it happen.
What was an old occupation in the past will not pay what a new occupation will pay in the future. Supply and Demand rules in a free market. If the youth wants to be free that is. Maybe a study of the old USSR is needed by some. I remember back then how some made it seem so good, free health care, everyone lives in a house ha!
I want to repeat I am just discussing, dont read my words wrong. Just tell the youth to throw away all the so called luxuries they enjoy today and they will live far better than anyone ever did in the history of mankind. But instead they give their money to banks for interest payments and buy luxuries that they should not.
This is just a small percentage of youth that cant make it happen. Out of dozens of young families that I know, in and out of my family circle I dont know of any failures. IN fact I admire how well they are doing. I know of two in the last 3 months who were deciding on moving south, young kids, young families. Call me crazy but my house wasnt worth the ONE MILLION dollars theirs are now and I lived in the same area when I was young.