Younger generation mobility at 50 year low

[Orignal Earl]

I've noticed young folk won't settle for a bungalow.
They "need" the huge house, yard, new appliances
Oh and the granite countertops, they would die without it

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I think it is ironic how these 20 something year kids, right out of college, can afford a 500k home. But yet we have news articles talking about how rough the younger generation has it.

That's anecdotal evidence taken to an absurd level; these people are specifically selected to appear on a television program because they are not representative of most of their peers. Are there 20-somethings who can afford McMansions directly out of college? Sure. Is that typical? Absolutely not. You're looking at cherry-picked examples as evidence that broader trends aren't true. "I don't know why all of these women keep complaining about the glass ceiling; Oprah seems pretty well off to me."

 

[Texashiker]

I've noticed young folk won't settle for a bungalow.
They "need" the huge house, yard, new appliances
Oh and the granite countertops, they would die without it

Dont you know, the first thing you do after buying a house is to rip out the inside and buy the house a second time.

That's anecdotal evidence taken to an absurd level; these people are specifically selected to appear on a television program because they are not representative of most of their peers. Are there 20-somethings who can afford McMansions directly out of college? Sure. Is that typical? Absolutely not. You're looking at cherry-picked examples as evidence that broader trends aren't true. "I don't know why all of these women keep complaining about the glass ceiling; Oprah seems pretty well off to me."

TV shows like that are telling society they should act a certain way.

Some 18 year old about to go to college sees a show like that. Then the think hey will be able to afford a 500k home right out of college with a part time intern job.

To someone with no life experience, how are they supposed to know the difference between reality and fiction?

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I've noticed young folk won't settle for a bungalow.
They "need" the huge house, yard, new appliances
Oh and the granite countertops, they would die without it

Just as much as people want a "livable wage" whereby their minimum wage should pay for a 2+ bedroom private apartment for themself, their kid, and their massive amount of useless purchases.

People like myself are thinking "Hmmm, I think I can rent a room from someone elses house for ~$400-500. All I need is a room to sleep in and a kitchen to cook in".

 

[Atomic Playboy]

TV shows like that are telling society they should act a certain way.

Some 18 year old about to go to college sees a show like that. Then the think hey will be able to afford a 500k home right out of college with a part time intern job.

That's true to a certain extent. But the driving force behind most American prosperity is the idea that if you extend your reach, you achieve greater success. So I think this idea of getting rich is built into our culture dating back generations. The bigger problem is that this generation feels that they're entitled to those things without necessarily working harder to achieve them, they get complacent, and then when they find themselves "not rich" they complain that the system is unfair. A lot of people just need a good kick in the ass and a reminder that they aren't special and the world owes them nothing.

 

[Texashiker]

then when they find themselves "not rich" they complain that the system is unfair. .

The system is not fair.

Why should people spend massive amounts of money to get a job? After all, it is the company who is benefiting from that training and education.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I've never seen a new college grad that was ready to hit the ground running, many need several years of on the job training to get them to the point where they're a true asset to the company.

 

[unokitty]

 

[TreVader]

I'm moving back in with my mom and stepdad after I graduate in 3 weeks. Its too expensive to get out on my own right away...especially in NOVA.

I'm looking forward to interviews for positions in the area and I need to get security clearance.

There's going to be a lot on my plate, so not having to take on too much adulthood at once will help me.

LOL what a bunch of BS... if you were actually applying to a job that required security clearance (like I did when I was 17 and just graduated HS) your job would ASK YOU to submit to a background check that would be far more exhaustive than a normal one. Based on the results of said background check and the level of security you would need for that job, you would either be granted or denied clearance.

DOD clearance is not some special certification. It's just a vetting process any Military or DOD employee must undergo. You don't get the clearance then apply, you apply THEN they ask you to get clearance AFTER you are accepted.


