Social Lounge

[Ken]

How's everyone today? I'm okay nonetheless.

 

[Arantor]

That's what Apple, Motorola, Samsung and such bank upon.. the "need" to have the latest and greatest....

And how many of those people are on a multi-year contract that includes the phone as part of the package, that makes it so much more affordable? Also please *do* note that it is increasingly a requirement to have a (modern) phone to engage with the rest of the world... half the governmental services here for example require a device, and for some people a phone is all they have, both in terms of connectivity to such services but also to be reachable.

Bullshit... you see, when I was growing up (and until I really got settled in my career)... I didn't go out to eat or "grab a coffee". If I wanted to drink coffee, I simply made a pot. If I wanted to eat, I simply went to the stove and made me something to eat. And sorry to burst your bubble... but at that time of my life I was averaging 10-12 hours a day for 6 days a week working my normal and extra jobs... so if I was able to do it... surely the "youth" of today could do so.

You see, when you were growing up, such services were far less readily available and considerably more expensive. Starbucks didn't *exist* until the 1970s and it certainly wasn't a major nationwide chain in the period you're talking about. The world is different now to the one you grew up in and the rules have changed, a fact which you conveniently ignore when lecturing people.

But let's also see, you were working 10-12 hours a day for 6 days a week. How much of that money went on *rent*? When I started out my career 20 years ago and was paying an amount of rent to my folks, they based it on 30% of my income as the percentage they'd paid - but it's very easy to pay 50%+ of your income just in rent these days. Plenty of people work two jobs to make rent.

For reference, my first full time salaried job in 2003, earned £9000 per year before tax. £18,200 in today's money. Of course, that's UK and not US, and was only a 40/hr week on paper, but by the end of the year I was certainly working longer hours with dubious amounts of overtime pay (i.e. not properly compensated but that's salary life). Oh, and no pension beyond state pension.

but generally in the "old days"

We're no longer in the old days. The kinds of pensions you had on offer to you then don't exist now.

Simple fact of life... land isn't being created any longer...

And it has nothing to do with the amount of people who buy property solely to rent it out at exorbitant profit (both here and in the US)

The life you had 20 years ago is nothing like the life my cohort leads today and the life you had 40 years ago is nothing like the just starting out people today.

 

[Tracy]

And how many of those people are on a multi-year contract that includes the phone as part of the package, that makes it so much more affordable?

Probably a few... but you see, here in the U.S. it's VERY easy to "upgrade" to the next version if you have at least 50% of it paid off.. so guess what that basically equates to... if you guess a new phone every year... you win a kewpie doll.

You see, when you were growing up, such services were far less readily available and considerably more expensive.

Once more.. bullshit... I could go into NUMEROUS eating establishments and purchase a cup of coffee... usually for 3-4 times what it would cost me to make at home but NOWHERE near what a "custom cup of java" does now.
And you want to try to tell me I can't make a latte at home cheaper than at Starbucks (or such)? Hate to burst your bubble... but there are PLENTY of coffee makers that can do such at a VERY reasonable price. The simple fact is... you (and others) really don't want to be troubled with having to take the time to do so.

The world is different now to the one you grew up in and the rules have changed, a fact which you conveniently ignore when lecturing people.

Again.. bullshit... for a VERY low investment, one can obtain the equipment to make those "lattes" at home for WELL less than what they pay for it for their "convenience".... once more, you simply show your inability to realize what one COULD do to what is currently DONE. It's a "normal part of life" and you simply can't recognize that there IS the ability to save monies instead of wasting them.... and THAT is the issue with many of your era and younger.

The kinds of pensions you had on offer to you then don't exist now.

Yes... many of them do... the ONLY problem is they don't exist in private industry where you make "lots of money" on the front end. You actually have to sacrifice on the front end (usually by entering government service) to gain on the back end. I feel reasonably confident if I told someone "I'll pay you $50K a year to work 50 hours a week with 3 weeks off after 7 years and you will have a guaranteed retirement of $XX dollars" they would prefer to jump on a job offer that told them "We will pay you $100K a year to work 60 hours a week and you are responsible for your retirement". It's an issue with WAY to many of the younger... they look at the "here and now" and not worry about "what will come". It's commonly called short-sigtedness.

