Redditors Lambasted Grandparents for Questioning Why Their Grandson Can't Afford a House
Yesterday is different from today. But some old people still live with the notion that they exist in the glorious past.
What's painful about it is that they're expecting today's young people to be high up and spreading their wings in just a few years. Such is the situation of this Original Poster, whom his grandparents criticized as having "failed to launch."
With the username u/sadz6900, he expressed his loneliness through Reddit's r/antiwork forum: "I work 2 jobs and work almost always 6 days a week. If I work both jobs on the same day, I usually work no less than 9 hours that day. My grandma is acting in disbelief that I haven’t moved out yet and owned my own house by now. I’m f-cking 22 and NOWHERE near me that isn’t a minimum wage job will even give me an interview, and even then I’ve only lived with them for about 3 years. I just don’t understand why old people seem to be living in a fantasy land with everything happening right in front of their eyes."
OP's grandparents may be finding it difficult to understand his situation, but even the country's most successful people and financial specialists are very candid in describing just how difficult the current times are.
In a Newsweek column, Peter Rex wrote: "At least 5 million families who want to buy homes can't because of a lack of supply, and, for at least 10 years, home builders haven't been able to keep up with demand. The dearth of new homes drives up prices, which have soared during the pandemic while incomes fell. Accounting for inflation, home prices have risen by nearly 120 percent since 1965, while incomes have only increased by 15 percent. If more new homes don't get built, existing homes will keep getting more expensive, pricing more people out of home ownership and causing frustrated Americans to lean more on government."
He also cited the case of the Millenial Generation, with 70 percent of Americans aged between 23 and 40 years old unable to afford to buy a home even if they wanted to. And the situation is even worse for Generation Z.
That's why, when this story was published in Newsweek, Life coach Marni Goldman advised OP to just move out for his peace of mind, since he seems to be heading for a burn-out or breakdown. To make it financially easier for himself, he can look for a roommate with whom he can share expenses.
Most important of all, OP must bear in mind that "a piece of property" doesn't define a person's worth. Yes, it's just fine to keep on striving toward one's dream, but we should enjoy life along the way.
For more than 20 years now, I’ve been devoting my heart, energy, and time to fulfilling my dream, which – many people may agree – is not among the easiest aspirations in life. Part of my happiness is having been able to lend a hand to many individuals, companies, and even governments as an investigative journalist, creative writer, TV director, and radio broadcaster.
At home, I spend my free time learning how to cook various cuisines. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and banoffee pie are my favorite desserts. Playing with our dogs, Mushu and Jerusalem, is also a special part of my day. And, of course, I read a lot – almost anything under the sun. But what really makes me feel alive is meeting people from various walks of life and writing about their stories, which echo with the tears and triumph of an unyielding spirit, humanity, and wisdom.