My parents had three kids and owned a 150 m² house in the countryside. I earn more than they used to and I’m renting a single room in a house with four flatmates.
Not financially, we used to go on holiday 3 weeks a year in a touring caravan, plus multiple weekends, in my teens we’d go skiing for a week. Based on that alone I’m not even in the same league.
Mentally, yes. Financially, no.
Financially maybe, my parents were probably still at university at my age. They’d make more money than I do afterwards though.
And they had already found each other, while I’ve never even had one relationship yet.
No. Close, but no.
Yes and no. I probably am a bit better off than my parents, but they raised 4 kids and I raised none. My Mom was mostly stay at home (went back to work after all us kids moved out). My spouse has a good career, which is an added bonus.
Technically not since they were married, were renting small house, and had at least one kid by the time they were my age. I’m still in college.
Hell no, but physical disability… I live in the USA where disability seems like a homelessness death sentence
Nope.
I would say same standard of living but the difference is they had a kid and my wife and I don’t. We simply could not have the same lifestyle if we had children.
Yeah, kids are darn expensive. I’m damn happy my parents decided to have me despite that fact. :)
To answer OP’s question, also doing better than them at the same age. Big part of it was investing early (time-value of money is a massive deal) and keeping the same car forever. My parents have spent quite a bit on cars over the years, it is probably their largest reducible expense. I bought a lightly used crossover a long time ago, and it’s got a long life ahead of it.
Same.
That’s partly why I never married or had a family. I wanted all my time and money to myself and to have more freedom.
Yes.
I have a home, a good job, and am able to save enough that it’s possible I may be able to retire in my fifties.
The only responsible decision my parents made was to pay off their house. They had over a dozen kids and my dad literally roofed houses until he couldn’t anymore physically. They’re now in their 80’s and driving for DoorDash, in a car they’ve “borrowed” from me for almost a year, that I’m certain I’m never getting back.
And, somehow, despite having no mortgage or car payment, they still aren’t paying their bills on time. (But, to be fair, that’s also a referendum on the US economy and capitalism in general, and none of us can get actual progressives elected.)
Sounds like my parents. I am younger but my dad is a alcoholic and drug addict that pissed away his retirement. He’s 63 and just getting out of rehab for the 50th time.
Yeah, mine was an alcoholic for 25 years but inexplicably quit cold turkey one day when I was a teen.
I think it’s just a ton of undiagnosed, untreated mental illness. My mom’s mother was abusive and her loving father died when she was a teen. My dad’s dad died when he was eleven and he became the breadwinner for his mom and siblings, and didn’t stop working for another sixty-five years. (Well, he drives for DoorDash now, so I suppose he’s still working, but it’s a far cry from roofing.)
I actually feel a little bad for my dad. He worked his ass off his whole life and has almost nothing to show for it, but somehow, could never put his foot down when it came to my mom and adding more kids to the family. In most other countries his lifetime of work and owning a business would have meant a comfortable retirement, but not here. In America, no one gives a fuck.
Much better, and certainly without them.
