Boomers can’t downsize

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:This boomer hate is childish.
My boomer parents had loans and a GI bill from Vietnam service but even with a masters degree each, still never made enough to buy a home since they divorced. They led very modest lifestyles, didn’t use credit cards, and haven’t saved beyond what’s necessary for retirement so there’s no money to inherit. I can’t imagine they are unique.



My first year boomer parents literally only live on social security and still have a mortgage. Most of my friends' parents, all boomers, live modestly. I guess this whole thread is mostly just children of wealthy parents pissed they can't buy a house in Bethesda or Chevy Chase like their parents. That is my perception as an outsider with no social desires. Fairfax is just fine for me.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The Boomers paid like $1500 for tuition, $50k for their first home and then when their parents died at normal ages, got inheritances in their 40s. Now they’re super charged with modern medicine, loaded, and aren’t going anywhere. They’re also not maintaining their houses. Just check the market and see all the “as is” $1.2Ms that have fallen into disrepair. These folks need to start riding off into the sunset.


They were also making $40,000 a year with a masters degree. And their parents were primarily blue color workers- no inheritance.


+1 Thank you.


+2. Late boomer here. We graduated into a recession and took whatever job would pay the bills if we didn’t option of going to grad school. I paid 12% on a PLUS loan.


Millennials graduated into a recession too. You didn't have it harder, we all have had it hard. The comparison game doesn't look good on you grannies.


NP. You don’t need to be ageist. You could have left that off and still have been successful in your comeback. Ageism is pernicious.

—genX


Graduated early 80s. Huge recession factories closing, massive inflation , 18 percent interest rates. Billy Joel singing “livin here in Allentown closing all the factories down our teachers lied that an education gets you a job” Springsteen sang The River “isn’t any work on account of the economy”.

All the recessions since have never been bad enough for the most popular artists to write devastating lyrics about the difficulties.

Life is way easier and cushy today but people don’t appreciate it at all and are treading water in a sea of covetousness and envy.


What a strange take re: music.


DP here I think but the point is that older generations also faced hard times. The music is influenced by the widespread economic issues like unemployment.


The point is that life is cushier now but the population is weaker physically and mentally. Results in more covetousness and whining. I think the average boomer can still beat up the average millennial.


Not sure about your last point since our generation is getting up there but the rest is true.


Boomers raised millennials.


Exactly. There are so many millennials because there are so many boomers, which is why the term “echo boom” was created. So if your parents are boomers, and you’re posting broadside attacks on boomers, do you hate your own parents? I think most of this anti-boomer posting is from Gen Z — or from millennials who were abused or who had non-boomer parents.


Shouldn’t the same question be asked in reverse of boomers - why are you posting nasty attacks on your kids generation? I see a whole lot of offended boomers on this thread taking offense to every last comment. Shouldn’t the boomer generation be more mature than the millennial generation based on their age?


With age come privileges.


We know. Your generation put into place all the crap policies the rest of us have inherited. You seem so smug and proud of that. You should unpack that in therapy.


The problem is that some of the Boomers have been enjoying their privileges like their movie discounts and boarding first on airlines since they were fifty five! Now they are 87 and still going first and getting served first, taking the biggest piece etc. You have been enjoying your privileges longer than half the population has even been alive.

My parents can’t drive long distances so everyone has to come to them. They started this when they were 55. So I am now 60 and driving a twelve hour round trip to visit them! When do I get to be old and have privileges? I am thinking never.


Right there with you pp. I'm 56 and doing the same damn thing.

We would eventually like to downsize and move when we can finally retire at age 70.


The extended lifespan predominantly caused by increasing use of life saving fossil fuels is awesome but does create some minor issues of envy and covetousness.


Umm, when the people in their nineties are requiring things like yardwork from people in their sixties, I don't think that the issue is that the people in their sixties are envious and coveting. The issue is that the old old, or extremely elderly don't seem to be able to comprehend that "the kids" are now in their sixties -- so now, they can't just zip on down to Florida from DC to help you with your new refrigerator. My sister is in her sixties, and her husband is ten years older than her, making him in his seventies, and our elderly parents can't seem to understand why he can't just move their furniture, etc. Our parents have literally been playing the 'respect their elders' card for over thirty years. When do we get to be the elders?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Typical boomers. Want top dollar for the home they're in now, but want to land somewhere nice and cheap.


