Young people feel robbed of a better life but they don't know what to do about it
- Thread starter oldbag
- Start date
I'm not justifying it. It is what it is and exploiting through others to make quick money because those are so desperate. They then get into that vicious spiral.
I still can't get over how just about every TV ad you see these payday loans etc
I still can't get over how just about every TV ad you see these payday loans etc
Soldato
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No there are more loan companies than ever before because of people wanting what they can't afford.
Wanting their cake and eating it.
Yeah sure its OK for me to go on about it sitting here in front of my £2k PC in my detached house. What do I know about being hard up?
Quite a lot actually, and I have what I have through making sacrifices and working hard because I hate being hard up.
Anyone can do it, but you can't do it and still have the nice car, and the holidays and the weekends in the pub - not unless you are loaded or have family that can help you financially (which I didn't)
For example, from 1998 - 2007 I didn't go on holiday. I had to take time off work because they wouldn't pay me for the days. I just spent my days at home trying to keep myself busy. We went away for five days in 2007 because my wife's brother got married abroad and her dad paid for us to go. Thats the only reason we went. Almost ten years without a holiday, and the only reason we had one in 2009 is because I did 7 straight weeks of 12hr night shifts (14hrs door to door), 7 days a week - no days off. It damn near killed me but it meant we could have 2 weeks abroad paid for with our own money.
Hands up from the "world owes me a living" crowd who would do that for a 2 week holiday in Greece?
In 2010 I saved for a week's biking holiday in Spain. It cost £600 all in. 2010-2012 was 1 free week in my wife's parents caravan per year. But in 2012 we managed to do a cottage share with friends in Devon for a week £400 all in. Then 2013 was our honeymoon, and we only went because I did a month of night work + daily overtime to pay for it. So in 16 years I have been on holiday 8 times, 4 of which I didn't pay for.
So - those who think they can't afford to buy a house, how many times have you been on holiday in the last 16 years?
Soldato
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The thing is - I just see it as doing what needs to be done. I only really made the post to highlight an example of the sacrifice and the effort I, as well as countless others I expect, have made in order to make a better life.
I don't want to be slapped on the back or be given medals, but I won't feel ashamed of talking about it if it highlights a point in the context of a discussion like this
That point really being that hard work and effort pays off if you are willing to make sacrifices for your future.
Soldato
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While I might agree with some of the sentiments expressed re you only get out what you put in I think young people ( and I say this as a 35 y old ) need to get more involved in the big picture.
They are disengaged from the political debate and sadly they apparently think Russell Brand is some sort of role model. If they feel robbed of a better life they need to make changes at the governmental level.
They have the power to make real changes by voting in proper politicians. Not the Neo-liberal lib-lab-con lot or the even more extreme (not actually an alternative) "alternative" UKIP
If they take the time to read up on party manifestos and ruminate on what things could be like for them and society as a whole if perhaps politicians didn't look to line their own pockets and make an informed choice there could be change.
The current and previous administrations have done a very good job though of making people apathetic and bored towards important political decisions so they can get on with the business of carving up and selling off national institutions and make a killing in the process (Royal Mail sell off anyone)
People naturally feel powerless when Banks are given the biggest subsidy in human history which sends the message to those at the top that 'yeah - gamble away - if you get into any trouble we'll use the chumps at the bottom to bail you out'
At the same time as pouring billions to cover the reckless spending they then start spreading propaganda about the benefits scroungers as if they somehow have caused this massive inequality between the haves and the have nots setting us against ourselves when really we should be uniting against the common enemy.
I'm not surprised young people feel robbed. I should think that most people in this country and many western democracies feel robbed so here's your chance young people - get out and vote - you have options
/rant
They are disengaged from the political debate and sadly they apparently think Russell Brand is some sort of role model. If they feel robbed of a better life they need to make changes at the governmental level.
They have the power to make real changes by voting in proper politicians. Not the Neo-liberal lib-lab-con lot or the even more extreme (not actually an alternative) "alternative" UKIP
If they take the time to read up on party manifestos and ruminate on what things could be like for them and society as a whole if perhaps politicians didn't look to line their own pockets and make an informed choice there could be change.
The current and previous administrations have done a very good job though of making people apathetic and bored towards important political decisions so they can get on with the business of carving up and selling off national institutions and make a killing in the process (Royal Mail sell off anyone)
People naturally feel powerless when Banks are given the biggest subsidy in human history which sends the message to those at the top that 'yeah - gamble away - if you get into any trouble we'll use the chumps at the bottom to bail you out'
At the same time as pouring billions to cover the reckless spending they then start spreading propaganda about the benefits scroungers as if they somehow have caused this massive inequality between the haves and the have nots setting us against ourselves when really we should be uniting against the common enemy.
I'm not surprised young people feel robbed. I should think that most people in this country and many western democracies feel robbed so here's your chance young people - get out and vote - you have options
/rant
Soldato
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I don't think the political landscape has anywhere near the impact on young peoples lives that you think it does. I have always felt that successive governments have been a sham. I have done OK for myself and their blunders and mismanagement have not really hindered me. I am sure the same is true for many others.
My notions of robbery is somebody taking something that belongs to you - something that you have worked hard to pay for (like income tax!!
).I cannot equate the situation of young people today with robbery. How can they be robbed if they didn't earn it in the first place? It is just an attitude of entitlement.
