Do you remember when $50 bucks went a long way? Anyone born before the year of ’79 might, but I don’t, because in this day in age that consist of a Venti, lunch, and that random item you pick up at the gas station register as you put the rest of the money you have in your gas tank...that you never have filled up to begin. Money is the number one issue in a millennials life, although they will never admit it. Instead they will drive a BMW, they will have 3 credit cards, attend regular R&R’s, and still make you to believe that you are the one falling short. Now I can’t say that I haven’t fallen victim to one of the many scenarios, but I can say that I make a conscious effort to recognize when I’m falling into generational fuckery. You can’t blame us on the fact that we grew up with social media, and it has completely dictated how we’ve chosen to live our life and or what is important. I will be the first to tell you I messed up by choosing to compare my life to almost every person I encountered, and I was left pretty empty. So without further ado, let’s touch on a few things were still getting wrong.
1: A degree will not save you from the need to work hard, most of the times at jobs you will not love.
Success is willing to do things that others weren’t. It’s easier to believe that a degree bought us a fast pass ticket to comfort and security, but the reality of it is that there are no shortcuts and if you want to climb high, you’re going to have to be open to the idea of getting your hands dirty, this includes starting at the bottom.
2. A student loan is part of the normal process of growing up. Practically mandatory in this day in age so don’t sweat it.
WRONG. Take on as little debt as possible. You should never assume you will need a student loan. Although sometimes they can’t be avoided, look at every option. Most millennials will already have $50,000 in debt before entering the work force. Practice humility and take up a second job if you can, live with your parents for as long as they allow, make the moves necessary in order to avoid this route. Who wants to pass off a good chunk of their check every month to lenders for the rest of their lives?
3. Have a savings, check your spending habits.
Put the seven shirts you found on sale down. You don’t need them. We have been raised in a generation where we hold more value on material items. You are not as financially sound as your parents were with the cost of living at that time. You come with more debt and more bad spending habits. Yes, even I have splurge money, but pick a number and stick to it. Any excess funds should go towards a savings. I’m sure I’m not the first to mention that social security will not be there to support you in old age and it will take a good amount of $$$$ to retire comfortably.
4. Marry promptly and have kids before you hit your 30’s.
I’m sure there are many different takes on what the right answer is, but there simply isn’t one. Don’t marry until you are absolutely ready to take on the responsibility of being liable for someone besides yourself. This applies for children as well. I come from a Christian household so I am just going to throw this comment out there. You’re welcome to catch it or not. Scripture states that a women’s role as a mother is certainly important, but it is never placed over her role as a wife. (For more.) Picking your "leader" is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever have to make, so don’t get caught up on the time table of life and society. Another thing that has become a generational norm is being a single parent. I understand this is not always a choice, so realize that while you still have the upper hand, having no children and having to raise them alone. Choose wisely about who you let in. There are no coochie refunds.
5. Find wealth in things other than money.
This is one of the hardest things to accomplish when you are constantly being faced with others who have more or better. Overemphasis on material goods is another one of millennials first world problems. Shopping at Nordstrom’s, when your budget says you should be at goodwill, taking a trip you can’t afford or buying a home that takes up a whole paycheck are examples of doing things that feel comfortable to us, despite how negatively they might affect us. Materialism is loving your own comfort far more than you love doing what is right. How you manage your funds is a mirror for how you manage yourself inside and out. Your life decisions are a public declaration of what’s important. “One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.”