I read an article this morning on Business Insider about how Millennials is the poorest generation alive today, not due to their spending that serves their instant gratification needs, but that they reached adulthood during the last depression. As a GenXer, I must have been better off when I was young than I am now but I’m not living up to my generation’s spending ability. Sure the cost of everything continues to go up but lately it seems that everything has doubled in price. Bed, Bath and Beyond is selling a Santa climbing a ladder that plays some Christmas music for $99. It looks like it might have cost $5 to make. And I might spend $15 to buy it. But $100 is ridiculous. We were up in the mountains yesterday and found a small candle holder that was in the $3 bin. We were going to buy it until we saw the tag attached that said $12.
There are many GenX out there that made good, and possibly lucky, decisions that have put them in a good spot today. I have worked in a blue collar industry and at that pay level for my whole adult life. Making ends meet is incredibly tough, especially now. Living in a townhome has been great but the dream for a house seems to be just a dream if prices don’t come down soon. A house in our neighborhood (3bd/2ba) is anywhere from $650-$900K. When I reached adulthood many years ago, I said out loud that I would never buy a house that costs a half-million dollars or more. Now it seems to be the norm.
The article in BI was interesting in the differences between Millennials and my generation. Millenials use GrubHub or similar delivery services to get restaurant food while I like to go to the restaurant and experience it. Millennials use paper towels instead of napkins, and don’t eat cereal in the morning because it requires them to wash the dishes when they are done. (I’m eating cereal right now and is one of my favorite meals)
I agree that change is good. That convenience is great. That healthier options is best. But the cost of everything that so many cannot afford is ridiculous. Is not being able to afford things the norm, regardless of your generation?
Sunny Bradford - Artist 
It’s all relative. As Leonard Cohen sang, “Everybody knows the dice are loaded…” It seems to me as if the Millennials have figured out that the only way to win this game is to not play it. I’d say what you’re experiencing is middle-aged angst and realization that “there’s always something” breaking down and keeping me from getting ahead”. Sometimes treading water is a good thing; just ask the fire survivors in Paradise, CA.
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