Having said that I think young people have been let down in how they are prepared for life. They are told to do XYZ and you will receive XYZ in return (IE go to uni for example). Its all lies.
Instead of pushing university education on every school leaver from from the 90's onward, we should be educating people about life choices, graft, disappointment and priorities. Kids these days don't have a clue how much it costs to rent their own homes, or how they should be managing their future. They get sold the pot of gold (read degree) at the end of the rainbow and then left to get on with it. Ask any child today what they need to do to get a good job and they will say, because of the indoctrination, that they need a degree.
It is the biggest scam of modern times, but could be avoided if at least their parents gave them adequate direction in life. But unfortunately todays generation of parents were the same brainwashed pupils from the 90's, so I don't hold out too much hope
Your one in a million, If it was possible for every one to go out and do well no one would be able to go out and do well because its impossible to have every one earning high amounts without the majority of people earning nest to nothing.
For every one like you there's 5k people on minimum wage.
Soldato
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True, and this is why we need to be more honest with young people about what their expectations should be.
Equality of opportunity does not = equality of outcome.
Sad but true. Life is not fair, accept it and live the best as you can.
But at the moment it is a message of a degree filled utopia where you spend 3 years studying at uni and come out and earn £100k.
No basis in reality and this is a problem, in my opinion.
Wow! 40 whole hours? That's really pushing themselves...
Soldato
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Back when I were a lad, and all this were just fields, we would do 40hrs a day then go and do our evening job!
Associate
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If the Government had not bailed the banks out, we would be in so much **** right now economically. Forget young people, we would all have major problems. Now we are supposedly the fastest growing economy in the western world.
The problem has been Governments not aggressively regulating banks and not doing enough to create jobs. All three parties are one and the same thing, so who are you supposed to vote for?
Look at you all playing the poor me poor me card, talking about the pittiful sacrifices you have made, what kind of life is that? And for what, to then still be barely sustainable. Meanwhile the top 1% have done nothing but prosper from all your misery. The games rigged, you've all already lost and are blaiming each other, meanwhile the winners are laughing at you all.
Soldato
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Yup, the game is rigged. So why bother breathing huh? Might as well all just kill ourselves and be done with it right!?
Nar, I would rather accept its all a load of ******** and make myself comfortable. If that means a bit of graft and sacrifice so be it
I have a nice steady life now. The sacrifice was worth it
@foxeye:
Do you go on holiday?
Last holiday was 4 years ago for 1 week. No hotels, slept in hostels. Was a cheap holiday in the Alps. Before that I hadn't been on holiday for about a decade.
Do you have a social life?
Nope. But that's less about money and more about being a hermit
Do you drive a car that is more expensive than you need?
No car at all. Live 5 mins away from where I work, and I don't travel.
Do you tend to have nice clothes?
I like my clothes, but they are not expensive clothes. I don't by clothes with logos or anything designer. Most of my stuff comes from places like Primark, Asda, etc. People actually buy more clothes for me than I buy for myself.
Do you tend to spend money at Christmas?
Nope. The odd couple quid in the Steam sale... but not more than £10 or so...
Do you have a nice smart phone?
I only have a work phone. My previous phones were hand-me-downs.
Do you have a fast internet connection?
I have vanilla ADSL, for the grand cost of £6 a month. It's the cheapest I could find (TalkTalk).
Do you have Sky TV?
Yes. We can't get Freeview so I have the basic Sky service. It's either that or no telly. I could live without TV but my Mum couldn't, so I mostly got it for her.
Do you have takeaways at the weekend?
Nope. Maybe 3-4 times a year?
Do you live at home for 'free'?
Nope. That would be rude!
Do you drink/smoke?
Nope and nope.
There is an alarming pre-conception amongst a lot of people here that my generation and younger generations are throwing away money like water. And fair enough, we *all* know someone like this... in every generation!
But it's not the case that we could afford to buy/rent if we were better with our finances. I have a reputation for being exceptionally tight, saving every penny, and I still couldn't afford a place to live.
Back when I were a lad, and all this were just fields, we would do 40hrs a day then go and do our evening job!
Kids of today eh
Soldato
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2 Bed house here is currently 10x the national average wage.
Interestingly, a look back over his posting history shows that in the last 6 months, he's bought/been looking to buy:
Sofa: £500
Graphics card: £150
TV & soundbar: Up to £1000
Sky HD EE+ pack: 12x£28
So yes, looks like your guess was pretty spot on
£2k in 6 months... save that much over 5 years and you've got a £20k deposit for a house...
Sorry bud, I'm mostly a window shopper. The sofa wasn't even my money, and the other stuff I decided I didn't need.
I have a kind of pre-emptive buyer's remorse that stops me before I buy something
P.S. I love the way you and BuffetSlayer had decided I spent money like water before even waiting for me to respond.
That's *exactly* the kind of pre-conception that people who have their home and are comfortable have about those who don't.
"Oh, he must be lazy."
"Oh, he must have his priorities wrong."
"He wouldn't be in that position if he made an effort."
You guys genuinely don't have a clue. I don't mean to be rude, but you have no idea.
P.P.S I work 45 hours a week. Maybe I should work 60? 80? 90?
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It would be interesting to see what a mother's average salary added to a man's average salary is compared to a 3 bed house. That would tell you is home ownership is viable for a new family.