And it has nothing to do with the amount of people who buy property solely to rent it out at exorbitant profit (both here and in the US)

It has EVERYTHING to do with it... scarcity drives up value.... those that were able to obtain it (and actually thought to the future) benefit.
Those that were not in the position of being able to take advantage of it.. have to deal with reality as it exists. Lose some of those "needs" of the crap that you actually don't need.... and concentrate on what can further your portfolio.

Isn't it rather interesting that my 37 year old son (who is a CPS) currently is sitting with $980,000 USD in his "retirement" portfolio (not his actual savings account) ... wonder why that is... and no, he doesn't live in a "giant city" and is not employed with a "major company"... you see, he simply has invested wisely.

The life you had 20 years ago is nothing like the life my cohort leads today and the life you had 40 years ago is nothing like the just starting out people today.

Once more... hate to burst your bubble... but I DO live in today's age... the simple fact is... WAY too many are more concerned with lining their immediate pockets and not with what comes in the future... the theory of savings works the same from my "old fuckers" era to today. It has NOT changed. We didn't go by the local coffee shops and drop a significant amount on a cup of coffee because we were to lazy to fire up a coffee maker.
It's not really an "issue" with jobs... not everybody is an "office pogue". You see, one of the BIGGEST weaknesses in todays society is they all want those cushy air conditioned jobs and have NEVER though about lowering themselves to the simple trades.

 

[Arantor]

OK, boomer.

 

[Tracy]

OK, boomer.

Proudly identified as such... and used what my parents and grand-parents taught me on how to get ahead... and guess what... those grand-parents lived through one of the hardest times in U.S. history... and their philosophy towards moving forward STILL apply.
There is a reason that us "old shits" identify much of the youth today as "namby pamby". And yes, that will offend many.. but it's simply life... we actually had it as hard (and usually harder) than most today do. Not all of us (in fact, very few) grew up with the "silver spoon" that most have been given in the last 3 decades. My parents divorced when I was 10... and at 14 years old I was working jobs to support our family.
So sorry if I don't feel sorry because folks can't go buy their lattes every day or get the latest new computer/phone equipment. Many of us "boomers" actually sacrificed to get to where we are today... something that much of the youth today can't comprehend.

You meanwhile continue to try to make excuses.
There is a phrase that deals with many of the "youth" of today.. think it's referred to as "self entitlement".

 

[Reverie]

I think we can all agree to disagree. None of us know eachother's lives that well and don't know what we all went through. And many of our judgements are of a group as a whole, and not of the few we are actually talking to right now on this forum. Each generation is taught differently, is raised differently, due to how each generation's of parents were raised. Typically we are a product of our environment.

How's everyone today? I'm okay nonetheless.

I'm doing good so far! I'm glad you're doing okay today!!

Anyone have plans today? I know in the United States today it's father's day.... so happy Father's day to any fathers on here!

 

[Cory]

Thanks!!! It was a good trip, short, I wish I spent more time with my sister... My husband and I are talking about moving closer, but man.... moving out of state sounds a bit scary, and a bit overwhelming lol. The funeral services was good though - got to visit with family, and have some discussions that were important to me.

Heck, moving out of my parent's house and living alone sounds like a scary thought to me.

I'm glad you had a good trip, may there be many more to come.

My mother and father are coming back to Texas from West Virginia tomorrow. Their flight will be decently late and my dad has to go to work at 6:00 in the morning, so I don't think he'll be getting a whole lot of sleep.

Visting and keeping up with family is always a nice thing to do!

Mowed the front yard for my parents before they came back home, had to take a shower after that because I was covered in filth!

 

[Reverie]

Heck, moving out of my parent's house and living alone sounds like a scary thought to me.

I'm glad you had a good trip, may there be many more to come.

My mother and father are coming back to Texas from West Virginia tomorrow. Their flight will be decently late and my dad has to go to work at 6:00 in the morning, so I don't think he'll be getting a whole lot of sleep.

Visting and keeping up with family is always a nice thing to do!

