To think that the older retired generation have it too cushy ...

[suebfg]

Nice holidays, large houses now worth £££, good pensions etc. (I know I am generalising her)e.

And the young/middle aged people can't rely on an inheritance as the elderly people may have to sell their homes to pay for care. Yet the elderly people did get an inheritance and are enjoying it on their holiday spending sprees.

[suebfg]

"talking out of your behind OP" That's a tad rude don't you think?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

yabu and mean sprinted. You will be fine, just let the 60 somethings enjoy their day in the sun. My parents are in their 80's and had this in their 60's so tbh I think it is another green eyed red herring. Oh everyone else is better off than us. Do you work for the DM btw?

[ImNotBloody14]

Look the grass is always greener attitude will always make you miserable. There are so many different variables that mean some people are cushy and some arent. The only thing you can do is concern yourself with your OWN situation and stop being resentful of other peoples wealth or perceived wealth. It wont change your situation no matter how jealous you get.

[usualsuspect]

My mum worked always to put food on the table,then my dad died just before retirement age.


Yeah, she's had it so cushy.

[apostropheuse]

They've earned their money, paid their taxes, paid into pension schemes and are now reaping the benefits. Good luck to them.

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Ever heard of kippers?

Why is it essential to own a house? The fees are only payable at a nominal rate of interest until the graduate earns over a certain threshold ...

i just think that sometimes there just seems to be a parallel universe - this is not a unique UK centric issue it is the same the world over and I like to know that some of the tax money goes towards helping a few pensioners make ends meet

[LineRunner]

I agree that there is a huge economic shift happening before our eyes, yes.

[yamsareyammy]

Lots of them lived through world war 2.
I dont envy them one bit.

[Sunnysummer]

Current OAPs often don't have it easy, but the boomer generation is a bit of a different story. Free education for many, plentiful jobs for most, huge rises in house value for those who have them (yy this is by no means ALL - but it's a large proportion - and over time house price increases are a very effective way of transferring wealth from the young and the poor, who have to rent, to the old and wealthy, who are owners and landlords), and having had to pay taxes and NI at a time when there were multiple working people per pensioner, rather than the 1-1 relationship that our generation will be approaching. Of this very privileged group, many are still approaching retirement with minimal savings and will have to be funded by generations to come. Add to that a rapidly worsening environment, and no amount of improved modern technology and cheap air travel can offset the unfairness.

People will always point out individuals and subgroups who have had it very tough, and this is absolutely true, but on a group level, today's average 20 year old has a tricky path ahead.

[mellicauli]

YABU - they worked s hard to bring us so many advantages, they had so little and we have so much. How can you grudge them a week or two in sun?

[RedlipsAndSlippers]

Due to work I know a lot of elderly people, and I would say maybe 1 in every 50 or so get to holiday every year etc. A lot of them are really struggling due to rising bills, care costs, children that for whatever reason never move out, or do move out but still rely on their parents for regular help financially. It's not as cushy for them as you may think.

[scottishmummy]

No one has right to an inheritance.no one in many family has ever had or left inheritance
You seem to be describing a specific prosperous set of people
Is this about you?did you expect an inheritance thats not now forthcoming

[PepperPotts]

My parents and in laws are what you describe.

I think you are being very unreasonable. They had it so tough as children in the 40s/50s that I begrudge them nothing now.

Rather my 80s childhood with indoor toilets and heating and no ration books than how they lived, any day

[wannabeawallaby]

YANBU OP.No generation - on the whole - in our lifetime will have it as good as them.

I feel very sorry for the youf - they will struggle to pay their £45k of uni loans and live a life while paying the pensions of people in their 90s who sucked every penny they could from property, while they can only dream of owning a home and never have hope of a state pension.

[usualsuspect]

Plenty of todays pensioners brought their families up in rented slums.

No bathrooms or heating.outside toilets.

[SkivingAgain]

My parents are in their 70s, didn't go to university, bought their first house when in their mid 30s. Interest rates were much higher, so this was a real struggle with two kids, both had to work full time -sounds very much like the experience of many today. Neither has inherited either. They are now quite comfortable because they always saved a small amount and avoided debt. No forrin hols till kids grown up etc.
They have assets to leave, so will actually give more than they have taken in life -and I think they are fairly typical - but not because they have been lucky, or greedy!

[suebfg]

"Is this about you"? Not directly. My elderly in laws spend the inheritance they received yet one of their children is struggling (not my DH). Their grandchildren haven't been on holiday in years yet they holiday several times a year. I think it's wrong/selfish but then my parents would never do that so I struggle to understand it.

[yamsareyammy]

Also, they are not dead yet.
If this country's finances go really belly up, I would rather be younger than old a that time.

Also, I try not to compare my life to anyone else's really. Not a lot of good to do that, is it?

[NowThatsWhatICallANickname]

I do agree that they had it good with jobs and property but they do have a different attitude to younger generations - they aren't wasteful.

One thing I have always come across in older people is how they do not let things go to waste, especially with food. They use up leftovers, they cook proper meals, they aren't greedy like younger people and they tend make and mend do.

[yamsareyammy]

People can and do spend their own money how they wish.
Best to never think or rely on getting a handout or help. If you do, you do, but there is never a guarantee.

[scottishmummy]

So this is your sense of entitlement,you expect pil to leave inheritance?
Frankly no one has right to an inheritance
If your pil spend their own money,go on holidays it's up to them.they do not need justify or explain

[yamsareyammy]

Good point Now. Also, they are not after the latest must have must not have

[havingamadmoment]

A part of me agrees. For example, my grandparents who were all working class families were able to live with one worker and buy 3/4 bedroom houses when they got married (young). My grandmother is constantly having a real go at me because my kids have no stability as we keep moving rented houses. She cant understand why we dont just buy .

However, I wouldnt swap my life now for hers in a million years - would you?

[cory]

It wasn't exactly easy to get onto the property ladder in the 50's or 60's either. Dh's parents lived with his parents (with his mum looking after her elderly MIL) until they managed to rent a tiny flat with mouldy walls which left dh's asthma flaring, sending him into hospital.

The difference was that young couples didn't necessarily expect to be able to marry as soon as they wanted to, and that a young married couple certainly didn't expect to be able to buy their own house straightaway.