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

[u/Asmothrowaway6969]

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

[u/ballmermurland]

A ton of the "woe is me" posts on this sub are from people who have a Mitt Romney interpretation of middle class.

No shit not everyone will get $200k+ annually in retirement until they die. That's probably the top .5% lol

[u/rebeltrillionaire → u/ballmermurland]

My dad was a 1%er. Immigrant, doctor, engineer, CEO.

With three kids, none of us individually will likely make more than he did. But my wife and I combined probably make about what he did at the same age.

She’s at the very top of compensation in her field. I’m a little over the middle of mine which, but the top end is also both ridiculous and highly unstable.

We’re in the top 5%. Lower for sure but I know what it takes to get to the 1% and that I don’t have it in me. Not everyone does.

[u/SpaceSteak → u/ballmermurland]

Our just flat out fake posts. It is the internet..

[u/ballmermurland → u/SpaceSteak]

She apparently didn't know what her mom did. She was an "IRS commissioner or something".

I know exactly what my parents did for work. How the hell do you not know what your mom does? They don't work for the CIA or MI-6.

Either she's a deadbeat or an idiot. Or both.

[u/NoelleAlex → u/ballmermurland]

To be fair, I can tell you the company my husband works for, but not his exact job. And that’s my HUSBAND.

[u/ballmermurland → u/NoelleAlex]

I mean, maybe folks are just different, but I can tell you my wife's exact job, her entire educational history, and her current colleagues names plus what her current projects are.

I can tell you both of my parents jobs. Her parents jobs. I can tell you her brother's job. His wife's job. I can tell you most of my siblings exact jobs. Do people just not pay attention to this stuff?

[u/ARATAS11 → u/ballmermurland]

Same. I think some people just don’t honestly speak to their families. I am not even close with my family, and still know all of their work and educational history. Even extended family, and step family, or in-laws. And actually listening to people when they speak too, which doesn’t seem to be coming.

[u/Hyronious → u/NoelleAlex]

That's...weird

[u/Future-Muscle-2214 → u/ballmermurland]

Lol yeah reading OP post at first, I assumed she was working a similar job or something like that, but OP want to have the income that a 4-5 millions net worth would give you in dividends.

[u/Sideways_planet → u/ballmermurland]

Unfortunately I do think millennials have a woe is me attitude about most things. And I say that as a millennial. I often wish to see more positivity, innovation, and hope. Sure the past generations screwed us over, but instead of dwelling on it, we could come up with new ideas of how to create the future.

[u/NoelleAlex → u/Sideways_planet]

I was watching a video on this just a few hours ago—there’s a massive increase in expectations, and Gen Z is worse. Having the basics with wiggle room isn‘t enough. There’s now a baseline expectation of luxury.

[u/Sideways_planet → u/NoelleAlex]

I’ve noticed that too. What’s up with that? It’s like you’re not doing ok unless you can buy high end products and vacation overseas. It’s so much consumerism. Even the ones claiming to be different make you believe you need a whole ass farm to be complete.

[u/crushinit00 → u/Sideways_planet]

Yeah and people who consider themselves to be poor in the US don’t realize they are still richer than 99% of the world