Typical GenZ/X/Y - want to land somewhere nice, but it also has to be cheap.


we cant afforded it..... and we both agree that GEN X is useless.


Gen X can afford it. You're just bitter because we mind our business and don't take sides in your Gen Y vs Boomer pissing contest.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The Boomers paid like $1500 for tuition, $50k for their first home and then when their parents died at normal ages, got inheritances in their 40s. Now they’re super charged with modern medicine, loaded, and aren’t going anywhere. They’re also not maintaining their houses. Just check the market and see all the “as is” $1.2Ms that have fallen into disrepair. These folks need to start riding off into the sunset.


They were also making $40,000 a year with a masters degree. And their parents were primarily blue color workers- no inheritance.


+1 Thank you.


+2. Late boomer here. We graduated into a recession and took whatever job would pay the bills if we didn’t option of going to grad school. I paid 12% on a PLUS loan.


Millennials graduated into a recession too. You didn't have it harder, we all have had it hard. The comparison game doesn't look good on you grannies.


NP. You don’t need to be ageist. You could have left that off and still have been successful in your comeback. Ageism is pernicious.

—genX


Graduated early 80s. Huge recession factories closing, massive inflation , 18 percent interest rates. Billy Joel singing “livin here in Allentown closing all the factories down our teachers lied that an education gets you a job” Springsteen sang The River “isn’t any work on account of the economy”.

All the recessions since have never been bad enough for the most popular artists to write devastating lyrics about the difficulties.

Life is way easier and cushy today but people don’t appreciate it at all and are treading water in a sea of covetousness and envy.


What a strange take re: music.


DP here I think but the point is that older generations also faced hard times. The music is influenced by the widespread economic issues like unemployment.


The point is that life is cushier now but the population is weaker physically and mentally. Results in more covetousness and whining. I think the average boomer can still beat up the average millennial.


Not sure about your last point since our generation is getting up there but the rest is true.


Boomers raised millennials.


Exactly. There are so many millennials because there are so many boomers, which is why the term “echo boom” was created. So if your parents are boomers, and you’re posting broadside attacks on boomers, do you hate your own parents? I think most of this anti-boomer posting is from Gen Z — or from millennials who were abused or who had non-boomer parents.


Shouldn’t the same question be asked in reverse of boomers - why are you posting nasty attacks on your kids generation? I see a whole lot of offended boomers on this thread taking offense to every last comment. Shouldn’t the boomer generation be more mature than the millennial generation based on their age?


With age come privileges.


We know. Your generation put into place all the crap policies the rest of us have inherited. You seem so smug and proud of that. You should unpack that in therapy.


The problem is that some of the Boomers have been enjoying their privileges like their movie discounts and boarding first on airlines since they were fifty five! Now they are 87 and still going first and getting served first, taking the biggest piece etc. You have been enjoying your privileges longer than half the population has even been alive.

My parents can’t drive long distances so everyone has to come to them. They started this when they were 55. So I am now 60 and driving a twelve hour round trip to visit them! When do I get to be old and have privileges? I am thinking never.


Right there with you pp. I'm 56 and doing the same damn thing.

We would eventually like to downsize and move when we can finally retire at age 70.


Late boomer here. Not for us. They keep moving the goalposts so that we have to wait longer than our older counterparts for everything. Haven't qualified for a discount yet. We have to wait until 67 to retire, if it doesn't get moved again. We 60's born boomers should have been part of Gen X.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The Boomers paid like $1500 for tuition, $50k for their first home and then when their parents died at normal ages, got inheritances in their 40s. Now they’re super charged with modern medicine, loaded, and aren’t going anywhere. They’re also not maintaining their houses. Just check the market and see all the “as is” $1.2Ms that have fallen into disrepair. These folks need to start riding off into the sunset.


They were also making $40,000 a year with a masters degree. And their parents were primarily blue color workers- no inheritance.


+1 Thank you.


+2. Late boomer here. We graduated into a recession and took whatever job would pay the bills if we didn’t option of going to grad school. I paid 12% on a PLUS loan.


Millennials graduated into a recession too. You didn't have it harder, we all have had it hard. The comparison game doesn't look good on you grannies.