Mowed the front yard for my parents before they came back home, had to take a shower after that because I was covered in filth!

Change can be scary in general! I liked living alone for a bit when I did, but I definitely prefer living with someone now that I have. (Room mate was my bestfriend <3 It was fun all the time) and now my husband.

My husband enjoyed the visit and said he wants to go more often. I've been looking at housing prices up there just to get an idea if we do decide to move. Plus I just enjoy looking at houses for sale to dream.

Oh that's a bummer that their flight will be late... plus him going to work at 6 in the morning! Geez! I just could not do that. It's nice of you to have mowed the front yard! The humidity outside is terrible, and after being up in WV where it felt AMAZING... coming back to Texas was rough.

 

[Tracy]

Mowed the front yard for my parents before they came back home, had to take a shower after that because I was covered in filth!

Ran out of gas yesterday mowing the back yard... of course the "Real Feel" temps were around 106°, so I'm not complaining. Have to go get some more fuel today (ethanol free).. and then finish mowing the rest of the almost 1 acre lot.... what we do on "Fathers Day" while the rest of the family relaxes. After I'm done with that I get to fix my Fathers Day dinner.

 

[Reverie]

Ran out of gas yesterday mowing the back yard... of course the "Real Feel" temps were around 106°, so I'm not complaining. Have to go get some more fuel today (ethanol free).. and then finish mowing the rest of the almost 1 acre lot.... what we do on "Fathers Day" while the rest of the family relaxes. After I'm done with that I get to fix my Fathers Day dinner.

Yesterday felt terrible so I can only imagine how happy you were when you ran out of gas. What will you be fixing for your Father's Day dinner?

 

[Tracy]

What will you be fixing for your Father's Day dinner?

Bone-in ribeye on the grill, baked potatoes, grilled asparagus and corn on the cob, steamed broccoli and carrots and yellow squash, ciabatta rolls and for desert some home made strawberry ice cream (churned in an electric ice-cream maker).

 

[Ken]

Thanks, @Reverie

 

[Reverie]

Bone-in ribeye on the grill, baked potatoes, grilled asparagus and corn on the cob, steamed broccoli and carrots and yellow squash, ciabatta rolls and for desert some home made strawberry ice cream (churned in an electric ice-cream maker).

Ah that all sound really yummy! Home made ice cream is not only fun, but usually really yummy as well. I assume Strawberry must be your favorite then?

Thanks, @Reverie

Of course Ken! You're welcome.

 

[Nebulous]

Hi all, hows it going? Hope you're having a great weekend! I hope the week ahead is great for you as well.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Happy Father's day to all the dads here on A-J! I'm a cat father, but I doubt that counts lol. I hope you're all having a good weekend! I started a new video game challenge and I've been recording and I started editing the video as I'm working on the challenge. I feel it'll be better that way to help motivate me to finish the challenge and the video.

 

[Ken]

Happy Father's day to all the dads here on A-J! I'm a cat father, but I doubt that counts lol. I hope you're all having a good weekend! I started a new video game challenge and I've been recording and I started editing the video as I'm working on the challenge. I feel it'll be better that way to help motivate me to finish the challenge and the video.

Thanks, but I don't celebrate Father's Day. Hope you understand.

 

[Tracy]

I assume Strawberry must be your favorite then?

Actually peach is... but they aren't in season (the cling free) right now. Have tried canned peaches in the past.... not worth it.

 

[Cedric]

Morning everyone! Happy Monday!

 

[Reverie]

Actually peach is... but they aren't in season (the cling free) right now. Have tried canned peaches in the past.... not worth it.

Oh peach sounds so good! Especially fresh peaches!

Morning everyone! Happy Monday!

Good morning Cedric! How has your day been going?

 

[Tracy]

Oh peach sounds so good! Especially fresh peaches!

I can easily eat a gallon of home-made peach ice cream by myself (but my tummy gripes at me later). It's one of the few things that I will go overboard on... and it ALWAYS takes be back to my childhood and my Mom making it during the summer. In fact, I have BOTH the ice cream makers she used to use... the manual one and then the electric she upgraded to when they became available.