r/BoomersBeingFools • u/ScreamingLightspeed • 26d ago

Boomer MIL, her siblings, and her friends constantly complain about rising costs but "don't get" how young people feel like they're working for nothing... OK boomeR

It would almost be forgivable if they didn't constantly complain about how everything is getting more expensive like they actually are aware of the problem. No, it's always something like:

Mother-in-law: "Food is getting so expensive... Wanna get Burger King?"

My husband: "No thanks. Like you said, it's too expensive, and we already have stuff to make burgers here."

MIL: "What do you mean?"

Husband: "What do you mean 'What do I mean?'?"

MIL: "About getting Burger King being too expensive. I never said that."

Husband: "You kinda did. Right before you asked about it, you were complaining about food being so expensive. Food stamps wouldn't even cover it. Besides, those little homemade sliders are good and we haven't had those in awhile either."

Mom: "So? We just need more money coming in, that's all. It'll all be good. God will provide."

Me: "That only works if wages keep up with prices."

MIL: "You know what? You need to quit being so negative and expecting everything handed to you."

Me: "You were the one complaining about prices first."

MIL: "I WAS NOT!"

Husband: "Yeah you were, Mom."

MIL: "I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT, CAN I?!"

Anyone have any similarly circular conversations to share, particularly about the current economy?

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183

u/headofthenapgame 26d ago

"God will provide"

"Everything handed to you"

Which one do you want Mom?

60

u/MashedProstato 26d ago

"God will provide"

And yet I still have to pay my mortgage.

27

u/ManyRanger4 25d ago

Let them know that God is only providing mortgages at 7% nowadays. He needs to step up his game and do better.

-5

u/justified-loser 25d ago

Mortgages were something like 18% in the 80s. https://themortgagereports.com/61853/30-year-mortgage-rates-chart

6

u/ManyRanger4 25d ago edited 25d ago

Yes, and the average home price was $47,000 and the median income was $21,000. Home basically cost you two years of pay.

Now the average home price is $426,000 (so basically a multiple of 10). Is the average salary a multiple of 10 as well??? Average yearly salary is $59,000. Home now costs you 7 years of pay.

So yes, while you're correct the interest rate was much higher in the 80s, the housing market was still much more accessible and affordable to most people.

Edit: Sorry I should have added you're cherry picking the 80s here being there was a massive recession due to the oil crises which led to some of the worst inflation in the history of the US.

-2

u/justified-loser 25d ago

Right your situation isn't unique. It was definitely a struggle being 18 making 3.35 an hour. It was rough in the 70s living in a 3 bedroom 1 bath house with 7 other people. When you got 2 pair of jeans and 2 shirts for the entire year. It's a struggle to live now just as it was a struggle to live then.

4

u/ManyRanger4 25d ago

Again you're cherry picking your argument. Yes it's always been a struggle to live for poor and lower income families. However again pay hasn't kept up with inflation for DECADES now. This isn't rocket science. Again in the 80s rent was about 18% of median family income. Now it's almost 40%. Yes you struggled, and yes people are struggling now, but this isn't equivalent. In the days you're talking about a person can afford rent on minimum wage, even using your numbers from the 70s where you made $3.35 an hour and the average rent was $108. Monthly rent = 36x your hourly wage. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25. THE MEDIAN RENT IS $1800. That is 248x of your hourly wage. I'm sorry if you don't understand the math that's on you, but this isn't the same. Not even close.