I do not believe Cheryl's opinion is the norm. Of course I don't believe kids leaving home at 18 and never needing their parents' help again is the norm either. I think both view poi9are opposite extremes. The norm lies somewhere between these two extremes.

My parents never graduated from high school, yet they managed to pay for my sister and I to attend a private, out of state college. I did the same for my son. My sister and BIL will do the same for their 4. This is the norm in our extended family and circle of friends.

This isn't a common opinion. Just an article. Probably to get people all up in arms about perceived issue. It's non issue imho

This article is just meant to get people thinking. I think this girl sounds like and entitled little twit. It is not the norm by any means. I am classified as a millennial but I in no way blame my parents for my struggles. I am not really struggling but I live pay check to pay check and if I watch my spending can do a fun thing here and there and go out to eat occasionally. I have student loans and never once expected my parents to pay for them.

One thing I will agree with that is true these days is it is not easy to get a head or to buy that house if you are a single person. The prices are really high these days and wages do not equal out as much. I blame more the government and a greedy society. I fall prey to this at times, but America and other countries keep wanting more and more and do not plan for the future. The want to go out with friends and enjoy life and not worry about what tomorrow will bring. The baby boomers did not do that they planned and worked hard.

While I do agree it is taking longer for people my age (31) and younger to launch I do not think the old people are to blame.

I am a baby boomer. Thank God for that.

I think a lot of the arguments about current costs and "lack of opportunity" don't make a whit of difference in dealing with reality.

Quality of life is about making GOOD CHOICES with the options available to you. No - not everybody has the same options. But it does no good to whine that somebody else got something paid for that you didn't.

Guess what - special snowflakes have existed since time began. This is not something new. There will always be people who want someone else to pick up the bill. And these people come from all walks of life. It's not just the poor and uneducated. Sometimes they can be the most motivated to do better.

How in the hell can any young woman today complain that she doesn't have the job opportunities that I had 50+ years ago? That's just utter bullshit. I am a babyboomer. One of the very oldest. Only a few older than me by a few months. Seriously - compare what a woman could do in 1966 with today.

And guess what I made the CHOICE to pay for BC (about $6 a month back then) when I was making a DOLLAR an hour. Yes that was SIX hours of work. I have little sympathy for someone making $10 an hour refusing to pay $4-5 a month.

And back in the dark ages very few stores were open at night or on Sundays. Restaurants were few and far between. There were very limited job opportunities for someone to work part-time and go to school. I would have killed for the opportunity to work more hours.

I had significant student debt - but I paid off every penny of it - gladly. I have also paid back (in today's dollars) the scholarship money I received. They key though is to make GOOD use of loan money. Use it to make yourself more valuable in the job market - not to just "go to school".

And then use those skills to the best of your ability. I once took a job that paid double what another job paid. Same job - just the difference in a company that paid low wages and one that didn't. No brainer.

My parents could not help me at all with college - not a dime financially or even offer any support in general. My mother cried when I got accepted to college - and not tears of joy. She was scared to death of what I was going to do. It was just out of her realm of reality. I had high school friends who were just as capable as I was who did not go on to get more education because their parents discouraged it.

But I never whined about what I didn't have. I just tried to make as many good choices as I could. Did I make perfect choices - hell no. But I never lost sight of the goal to be self sufficient.

Do I think others should do what I did? Well no - times have changed completely in 50 years. But I still believe when there's a will there's a way.

General rules:
Do not have babies that you can't support.
Do not let yourself be drug down by loser/users - and this includes partners, siblings, roommates, friends and yes even parents.
Learn how to do something - get a skill. It doesn't have to be college. I've known people who learned a trade and earned good money while going on to further their education if that's what they wanted. I know a nurse who worked her way thru med school.
Work hard at whatever you do. Try to excel rather than just do the minimum.

And work is much better than whining at helping you achieve goals.

I guess I am a millennial technically. I don't exactly feel like a millennial, but whatever.

My take is this. When my parents started a family, mom worked retail and dad worked in an office for a less than impressive wage, and yet they could afford a small house, vehicle maintenance, a couple camping trips in the summer, gifts for Christmas/birthdays and a hot meal on the table every night.

(In my area - because a lot of this depends on region) A present day couple working a crappy administrative job and another one working retail would be crammed in a 500 square foot apartment, eating ramen noodles and relying on a credit card if a car broke down.

When I graduated from college, I watched ALL of my friends struggle to find jobs and I struggled, too. A lot of us had to move back home. Some did not have the luxury.

One thing with the younger generations (myself included) is we will be "poor" but have smart phones and wearing decent clothes. I think a lot of millennials are less willing to make serious sacrifices to get ahead.

*Mofo sips coffee, raises eyebrows* Well, this escalated quickly.

DH's SD whines about being broke ALL.OF.THE.TIME. She even started a GoFundMe account last year asking for 5K that was up for about 3 hours. Why? 2K to pay off what was left on the hospital bill from her 2nd kid AND 3K to buy clothes and toys for the kids AND send Mommy and Daddy on a much-needed vacation withOUT their kids. WTF.

Yep. She whines about being broke, but her husband makes almost 6 figures. Every month, they spend a weekend away while grandparents keep their kids. Every weekend, the grandparents babysit so SD and her hubby can paint the town red, eat at expensive restaurants, and drink $$$ craft beers. Those poor, needy parents. :sick:

I was born in 1975. The vast majority of people I know that are my age and older live paycheck to paycheck and have little in retirement savings. They blow their money on stupid things . Smoking , going out to eat, flashy cars , etc . Or they are broke and don't try very hard to get a better job. Content in just making it ...with no plan for the future. They blame their problems on others .

My DD is in college . I've tried to teach her basic life skills . She cracks me up sometimes , but she is far from helpless.

I have always worked hard . I value security . I have a 401k and savings . I own my own home .

As far as the health insurance debate on this post ....I'm annoyed . I am paying over 600 a month for just me . I think it's BS.