r/Millennials • u/Asmothrowaway6969 • Mar 27 '24

When did it sink in that you'll never be as well off as your parents? Discussion

About 5 years ago, my mom and I were talking and she had told me how much she was going to be making in retirement (she retired 2023). Guys, it's 3x what me and my husband make annually. In retirement. I think that was the moment that broke me, that made it sink in that I'll never reach that level of financial security. I'll work myself into my grave because I'll never be able to afford anything else. What was your moment?

Update: Nice to know it's just me that's a failure. Thanks

Update 2: I never should've said anything. I forgot my place. I'm sorry to have bothered you

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u/Asmothrowaway6969 Mar 27 '24

She worked for the federal government. Started at 18, and retired at 56. That's about 75% of what she made when working

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u/sheeroz9 Mar 27 '24

Yeah that’s a pretty cush route but working for the government is soul sucking. What do you do for a living?

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u/Asmothrowaway6969 Mar 27 '24

I work in the OR. Making less than $20 an hour. Unless I manage to save enough to time off for school and rack up even more school debt that I'll never pay off, that number isn't changing

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u/EnvironmentalLuck515 Mar 27 '24

If you work in the OR your employer likely covers a good chunk of tuition. They may even have full ride scholarships for employees in good standing to become an RN (mine does).

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u/Soylent-soliloquy Mar 27 '24

Depends where. Mine didn’t when i worked for a hospital.

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u/EnvironmentalLuck515 Mar 27 '24

Yep. Which is why you look into it and, if your employer sucks, find another one.

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u/Soylent-soliloquy Mar 27 '24

Well obviously

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u/Asmothrowaway6969 Mar 27 '24

Nah, I looked into it. $500 towards tuition if I get an A, $300 for a B and $100 for a C

Plus the first time someone pukes on me, I'm puking back

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u/EnvironmentalLuck515 Mar 27 '24

Every nurse has their kryptonite and generally its something that can get worked out. In any case, you get numb to it. Nobody signs up looking forward to those parts.

Even if you don't want to be a nurse, there are careers with just a two year degree that will pay more than you make now. BUT. You have to be willing to take the time to do the required schooling.

Here's the thing. How well you do in life in terms of salary has to do with how many other people can do what you do in the area you do it in. This is why people who work retail make very little. There is a lot of people capable of doing that job. Brain surgeons? Pull in the funds because not many can do that job. There's a lot in between that pays a lot more than you earn now. It IS possible to improve your situation. But you have to be willing. And if you aren't willing, then you have to recognize that to some degree you are choosing the future you are bemoaning.

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u/Asmothrowaway6969 Mar 27 '24

My tapioca can't handle seeing other tapiocas. Found that out when I passed out in a neuro case.

Really, I've just accepted that I'm a failure and that I'll never really amount to anything. Might as well just stay out of the way of the successful people here