My wife and I make a combined income of 175k, with no kids but currently live separately until I move. Combined we have maybe $150k in debt, no children (yet), or a home. We both live paycheck to paycheck due to student loans ($600), overpriced rent/utilities ($1900), overpriced food ($600), car payments ($420), healthcare ($300), and other miscellaneous expenses. I graduated during Trumps first term and the economy was tanking then too. There were no jobs hiring for anything entry level. As such, I wasn’t given any mobility until the pandemic and went from 54-100k and now am burned out from having to cover for multiple senior people who have been promoted. My employer has continually locked us in place after each “promotion” for 2 years until my most recent which is supposed to be 1. Any other highly compensated job is free to apply at any time. I’m 30 years old and only earning the same as 25/26 year olds straight out of school who have mommy and daddy hiring them. Meanwhile my peers who started here when I first graduated are now in 135k-175k career pathways not including their spouse, with homes bought, and kids had before/during the pandemic. Due to boomers holding on and feeling “disrespected” that I would even think to apply for a similar position as them, I’m essentially being told there is no upward mobility for me for 3 years. I’ll be 33 years and don’t see a point to this anymore. There is no pathway to correct this inequality if they don’t retire seeing as they own 90% of all homes and are in all the good paying jobs. I feel it in the air too. Shootings are up in my area and I witnessed one right outside over an accident that didn’t even happen. I feel that if something doesn’t change in the next year we are going to see the fabrics of society rip itself apart. End rant.
Great job! I can see myself through the decades on the “authentic self” path. My background is solidly working class, lower income (though my father also was an “authentic self” person before his time, which may explain some of that). I am grateful to him, and to my mother for honoring my father’s essential nature, showing me there are other paths than the status quo.
My wife and I make a combined income of 175k, with no kids but currently live separately until I move. Combined we have maybe $150k in debt, no children (yet), or a home. We both live paycheck to paycheck due to student loans ($600), overpriced rent/utilities ($1900), overpriced food ($600), car payments ($420), healthcare ($300), and other miscellaneous expenses. I graduated during Trumps first term and the economy was tanking then too. There were no jobs hiring for anything entry level. As such, I wasn’t given any mobility until the pandemic and went from 54-100k and now am burned out from having to cover for multiple senior people who have been promoted. My employer has continually locked us in place after each “promotion” for 2 years until my most recent which is supposed to be 1. Any other highly compensated job is free to apply at any time. I’m 30 years old and only earning the same as 25/26 year olds straight out of school who have mommy and daddy hiring them. Meanwhile my peers who started here when I first graduated are now in 135k-175k career pathways not including their spouse, with homes bought, and kids had before/during the pandemic. Due to boomers holding on and feeling “disrespected” that I would even think to apply for a similar position as them, I’m essentially being told there is no upward mobility for me for 3 years. I’ll be 33 years and don’t see a point to this anymore. There is no pathway to correct this inequality if they don’t retire seeing as they own 90% of all homes and are in all the good paying jobs. I feel it in the air too. Shootings are up in my area and I witnessed one right outside over an accident that didn’t even happen. I feel that if something doesn’t change in the next year we are going to see the fabrics of society rip itself apart. End rant.
Excellent summary and I am grateful.
Great job! I can see myself through the decades on the “authentic self” path. My background is solidly working class, lower income (though my father also was an “authentic self” person before his time, which may explain some of that). I am grateful to him, and to my mother for honoring my father’s essential nature, showing me there are other paths than the status quo.
Really great summary!
I’m pleased to say I’m helping in some of these ways, and that doing so aligns with my vision for life in my seventies -
Fascinating! I recognise myself at several different points. Now I’ll be looking to see how I could help younger people even more. Thank you Vicki.