Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The definition of adulthood is different across cultures. For White Americans is that their teens are having sex, working a minimum wage jobs, get a clunker car, vape or smoke weed, paying rent to parents/living in group home and fixing sandwiches for themselves. Want to go to college? Take a loan.
For other cultures - Focus on education and EC, socialize with like minded peers from good families. Want to become a couple? Sure, do a COUPLE of internships, take driving classes, take your multivitamins, keep your room clean, learn to cook with spices. College? Parents and/or college will pay the student. You also get a new car with all safety features as a present from parents. Stay home when you start a job. No need to pay rent to the parents at all...save for your retirement and down payment for your condo.
In American culture the ideal is: graduate from college (with as little debt as possible, but some is ok if necessary), live with roommates, get as high a paying job as possible, enjoy your twenties and eventually, years later, fall in love, move in together, marry, yada yada. Of course American culture is so broad and varied, and reality may not match up with what you hope for. But that is the hope for most people.
I think in my culture the ideal is somewhat similar to American culture but it is a bit more practical and strategic :
- graduate from college with no debt (college paid by parents or through merit scholarship),
- get high paying job (because you chose a high paying major which was possible because you were a high achieving student in school and college),
- remain on your parents insurance till you are 25
- live with roommates or parents (depending on where you were working),
- enjoy your life
- be well travelled from the time you are born on your parents dime. Participate in family vacations and cruises
- drive a nice, safe car paid by your parents to reward you for the $$$ merit scholarship you won for college
- hang out with like minded peers from similar SES because that is your network for socialization and career.
- invest time on your relationship with your future spouse who you met at college, grad school or your high paying job.
- have a lavish wedding paid by parents
- buy a home in a desirable location with good schools through money saved by living rent-free with parents, investments, well paying job, parents contribution.
- have two kids and not get stressed because you have the help of grandparents who are living closeby and you also have a support system in place (maids, nannies, chefs, babysitters) that is supervised by your parents. Also, utilize the family created infrastructure for education/enrichment/career advancement/socialization/support.
- keep saving small amounts for your kids - college, wedding, house downpayment, car - all your life and watch it grow through the power of compounding. Thus you can reach your financial goals with little financial pain.