Being a Young, American Adult Is a Financial Nightmare

Discussion in 'Economics' started by blakpacman, Nov 7, 2013.

  1. If Reagan didnt QE to oblivion we wouldnt be in this mess. Reagan was ten times worse than Obama, who spends way too little.
     
    #11     Nov 10, 2013
  2. Whoa! Stop the presses!
    :D
     
    #12     Nov 10, 2013
  3. Sergio77

    Sergio77

    True but if you can import all the great brains of the world why caring about local kids? This is sad.
     
    #13     Nov 10, 2013
  4. Yes, and we could have made "brain development" mandatory in the US just like they do in Asia. But no, instead we had to teach all the kids to feel good about themselves so nobody would suffer the pain of being a loser. And now our society is paying the price.

    To make matters worse, we convinced young people they also need a degree in "feeling good about yourself".. and sent them off to college to incur 6-figure debt and end up with a diploma of little value.
     
    #14     Nov 10, 2013
  5. Sad part is they have 50k-100k in student loads too. Going to be a rough ride.

    College is turning into a gamble
     
    #15     Nov 10, 2013
  6. Do you think this approach can change and maybe the damage could be contained to only 2 generations. All the 30 somethings I know with kids don't stand for this and have seen the damage this feel good shit has done to young people now coming into the work force. People that live in reality need to start getting involved with school boards and start standing up to parents that don't want to do their job.
     
    #16     Nov 10, 2013
  7. I suppose it COULD, but I doubt it.

    For the turn-around, most of the subsidies the parasites collect would have to be cut waaayyyyy back. The kids would need to learn they must earn EVERYTHING they ever have and are not entitled to anything... even the basic necessities of life.... not to mention a well-paying job later.

    Once people start getting freebies, it's almost impossible for them to be taken back..
     
    #17     Nov 10, 2013
  8. clacy

    clacy

    And yet there are many sectors with a lack of qualified workers to fill spots, not to mention the trades which are having a resurgence. Those routes however will require that you get off your phone and Facebook long enough to actually do some work. And you may not like the fact that you don't immediately earn enough money to go to Starbux 6x a day fly to Vegas at the drop of a hat like they watch their peers do on reality shows non stop.
     
    #18     Nov 10, 2013
  9. Lucrum

    Lucrum

    Is some of this not due to WHAT kids are majoring in these days? As in useless degrees. I've seen story after story of some dumb ass with six figures of student loan debt hanging over their head. No job prospects whatsoever, only for them to then mention their degree is in African Studies or Gender something or other. I mean, duh!

    I wonder if there's not a wide spread misconception among young people that ANY degree is an automatic job/career. When in fact the degree needs to be something actually useful to employers.
     
    #19     Nov 10, 2013
  10. I think the author’s use of a guy covered in tattoos wasn’t a good choice to try to prove the point. I always find it funny when I see people like that or people who I would label as “perpetually broke”. They always complain that they don’t have any money but somehow always have money to get more tattoos, buy cigarettes, and $300 for a North Face jacket. Meanwhile, I go to WalMart and pick up a jacket for $15.

    With that being said, as a 29 year old, I would have to say that my generation is generally screwed and doesn’t nearly have the opportunity that there was in the past. Or shall I say, the opportunity to get rich still exists in plenty but the ability for the average person to simply keep their head above water is harder than ever. What I’ve begun to also notice is once you get behind, it’s almost impossible to catch up. Take my older brother for instance. He and his wife had their first baby a year ago. They live very conservatively, budget their money, have little to no debt, and drive two 15+ year old cars (one of which is my second car that I let them use). They had an old hulky TV they used until I bought them a flat screen last year. But they just don’t make enough money to be able to “get ahead”. My brother works as the bar/restaurant manager at a hotel and now his wife just lost her job a month ago. I mean they are really struggling and with a baby whose bills never seem to end, it’s even harder.

    On the other hand, I’ve been selling cars for a few years and probably make 50% more than their combined pay. Don’t get me wrong, I work 50-60 hours a week and it’s no cake walk but I definitely have it easier. I own a small townhouse, live by myself and pretty much have no other people I’m responsible for. I at least have the means to get a little ahead, at least for now.

    All the old people on this forum really don’t know what it’s like to try to make it these days. 30 years ago even a low wage service worker could make enough to support himself and somebody who got into a decent career job could live a decent life. Now, those opportunities are hard to find. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve sold cars to and when we fill out the credit app, I ask them what their job status is. “Oh, I’m retired.” They’re like 55 and retired. They worked 25 years at some government or corporate job and now they get a pension for life. Do any of you think somebody starting off today has that kind of opportunity?
     
    #20     Nov 12, 2013