General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Boomers Dine Out While Millennials Cut Back [View all]magical thyme
(14,881 posts)How else to target Social Security to pay for the 1%ers wars and perks?
Sorry to disappoint, but this boomer wouldn't be eating much if she hadn't grown so much of her own food.
Having lost my career as I was about to turn 50 due to hi-tech crash + 911, forced to live off what was supposed to be my retirement savings, and defrauded out of a large chunk of that, while I struggled to find a job in a society that has no use for single, "old" and ugly women....
Eating out (say picking up a sandwich from the company vending machine) is a "luxury" that I occasionally allow myself now that I'm pushing 60 and have 2 part time jobs and spend my spare time either hoeing, planting, watering and weeding a large garden or, in winter, huddled in bed with thermostat "cranked" to 55, mending old, torn flannel sheets and turning a cheap polyester blanket into a thermal curtain to contain the heat in key rooms. Mostly, I cook as a "hobby." I buy bulk foods for cheap, cook them up and freeze individual meals in zip lock bags to enable me to eat healthy at lower cost, including less energy wasted on food prep. So kindly forgive me for picking up lunch from the supermarket last weekend while I ran a carefully planned, 4 hour string of errands on a single drive to save gas.
Oh yes, and I did go to a movie this year. "Lincoln" was my first since "Cold Mountain" came out. And you know what? I may even go to see Les Mis too. I don't expect it to be particularly good, but you've pissed me off enough to want to "waste" $6.25 at the local theater.
Some of the men I work of who are in their 50s are starting to break. I think one of them was drunk on the job last Friday. Last night one of them was going on about how tired he is of juggling bills and treading water, knowing he'll never be able to retire. He got into a fight with a client a couple weeks ago, after she repeatedly called him a liar, and then an asshole.
The millenials need to grow up a bit. With my useless BS degree, I barely made minimum wage in my 20s, when I was able to find work. My big career "break" didn't come until I was past 30 and got an admin asst job at a large corporation...in 1984. I didn't make a true living wage until I was 40, after being laid off and contracted back a double my full wage. I haven't had health insurance for most of my life, and when I did and got seriously ill the HMO basically told me to eat shit and die.
IOW, take your stereotypes and shove them where the sun don't shine. Because you're just trying to replace the class war with war between the generations. Do Not Go There.
When I'm finally able to collect Social Security, into which I've paid for nearly 40 years now, at least one of my 2 part time jobs will become available for younger people. And I'll have enough time and spare change to boost the local economy.
And sorry to inform you but I plan to stay healthy, and don't plan to die in enough hurry to satisfy you or the HMO. I do have a number of hobbies and dreams I intend to indulge. They, too, will boost the local economy. If I can afford guitar lessons, that will be income for a millenial guitar teacher. If I can afford knitting and spinning classes, that will be income for a millenial knitting instructor. I have a couple ideas for small business that could employ some younger people as well.
What has killed the economy is hoarding money by a few. When money circulates, the economy hums. That means putting money in the hands of those who can and will spend it. And like it or not, that means seniors.
Oh, and someday those millenials will be seniors too, and they (you?) too will be tired of the rat race...