NP. You don’t need to be ageist. You could have left that off and still have been successful in your comeback. Ageism is pernicious.

—genX


Graduated early 80s. Huge recession factories closing, massive inflation , 18 percent interest rates. Billy Joel singing “livin here in Allentown closing all the factories down our teachers lied that an education gets you a job” Springsteen sang The River “isn’t any work on account of the economy”.

All the recessions since have never been bad enough for the most popular artists to write devastating lyrics about the difficulties.

Life is way easier and cushy today but people don’t appreciate it at all and are treading water in a sea of covetousness and envy.


What a strange take re: music.


DP here I think but the point is that older generations also faced hard times. The music is influenced by the widespread economic issues like unemployment.


The point is that life is cushier now but the population is weaker physically and mentally. Results in more covetousness and whining. I think the average boomer can still beat up the average millennial.


Not sure about your last point since our generation is getting up there but the rest is true.


Boomers raised millennials.


Exactly. There are so many millennials because there are so many boomers, which is why the term “echo boom” was created. So if your parents are boomers, and you’re posting broadside attacks on boomers, do you hate your own parents? I think most of this anti-boomer posting is from Gen Z — or from millennials who were abused or who had non-boomer parents.


Nope. Millennial poster here. Both of my parents were boomers. But not Trumpers. Never abused. I just look at the state of the country and realize that their generation contributed to most of the current problems we find ourselves in. Things are unaffordable - healthcare, real estate, education, and a middle class lifestyle largely because of their selfishness and the decisions that they supported. Oh, and our environment has also been wrecked. But thanks for the inheritence, I guess. It's cold comfort given the country you've left to us.


I’m a late boomer of 1963, but I identify as a Gen X. The only thing I know about Vietnam, JFK, space exploration, civil rights movement or Woodstock I learned in a book or movie. I am space challenger crash, BET, AIDS, Reagan/Clinton, Desert Storm, Iranian Hostage takeover, and the CIA drugs for guns Nicaraguan Contra crisis into the African American communities. All that you describe, this Boomer did not receive.

Healthcare has always been unaffordable if you were poor or not in a union. The emergency room was the primary care doctor for the flu. Everyone didn’t automatically get braces like the millennials seem to have received.

Higher Education was also only for the rich before Pell grants and subsidized loans. My student loan was 9%, that I paid off gradually over the years. I wasn’t given the opportunity to do public service in exchange for student payoff. Had the opportunity been available, I would have attended my first choice university and ran up the debt. Instead, I choice a university that 90% of DCUM would scoff. Ouch, and I graduated into a recession as the USA and the USSR entered into an ARMS race.

Millennials have had ridiculous free money or lower than low interest rates for more than twenty-years to purchase homes and cars. In 1990, the mortgage rates were between 13 and 18%. Oh, and I don’t believe we had the special first time home buyers programs that benefit the current new buyers. My money allowed me to purchase what I often called a POS fixer-upper. Today, I understand first time young buyers require 2500+ sq ft, turn-key, spacious state of the art kitchen and baths in the best school districts homes with 3.5 interest rates.

And yes the environment took a hit during white flight when most of your parents and grandparents ran from the cities. How is that different when so many posters in the real estate section of DCUM are looking for big homes away from the cities to WFH while emitting gas and carbon as they drive to conduct all their errands and play. How are you millennials any different from the boomers you despise, especially with your entitlements. If anything, you’re carbon copy’s who have not fully matured into it, but you getting there.


Do you even know how interest rates work? Guess what happened when interest rates fell? Asset prices for interest rate sensitive assets (e.g., real estate, stocks, etc.) and inequality skyrocketed. That's great for those who already have existing assets. It's terrible for those that don't. Don't confuse "cheap financing" with the benefits of asset ownership, which is out of reach for many of the millennial and Gen-Y generation. Cheap financing benefited private equity firms, real estate investors, and others who were already in a position to invest. Most millennials couldn't afford the downpayment either because of the costs of an education and student loans (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/college-tuition-inflation/). Let's not forget the costs of childcare either (https://listwithclever.com/research/cost-of-raising-a-child-over-time/).

You boomers want grandkids, amirite? Well, the next generation can't afford them.


