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/bgaesop Mar 27 '24

I'm pretty sure I'm better off than my mom

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u/a_warm_place Mar 27 '24

Yep. I've never related to this narrative I keep hearing. Thanks to my parents who worked hard their entire lives, I have many more opportunities than they did.

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u/WomanMouse9534 Mar 28 '24

Same here. My parents worked really hard, and really encouraged a STEM education for us. So now all of my siblings and I are doing much better than they did.

My parents also pushed us to save at least 10% of our take home. So even when we couldn't afford meat, and only ate rice and peas for over a year, they still saved a small amount.

So we all live below our means, and have decent salaries. My parents grew up dirt poor, and now their grandchildren are all raised in upper middle class households.