LOVE the amount of bs people on this site push about anything involving the government/military. It's like a bunch of 9 year olds with posters of F22 fighters on their walls saying "Oh well I'm gonna pilot one, I just have to get my top secret clearance cleared". I bet you have no idea what the COLORS of the 3 levels of clearance normally given to contractors are!

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I visit Facebook to laugh at how most of my generation is doing (old people from HS / College days). Is that envy or just enjoyment? In the end I just scroll through the feed and laugh at People who take pictures of their food, haven't taken a step into growing up (but have 2 kids), and those that think they have acheived something amazing but haven't taken a step into a stable life.

 

[CPA]

i blame part of it is constant telling of kids "do what you love"

sorry. i would love to get paid to jerk off and play video games. that is not going to happen.

so many go to school for stupid shit.

Agred, but I would add our society has also started treating younger adults as children. Healthcare coverage broadening, recent studies about cognitive development being pushed on parents (the "you don't become an adult until 26" argument) and the acceptance of young adults living with parents have contributed to this issue.

 

[Texashiker]

Agred, but I would add our society has also started treating younger adults as children. Healthcare coverage broadening, recent studies about cognitive development being pushed on parents (the "you don't become an adult until 26" argument) and the acceptance of young adults living with parents have contributed to this issue.

In other words, we are turning into a nation of sissies.

 

[Doppel]

Agred, but I would add our society has also started treating younger adults as children. Healthcare coverage broadening, recent studies about cognitive development being pushed on parents (the "you don't become an adult until 26" argument) and the acceptance of young adults living with parents have contributed to this issue.

FAR less teens are clamoring to get drivers' licenses as well, leaving it much later. This is because they are infantalized and lack a sense of independence and adventure. They instead communicate via smartphone.

 

[nageov3t]

FAR less teens are clamoring to get drivers' licenses as well, leaving it much later. This is because they are infantalized and lack a sense of independence and adventure. They instead communicate via smartphone.

or is it extremely high unemployment among youth leading to not having the money for a car and car insurance (and thus, no point to having a license)?

it's not as if minimum wage jobs are keeping up with the rising costs of cars and insurance.

personally, I didn't get my license until I was 22... I was able to do well-enough on mass transit, and even working the maximum of 18 hours/week at minimum wage in the late 90's, half my salary alone would have gone towards paying for insurance (and nevermind getting a used car that wasn't a total lemon)

 

[CPA]

FAR less teens are clamoring to get drivers' licenses as well, leaving it much later. This is because they are infantalized and lack a sense of independence and adventure. They instead communicate via smartphone.

Sadly, I am impacted by this. My almost 17 year old son still does not have a driver's license and does not have the sense of urgency that you and I had as kids to get one. Of course, he blames me for this...smh

 

[hal2kilo]

FAR less teens are clamoring to get drivers' licenses as well, leaving it much later. This is because they are infantalized and lack a sense of independence and adventure. They instead communicate via smartphone.

That's something I can relate to. I had to drag my son to the car drivng school to get him to learn how to drive. Finally, he got his license at almost 18 years.

I could'nt wait to get my learners at 15 and a half.

I just did not get it. He won't fly. Something about 9/11 I left an impression on him.

Heck I was subjected to Duck and Cover drills when I was 6 and l'm perfectly normal.

 

[SheHateMe]

LOL what a bunch of BS... if you were actually applying to a job that required security clearance (like I did when I was 17 and just graduated HS) your job would ASK YOU to submit to a background check that would be far more exhaustive than a normal one. Based on the results of said background check and the level of security you would need for that job, you would either be granted or denied clearance.

DOD clearance is not some special certification. It's just a vetting process any Military or DOD employee must undergo. You don't get the clearance then apply, you apply THEN they ask you to get clearance AFTER you are accepted.


LOVE the amount of bs people on this site push about anything involving the government/military. It's like a bunch of 9 year olds with posters of F22 fighters on their walls saying "Oh well I'm gonna pilot one, I just have to get my top secret clearance cleared". I bet you have no idea what the COLORS of the 3 levels of clearance normally given to contractors are!