I think you don't understand how this works yourself. cheap financing absolutely gives you leg up in being able to purchase a home even if the home is more expensive. It's how the whole thing started with the housing boom of subprime zero downpayment and zero interest loans, and subsequent predictable bust of 2008 when these loans repriced and ppl who could afford monthlies before had to default. Ppl think in terms of Monthly costs, not in terms of the overall costs or even DP costs, because DP is only 20% and in some cases 10%. If property is 50% more expensive that's 50% or 20% that you need to pay more to own it and then your monthlies are affordable due to low rates.

We are younger GenX and bought our first property in early 2000s, and then again in mid 2000s at the height of the market, and then our suburban home in premium suburbs in 2012 when rates were 4-5%. Because interest rate environment was so buyer friendly we were able to invest in RE, not because we had paid cash for our home upgrades. We didn't have cash to pay. One of them was a rental, so it paid for itself. So could millenials, they were absolutely able to and many did take advantage of the low interest rate environment of the recent decade. If they didn't, then it's on them, nobody's fault. Progressive dem GenZ are more interested in commie and trans propaganda because they just don't want to work altogether or have kids due to Climate change and hormones/meds they take. Urban GenZ is a lost generation and also not super interested in suburban lifestyle or mcMansions. Next generation will be born to MAGA GenZ (pivoting in the opposite direction of nuclear family, "trad wives" , "manly men") and migrants kids. That's your new buyers. For everyone else the train has departed if they missed that train and didn't get on it when prices were cheap (boomers, oldest GenX) or rates low (Younger GenX and Millenials)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The Boomers paid like $1500 for tuition, $50k for their first home and then when their parents died at normal ages, got inheritances in their 40s. Now they’re super charged with modern medicine, loaded, and aren’t going anywhere. They’re also not maintaining their houses. Just check the market and see all the “as is” $1.2Ms that have fallen into disrepair. These folks need to start riding off into the sunset.


They were also making $40,000 a year with a masters degree. And their parents were primarily blue color workers- no inheritance.


+1 Thank you.


+2. Late boomer here. We graduated into a recession and took whatever job would pay the bills if we didn’t option of going to grad school. I paid 12% on a PLUS loan.


Millennials graduated into a recession too. You didn't have it harder, we all have had it hard. The comparison game doesn't look good on you grannies.


NP. You don’t need to be ageist. You could have left that off and still have been successful in your comeback. Ageism is pernicious.

—genX


Graduated early 80s. Huge recession factories closing, massive inflation , 18 percent interest rates. Billy Joel singing “livin here in Allentown closing all the factories down our teachers lied that an education gets you a job” Springsteen sang The River “isn’t any work on account of the economy”.

All the recessions since have never been bad enough for the most popular artists to write devastating lyrics about the difficulties.

Life is way easier and cushy today but people don’t appreciate it at all and are treading water in a sea of covetousness and envy.


What a strange take re: music.


DP here I think but the point is that older generations also faced hard times. The music is influenced by the widespread economic issues like unemployment.


The point is that life is cushier now but the population is weaker physically and mentally. Results in more covetousness and whining. I think the average boomer can still beat up the average millennial.


Not sure about your last point since our generation is getting up there but the rest is true.


Boomers raised millennials.


Exactly. There are so many millennials because there are so many boomers, which is why the term “echo boom” was created. So if your parents are boomers, and you’re posting broadside attacks on boomers, do you hate your own parents? I think most of this anti-boomer posting is from Gen Z — or from millennials who were abused or who had non-boomer parents.


Shouldn’t the same question be asked in reverse of boomers - why are you posting nasty attacks on your kids generation? I see a whole lot of offended boomers on this thread taking offense to every last comment. Shouldn’t the boomer generation be more mature than the millennial generation based on their age?


With age come privileges.


We know. Your generation put into place all the crap policies the rest of us have inherited. You seem so smug and proud of that. You should unpack that in therapy.


The problem is that some of the Boomers have been enjoying their privileges like their movie discounts and boarding first on airlines since they were fifty five! Now they are 87 and still going first and getting served first, taking the biggest piece etc. You have been enjoying your privileges longer than half the population has even been alive.

My parents can’t drive long distances so everyone has to come to them. They started this when they were 55. So I am now 60 and driving a twelve hour round trip to visit them! When do I get to be old and have privileges? I am thinking never.


Right there with you pp. I'm 56 and doing the same damn thing.

