Ivy League grad, still renting an apt. age 70

[Anonymous]

This all sounds very Grey Gardens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I live in New England. The apartment is three blocks from my parents old house. I am single, no children. My only sister is divorced and struggled to raise two kids and I helped her. She inherited same amount plus a life estate (her sons will inherit) on the house she lives in now. She was SAHM and used a lot of her money to give private school and college degrees. She worries about her own retirement so I have helped along the years, seeing that she is my only family.

Whole situation sounds like a shabby genteel mess. You were all over privileged and failed to launch.

+1 This is why I tell my kids to go to State schools unless they get a large scholarship. Most Ivy graduates don't make enough money to make the cost worth it, yet they feel entitled to live far above their means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I live in New England. The apartment is three blocks from my parents old house. I am single, no children. My only sister is divorced and struggled to raise two kids and I helped her. She inherited same amount plus a life estate (her sons will inherit) on the house she lives in now. She was SAHM and used a lot of her money to give private school and college degrees. She worries about her own retirement so I have helped along the years, seeing that she is my only family.

Whole situation sounds like a shabby genteel mess. You were all over privileged and failed to launch.

+1 This is why I tell my kids to go to State schools unless they get a large scholarship. Most Ivy graduates don't make enough money to make the cost worth it, yet they feel entitled to live far above their means.

Agreed. My kids are only 6 and 8, and even now I stress going to in-state schools on a regular basis. Some private schools cost $80K a year now; by the time my kids are ready to go to college, they could be closing in on $100K a year. Even out of state public colleges aren't worth it. We can't afford to pay for private school tuition or most out of state public schools, but we make too much even now to qualify for financial aid. Higher education shouldn't bankrupt parents or set up young people for a lifetime of indentured servitude to repay loans.

[Anonymous]

I actually interpreted the Ivy detail differently. Maybe she wants us to know she’s smart, because the rest of her tale is a bit sad. Maybe that’s the part of her life she’s most proud of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually interpreted the Ivy detail differently. Maybe she wants us to know she’s smart, because the rest of her tale is a bit sad. Maybe that’s the part of her life she’s most proud of.

I thought it was a man.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Male.

[Anonymous]

Just because they went to an Ivy doesn’t mean they weren’t failure to launch. Lots of street dumb people go to ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Male.

I thought so. I was trying to figure which Ivy’s were co-ed in the early 1960’s.

[Anonymous]

OP- renting doesn’t really matter. A lot of people rent, and renting when you are older can be nice because you do not have to worry about home maintenance. Do you have any retirement?

[Anonymous]

What is the point of this thread? OP seems like a sad sack.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you have retirement funds? Not owning is fine. Millions don't own. It is strange to me that you mention attending an Ivy and you're 70? I mean when I entered my 30s it was a sign of insecurity to drop where you attended college. What do you want to do with the rest of your life. Make a plan, be happy. Have your sister's kids left home? Maybe you guys should live together?

[Anonymous]

I think everyone is misreading the Ivy reference. I think this man is trying to paint a picture of a disappointing life, and he wanted to include all the factors that make him feel like an underperformer: his excellent education, his inheritance, etc.

But none of that adds up necessarily to a life of failure. You have what is probably an interesting job where your work is valued. You’re close to your sister and nephews, who surely appreciate all you’ve done for them. Nothing wrong with an apartment! I own a home and it’s kind of a drag. As long as you have enough to live modestly but comfortably, you have someone to love, and you have meaningful work, you’re doing fine in my book.

[Anonymous]

it's ok, we know a dual ivy (HYP) couple that rents in the DMV and probably always will, they're happy and don't make crazy $ but do meaningful work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's ok, we know a dual ivy (HYP) couple that rents in the DMV and probably always will, they're happy and don't make crazy $ but do meaningful work.

They sound like dupes. Meaningful work SJW won’t pay your kids college.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My parents expected me to go on to med school but I had a nervous breakdown in college (stressful courseload, sister had bad breakup from her boyfriend) and feel like I never recovered. I make a subsistence living teaching English to new immigrants.