General Discussion

Lyric

(12,675 posts)

56. I am better than my parents, but that doesn't mean much.

Thu Jun 25, 2015, 11:30 AM

Jun 2015

They were both so desperately dirt poor that we were living without heat, proper food, or decent clothes 90% of the time. I have heat and food, and more income than they did. But I also have fewer resources and almost no family left. They had their parents and siblings to lean on. I have one sister who's worse off than I am...everyone else is dead.

I don't think people realize how lucky they are to have family members they can call on in an emergency. Without that resource, life is scary. Any mistakes or failures are disastrous. My grandparents were always there as a last resort when my parents had no money for food or rent. If nothing else, we could always go stay with them--and did, several times.

This is why we're trying to buy a mobile home right now. If the worst happened, there is nobody who could take us in. Nobody at all. The anxiety of living that close to the edge is soul-shredding...

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Are you better off economically than your parents were at this point in your life? [View all] Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 OP

Much worse shenmue Jun 2015 #1

I feel you wholeheartedly. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #4

Thank you shenmue Jun 2015 #5

Here's to hope! Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #11

Thank you shenmue Jun 2015 #15

My 26 year old Go Vols Jun 2015 #2

Hell yes the Unions are a good thing - now to convince more people of that. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author merrily Jun 2015 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author merrily Jun 2015 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #14

I'm doing much, much better than both at this point. I'm 27. linuxman Jun 2015 #6

Well that's probably because you are a Linux man! :) Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #8

I attribute it to waiting to have kids. linuxman Jun 2015 #10

Interesting - my parents had my older brother pretty early (normal by those days) and I came Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #13

So far a lot of us 40+ folks are feeling the pinch. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #16

I'm not really sure...it's so different now. PearliePoo2 Jun 2015 #17

It really is quite different isn't it? Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #19

I'm 60 (almost 61) and KNOW I am doing way worse than my parents. raven mad Jun 2015 #18

If you don't mind my asking, when did it become apparent to you? Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #20

I was about 45 and couldn't get a decent job at way above minimum. raven mad Jun 2015 #21

I am sorry to hear that - Ageism is alive and well. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #22

Need another category--people getting Social Security are really in a different situation eridani Jun 2015 #23

Damn fine point - I totally missed that. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #24

I have outlived my parents by decades. dixiegrrrrl Jun 2015 #31

I'm not as well off as my parents were Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #25

Thank you for sharing. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #26

I originally selected over 40 and on track JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #27

Grew up in poverty. joshcryer Jun 2015 #28

not even close, but then again onethatcares Jun 2015 #29

At 16 I was making more... meaculpa2011 Jun 2015 #30

the other other... quickesst Jun 2015 #32

It's not hard to do better than my parents. TheOther95Percent Jun 2015 #33

Given that my father retired at 60 randr Jun 2015 #34

That's the big difference spinbaby Jun 2015 #35

I'm over 40 and led a COMPLETELY different life than my parents. Comparing economics KittyWampus Jun 2015 #36

I make far more than my parents did, but I have far less to show for it. Sheldon Cooper Jun 2015 #37

I can completely agree with this. Xyzse Jun 2015 #51

Not even close. 99Forever Jun 2015 #38

Economic power much greater, but it's hard to argue with 80 acres for 12,000 dollars. ileus Jun 2015 #39

Couple Ways RobinA Jun 2015 #40

My father was a 1%er. Me, not even close. Exilednight Jun 2015 #41

2 sided answer. Financially, better but not nearly as secure nc4bo Jun 2015 #42

hell no. much worse. Javaman Jun 2015 #43

My parents were able to sustain a family of six on one income. hobbit709 Jun 2015 #44

In a future poll, you might want to separate 40-64 and 65+ jeff47 Jun 2015 #45

My parents didn't go to college. Neither did my inlaws. MissB Jun 2015 #46

Vastly better off than my parents lapislzi Jun 2015 #47

I'm definitely better off... Adrahil Jun 2015 #48

Crushed by medical and student loan debt here... hunter Jun 2015 #49

In many ways I am doing better than my parents at the same age... Much worse in others Xyzse Jun 2015 #50

Better than one parent, worse than the other. Shrike47 Jun 2015 #52

My dad retired at age 55 with a union retirement. B Calm Jun 2015 #53

Wealthiest times in HUMAN HISTORY. Octafish Jun 2015 #54

Other. opiate69 Jun 2015 #55

I am better than my parents, but that doesn't mean much. Lyric Jun 2015 #56

Way better off - it's a matter of timing tularetom Jun 2015 #57

I aimed a little lower than my dad and chose a more secure path. He did fine, I'm fine, no regrets. Gidney N Cloyd Jun 2015 #58

Doing better, mainly because we don't have kids nt geek tragedy Jun 2015 #59

Worse, my father retired at 55 from a corp after putting three sons through college aikoaiko Jun 2015 #60

I'll answer for me and my daughter both Proud Public Servant Jun 2015 #61

Better WestCoastLib Jun 2015 #62

Substantially better brooklynite Jun 2015 #64

Dear FSM, no. KamaAina Jun 2015 #63