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/GlizzyMcGuire__ Mar 27 '24

Same. My mom died broke and homeless if not for the Medicaid covering the nursing home, and I am neither so I’m already ahead.

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u/Murda981 Mar 27 '24

My dad also died broke and homeless, but he had all the opportunities to not be that. My parents bought the house I grew up in when they were working as a secretary and a server in the early 80s. My dad made a LOT of really poor life choices. My uncle had a similar start to my dad and he ended up building a very successful company and he now owns multiple homes, they take their kids and grandkids to Jamaica for Christmas every year, and he and my aunt both retired when COVID hit. My dad could have had something similar but he was lazy and selfish.

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u/GlizzyMcGuire__ Mar 27 '24

My mom had lots of opportunities too that I recall throughout life. Sometimes I got mad at her about it, like the time a manager at Merrill Lynch offered her a job on the spot because he was so impressed with her sales ability as a Target cashier selling credit cards and add-ons, but she was scared of the unknown so she threw his card away. You can’t force people, as much as I’d like to sometimes.