We would eventually like to downsize and move when we can finally retire at age 70.


Late boomer here. Not for us. They keep moving the goalposts so that we have to wait longer than our older counterparts for everything. Haven't qualified for a discount yet. We have to wait until 67 to retire, if it doesn't get moved again. We 60's born boomers should have been part of Gen X.


GenX boundaries are weird and don't reflect similar experiences. Those of us born into 70s especially 2nd half of 70s have similar problems to millenials. We started with low salaries high college costs and already expensive RE. And we won't retire probably ever if health costs keep skyrocketing and medicare options getting thinner and delayed into older age. Not to mention not all of us are confident we even will get Social Security we paid into our entire decades of professional lives. whatever appreciation we got in our assets we started buying with lower interest rates when prices shot up will be eaten up with inflation. Maybe the only delineation is between Boomers eligible for pensions and those not eligible. The fact that we switched as society from ensuring retirement for people working multiple decades to having people fend for themselves and invest (second job not many do well or even able to do) was a big turning point. Also entry of many more women into the workplace drove wages down not keeping up with inflation, employers definitely benefited. Costs of childcare and penalties for having kids (abysmal maternity policies and poor workplace support for mothers) had set a lot of families back making those who wanted to generate and keep their savings work mad hours and sacrifice their physical/mental health and family life.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Typical boomers. Want top dollar for the home they're in now, but want to land somewhere nice and cheap.


Typical GenZ/X/Y - want to land somewhere nice, but it also has to be cheap.


we cant afforded it..... and we both agree that GEN X is useless.


Gen X can afford it. You're just bitter because we mind our business and don't take sides in your Gen Y vs Boomer pissing contest.


Generation against generation contest is moot, it's really a class issue more than anything else. There are broke Boomers and those who never accumulated any wealth at all, but we don't like to talk about them. There are also wealthy millenials and Gen Y who started businesses older people would never consider (content creation, convenience services, tech startups), and invested into assets older people weren't accustomed to deal with (Crypto, actively trading, etc). Not to mention how many cashed out in the RE market flipping and speculating with low debt costs. Those who got left behind in EVERY generation and feel insecure about whatever wealth they got or didn't get now are turning against each other. The only people who can complain are those born into bad circumstances and having to swim against the tide or first gen Immigrants who got nothing to start with but scramble for lowest wage jobs. Everyone else barring health issues had a change in every one of these generations.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Typical boomers. Want top dollar for the home they're in now, but want to land somewhere nice and cheap.


Typical GenZ/X/Y - want to land somewhere nice, but it also has to be cheap.


we cant afforded it..... and we both agree that GEN X is useless.


Gen X can afford it. You're just bitter because we mind our business and don't take sides in your Gen Y vs Boomer pissing contest.


Generation against generation contest is moot, it's really a class issue more than anything else. There are broke Boomers and those who never accumulated any wealth at all, but we don't like to talk about them. There are also wealthy millenials and Gen Y who started businesses older people would never consider (content creation, convenience services, tech startups), and invested into assets older people weren't accustomed to deal with (Crypto, actively trading, etc). Not to mention how many cashed out in the RE market flipping and speculating with low debt costs. Those who got left behind in EVERY generation and feel insecure about whatever wealth they got or didn't get now are turning against each other. The only people who can complain are those born into bad circumstances and having to swim against the tide or first gen Immigrants who got nothing to start with but scramble for lowest wage jobs. Everyone else barring health issues had a change in every one of these generations.


Meant to say "had a chance" , not had a change. Every generation had a chance to grow wealth and still does. It's not cost free and generational wealth also matters to skew the scales.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:This boomer hate is childish.
My boomer parents had loans and a GI bill from Vietnam service but even with a masters degree each, still never made enough to buy a home since they divorced. They led very modest lifestyles, didn’t use credit cards, and haven’t saved beyond what’s necessary for retirement so there’s no money to inherit. I can’t imagine they are unique.



Saving for retirement is a gift to your children. That you are working to make sure they don’t have to care for you
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Oh my god, yes. Let's let them cry it out. I'm older Gen X with Gen Y kids.

