re: Minimum wage in the 1970s would be the equivalent of making almost $56,000 a year now

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JohnnyKilroy

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since you like to call everyone stupid....want to start comparing degrees or IQ or any meaningful thing like two douche bags arguing on here?

and it is a volunteer military in the since that you are not forced or conscripted into service. you volunteer to enlist and then are paid once enlisted.

volunteering could have meant also volunteering for certain missions like going to Afghanistan or iraq


it was simply a misunderstanding of the context in which you were using the word.

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And the median square footage is 2-3x what our grandparents lived in.

Our "cheap" cars now have leather seats, we eat out 50x as much as they did, and almost everything we buy is made with designed obsolescence. Let's not even start on higher education.

It's our own choices. Our own fault. It's possible to live differently.

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no it isnt, its 70% in terms of median.

median house in 71 was between 13-1400 sf. its 2386 or something now

as far as cars and other things...that is true and how we live...again true

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The larger problem is that affordable areas are infested with criminals and derelicts who diminish the quality of life for those that live there.

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It was Gen X that got dick drunk on 2500 sq feet cookie cutter neighborhoods

Millenials are actually in love with the 1500 sq foot craftsmen’s built in the 60s/70s

Go look at Southdowns, it’s the most popular place for millenial families. A 1500 square foot house built in the 60s that’s 1500 square ft will cost you 500k

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Young people are screwed, in general, compared to last generations when it comes to opportunity.

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Anyone arguing that achieving the basic "American Dream" in 2026 is not more difficult than it was in 1976, 86, 96 or any time since WW2 is either being obtuse or is ignorant. It is harder. The cost of living is not substantially higher, wages have actually slightly outpaced inflation since the mid 70s. The cost of living, however, does not accurately reflect the cost of starting to live....when housing, childcare and education is the main cost of living. All 3 are STAGGERINGLY higher than they were in the 70s, 80s and even 90s when they really started booming. The cost of living for a 25 year old couple is not the same as that of a 55 year old couple. Forget about things that 25 year olds WANT...just an education, a place to sleep and a place to keep the kid while your at work is way more costly. This is just a fact.

That said the US is still full of opportunity. It isn't as easy as it once was, for certain, but it can still be done. It is a matter of simply doing it. I know that sounds harsh but that has, is and always will be the case...no matter how difficult some folks will make it, some will almost make it and some will fail miserably. Yes, it is more difficult. It ain't fair but it is what it is. Knowing this is the case doesn't matter a bit. There ain't no future in expending any energy worrying about it being harder, spend that energy being among the group that makes it. Or nearly makes it....lots of people from the 70's gonna be working meaningless jobs into their 70s or living on a meager income.

Advice is worth what you pay for it but I am 60 and as an old geezer giving advice out unasked is something we do. Owning shite is a fools errand when you are young. Especially real estate. Unless it is a true investment and not the largest single living expense you have owning real estate, as a young person, is a bad idea. It is an anchor. It ties you to jobs and areas and limits your opportunities worse than losing a limb. Yes, you have to have a place to live, but you don't need one that is subject to the vaugeries of the market and is crumbling around you like all real estate is. Owning a bunch of furniture and clothing and electronics are all bad ideas...but real estate is far worse due to its cost. Renting is a far better bet. I know it is more expensive but it does not limit your opportunities. On top of that renting is more practical from a start up POV....as such simply accept it as a fact of life. There ain't much you can do about it so why spend any energy fretting over it.

Don't be loyal to an employer, an industry, a region or even a nation. If an entity is not loyal to you why on earth would you be loyal to it? Place yourself in a position to MOVE...and do so often if opportunity presents itself. Don't want to be away from friends and family? Thats a decision that has costs associated with it. If you make it own it, don't exert any energy fretting over it.

Work. Period. Hustle. You are young, healthy, energetic and don't own shite. You will NEVER be freer than you are if you are in that position. Work as much as possible. It sucks. It is life. You can either do it or bitch about it but bitching about it seldom puts any money in the bank.

Do shite for yourself. Anyone can learn to maintain a car. It ain't rocket science. Learn to cook and learn to do so cheaply.

If you are fortunate enough to find a like minded partner share your life with them...its easier for 2 than 1. If that ain't in the cards again, not a lot you can do about it, don't spend a lot of energy fretting over it....if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it ain't the end of the world.

Life expectancy is longer today than it was in 1980. There is no need to start a family in your mid 20s or earlier. Having a family is the primary excuse for being alive but it is expensive and it limits your freedom. If it is too late and you already have a family you path is simply harder. It is what it is, bitching about it won't make it any less difficult.

In the words of Andy Dufresne, you can either get busy living or get busy dying. Its a choice. It ain't easy, and it ain't for the feint of heart, Unfortunately if you exist it is your lot in life. Its a choice, it is the penultimate opportunity. You are going to do one or the other.

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Probably depends on your age. In 1940 the median home square footage was under 1000sq ft.

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yea but OP was talking 1971

We haven't even touched on the fact that the median age at time of first home purchase is like 40 years old now

I apologize, but I won’t be able to get on with my day without typing Dave is the dumbest mfer I have ever come across.

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The majority of us aren’t even the demographic affected by this.

My wife and I are both physicians. We don’t have issues with this.

But I am not disingenuous and retarded enough to not recognize how screwed up the economic situation of younger generations are.

Just because you “got yours” doesn’t mean you can’t recognize the horrendous burden the economy has placed on others.

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Here's my point of view. My parents didn't have much. Me and my brothers all were much more successful than the family we came from. We all sought out opportunities and moved to various places. We put in the work to make it all happen. We all found financial success by doing exactly what I said in my first post in this thread.

I think it takes someone willing to live with less while saving to be successful in today's world. I think most people are not willing to live with less.

Just stop buying the lattes and cancel Netflix. Invest that.



FYI I’m being sarcastic but this is a serious response by many people who don’t understand the numbers.