Um, you need to calm your tits. I dont know anything about security clearances, I just know that several jobs that I have applied to said I am required to have active security clearance in order apply. Ive never worked in Virginia. Ive been at Michigan State the whole time, I dont know everything about working in VA.


So yea, just accuse me of lying for no reason. Your e-dick is still small

 

[unokitty]

...My almost 17 year old son still does not have a driver's license and does not have the sense of urgency that you and I had as kids to get one. Of course, he blames me for this...smh

Better be careful.

With an attitude like that, he could grow up to be president!

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[irishScott]

or is it extremely high unemployment among youth leading to not having the money for a car and car insurance (and thus, no point to having a license)?

it's not as if minimum wage jobs are keeping up with the rising costs of cars and insurance.

personally, I didn't get my license until I was 22... I was able to do well-enough on mass transit, and even working the maximum of 18 hours/week at minimum wage in the late 90's, half my salary alone would have gone towards paying for insurance (and nevermind getting a used car that wasn't a total lemon)

This. The only reason I got my license at 16 was because my parents bought me a car (was as much for them as for me believe it or not, we were a busy family and the time they saved not chauffeuring me and my sister to school and after-school activities that lasted well into the evening was worth it).

If I'd had to pay for a decent car on my own... that would have been all but impossible. And that was before the recession. Between a dearth of AP classes and extra-curriculars I didn't have the time for even a part-time job (hell I was often at school for several hours a day on Saturdays).

 

[Orignal Earl]

Lol @ calm your tits.
That's a keeper

 

[RearAdmiral]

I feel like I just barely escaped this attitude. I was definitely WAY more entitled and such a number of years ago. The only thing that really set me straighter was working with a guy who was vastly more intelligent than me, which hadn't really happened before. I buckled down since.

Besides that my !!parents!! taught me how to not be a clown. I learned superb financial management skills from them, they encouraged being adventurous and learning and supported my hobbies. They also let me live with them while I paid off all of my student debt in < 3 years. I am probably > 10 years ahead of my friends financially because of my parents alone. I was able to pay off that mountain of debt and I just bought a house 10 minutes away.

I am 27.

As for more anecdotal stuff...

My GF and I talk about raising our future kids and how screwed up all the kids our age and younger are acting. There is an interesting thought in that if you raise proper children they will only become more and more elite and powerful, as everyone else becomes terrible at life.

So there is an upside to the downfall of man

 

[BoberFett]

"No, you're working at Initech because that question is bullshit to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean shit up if they had a million dollars."

 

[BoberFett]

I've noticed young folk won't settle for a bungalow.
They "need" the huge house, yard, new appliances
Oh and the granite countertops, they would die without it

This. Young people look at what their parents have taken 20 to 30 or more years to earn, and they believe that's how life should be from Day 1. They don't realize everyone needs to start at the bottom, in tiny little apartments, and you earn your way to nice things. That's partly why personal debt in this country is out of control.

 

[nageov3t]

This. The only reason I got my license at 16 was because my parents bought me a car (was as much for them as for me believe it or not, we were a busy family and the time they saved not chauffeuring me and my sister to school and after-school activities that lasted well into the evening was worth it).

If I'd had to pay for a decent car on my own... that would have been all but impossible. And that was before the recession. Between a dearth of AP classes and extra-curriculars I didn't have the time for even a part-time job (hell I was often at school for several hours a day on Saturdays).

with something like that, it's hard to really compare the situation of growing up in the 70's or 80's versus today.

cars, insurance, and gas costs are all rising, while minimum wage isn't even coming close to keeping up with inflation. it's a different world than when insurance was like $20 for the year and gas was pennies per gallon.

 

[BoberFett]

The system is not fair.

Why should people spend massive amounts of money to get a job? After all, it is the company who is benefiting from that training and education.

Nobody says they have to. They can work at McDonalds if they don't want to invest in themselves. If they choose to invest in their future in the form of education, they can earn that back through higher pay.

This seems like a fairly basic concept...