Graduating from college (attended on a merit scholarship) into a recession (1990) where I was grateful to find a job, I made $24,000 out of school, paid 40% of my pitiful after-tax income for my room in a DC apartment, and ate out once a month. I certainly didn't travel and entertainment was renting a VHS movie. Healthcare was too expensive so I didn't see a doctor until I was having kids. My parents took pity on me and helped with some work clothes and a set of tires for my car. At 27, I took a job I hated because they paid me a $20,000 starting bonus and I used that as the downpayment on my first crappy home with a very crappy mortgage. My mortgage payment was 60% of my take-home pay but I made it work because I wanted to build wealth. Over the last 30 years, we have worked 70-80 hours a week and made sacrifices to build our lives and give everything to our kids. I have never had the option to work from home. It has been a hard slog.

I can only imagine my young adult son living like I did. He'll never know because we're easing his journey far more than he or anyone of his generation deserves.

Wake up, you spoiled brats. Your parents had challenges and made contributions to society that are benefitting you. If you're expecting them to go quietly die someplace to get out of your way, I really hope they leave all their money to a worthy nonprofit.


$25,000 in 1990 is worth $58,471.88 today. Not exactly low.
I started work in the mid-2000s for 25K and felt lucky, also graduating into a recession.

Signing bonus?? If 20K gave you a 10-20% downpayment, that means the house was 100-200K. Hooray....median house prices in DC have tripled over that time. Also, what a damn windfall! Some of us would have had to take that $20K to pay off the student loans we had to take to go to second tier colleges. My parents didn't have money to send me for tires. Salaries have NO WHERE NEAR caught up, and 60% mortgage is still typica.. And many of us ALSO have worked 70-80 hours/week yet are raising our children to know how much we are easing their journey.

Also: older families have continuously (except the run up and blip arounf the financial crisis) gotten richer and richer and younger families have NOT seen the same growth. Which means, a family headed by a 25-35 year old in 1989 (so you) had a median wealth of $27K versus a family headed by a 65-75 year old had a median wealth of 179K.

Yet today -- a family headed by a 25-35 year old in 2019 had a median wealth of $24K versus a family headed by a 65-75 year old had a median wealth of 269K. That inequality is growing.

Cite: https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2020/december/has-wealth-inequality-changed-over-time-key-statistics

Graph: https://imgur.com/a/LJhMJZo


Of course, the people in these groups change over time. In 1989, the younger group was made up of younger baby boomer families. In 2019, those in the younger group were millennial families. They had $24,000 in median wealth, or 9 cents per dollar of the $269,000 in median wealth held by older, mainly boomer families.

While inflation-adjusted younger family wealth barely budged between 1989 and 2019, older families in 2019 had much more median wealth than older families in 1989.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The Boomers paid like $1500 for tuition, $50k for their first home and then when their parents died at normal ages, got inheritances in their 40s. Now they’re super charged with modern medicine, loaded, and aren’t going anywhere. They’re also not maintaining their houses. Just check the market and see all the “as is” $1.2Ms that have fallen into disrepair. These folks need to start riding off into the sunset.


They were also making $40,000 a year with a masters degree. And their parents were primarily blue color workers- no inheritance.


+1 Thank you.


+2. Late boomer here. We graduated into a recession and took whatever job would pay the bills if we didn’t option of going to grad school. I paid 12% on a PLUS loan.


Millennials graduated into a recession too. You didn't have it harder, we all have had it hard. The comparison game doesn't look good on you grannies.


NP. You don’t need to be ageist. You could have left that off and still have been successful in your comeback. Ageism is pernicious.

—genX


Graduated early 80s. Huge recession factories closing, massive inflation , 18 percent interest rates. Billy Joel singing “livin here in Allentown closing all the factories down our teachers lied that an education gets you a job” Springsteen sang The River “isn’t any work on account of the economy”.

All the recessions since have never been bad enough for the most popular artists to write devastating lyrics about the difficulties.

Life is way easier and cushy today but people don’t appreciate it at all and are treading water in a sea of covetousness and envy.


What a strange take re: music.


DP here I think but the point is that older generations also faced hard times. The music is influenced by the widespread economic issues like unemployment.


The point is that life is cushier now but the population is weaker physically and mentally. Results in more covetousness and whining. I think the average boomer can still beat up the average millennial.


Not sure about your last point since our generation is getting up there but the rest is true.


Boomers raised millennials.


Exactly. There are so many millennials because there are so many boomers, which is why the term “echo boom” was created. So if your parents are boomers, and you’re posting broadside attacks on boomers, do you hate your own parents? I think most of this anti-boomer posting is from Gen Z — or from millennials who were abused or who had non-boomer parents.


Shouldn’t the same question be asked in reverse of boomers - why are you posting nasty attacks on your kids generation? I see a whole lot of offended boomers on this thread taking offense to every last comment. Shouldn’t the boomer generation be more mature than the millennial generation based on their age?


With age come privileges.


We know. Your generation put into place all the crap policies the rest of us have inherited. You seem so smug and proud of that. You should unpack that in therapy.


The problem is that some of the Boomers have been enjoying their privileges like their movie discounts and boarding first on airlines since they were fifty five! Now they are 87 and still going first and getting served first, taking the biggest piece etc. You have been enjoying your privileges longer than half the population has even been alive.

My parents can’t drive long distances so everyone has to come to them. They started this when they were 55. So I am now 60 and driving a twelve hour round trip to visit them! When do I get to be old and have privileges? I am thinking never.


Right there with you pp. I'm 56 and doing the same damn thing.

We would eventually like to downsize and move when we can finally retire at age 70.


The extended lifespan predominantly caused by increasing use of life saving fossil fuels is awesome but does create some minor issues of envy and covetousness.


Umm, when the people in their nineties are requiring things like yardwork from people in their sixties, I don't think that the issue is that the people in their sixties are envious and coveting. The issue is that the old old, or extremely elderly don't seem to be able to comprehend that "the kids" are now in their sixties -- so now, they can't just zip on down to Florida from DC to help you with your new refrigerator. My sister is in her sixties, and her husband is ten years older than her, making him in his seventies, and our elderly parents can't seem to understand why he can't just move their furniture, etc. Our parents have literally been playing the 'respect their elders' card for over thirty years. When do we get to be the elders?


You don't get to be the respected elders. This whole dynamic is a set up for family problems as you're seeing, and it no longer fits the modern shift away from 18 year olds going straight from their parents' nests to marriage. Set firm boundaries with your parents and don't do this to your own kids. My MIL quietly seethed while she played this game with her in-laws, then was so excited for her turn to dominate me. I wouldn't have it. Now she's bitter that she took crap for years and didn't get her turn to kick down.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wtf is with all this generational warfare? Don't your parents love you and vice versa? My Boomer parents and us - their millennial children - don't keep score. They are much wealthier than us and have given us free college, down payments, annual cash gifts, etc. I'm glad the Boomers got rich - it's making my life much easier.


The warfare is ridiculous but as a boomer I do have a criticism. As parents we were lazy and selfish in that we threw money at our kids in love but also to make our lives easier. We were way too “safe” and protected our kids from any risk so that we wouldn’t ever face the possibility of tragedy. When I look at this generation they appear more unhealthy physically and are definitely weaker mentally than the boomers. Psycho drugs, misshapen and sallow appearances seem to be connected with plummeting fertility. The helicopter parenting and lack of risk or discomfort is entirely the fault of myself and other boomers.


Does someone here have a good AI detector? Could you run this through that?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wtf is with all this generational warfare? Don't your parents love you and vice versa? My Boomer parents and us - their millennial children - don't keep score. They are much wealthier than us and have given us free college, down payments, annual cash gifts, etc. I'm glad the Boomers got rich - it's making my life much easier.


The warfare is ridiculous but as a boomer I do have a criticism. As parents we were lazy and selfish in that we threw money at our kids in love but also to make our lives easier. We were way too “safe” and protected our kids from any risk so that we wouldn’t ever face the possibility of tragedy. When I look at this generation they appear more unhealthy physically and are definitely weaker mentally than the boomers. Psycho drugs, misshapen and sallow appearances seem to be connected with plummeting fertility. The helicopter parenting and lack of risk or discomfort is entirely the fault of myself and other boomers.


Does someone here have a good AI detector? Could you run this through that?


Only AI could hit the nail on the head without bias like that.
Anonymous
Agreed all the boomer hate is just jealousy.
Anonymous
I agree! When do we get to be 'old'? DH and I are early 60s now. Still have MIL and my Father that require help and support (financial and emotional).
post reply Forum Index » Real Estate
Message Quick Reply
Go to: