my baby boomer parents are selfish and ungrateful

[yoofoftoday]

Had lunch with parents yesterday and left so fuming.

Mother complains about not being able to get a new car on finance and that her retirement income is only 28k after she retired early. Her current car is only 4 years old and she often uses her free bus pass (only free to her take payers have to pay for it along with the rising bus fares) as she doesn't was the BMW to get scratched in town. I barely can afford the bus and can't even afford a car.

Dad who gets his state pension but still works was complaining that he has to pay Ni and then wait till the end of the year to claim it back. Also complqains that now he gets his state pension has to up the amount in his private pension to avoid 40% tax. He only keeps doing this job as its easy and he works from home not doing much.

Uncle who sold a building plot to developers for a fortune ages ago and hasn't worked since said "oh your poor dad still working". When my dad is in perfect health and works from home paid a lot for easy work, basically on call 9-5.

Then my parents say they are putting their winter fuel allowance towards a 3d DVD player while I go home to my cold house where I only put the heating on if it goes below 16.

Nc but regular.

your allowed to be a bit pissy when its cold

Did I miss the signing up event?
I dont remember signing any agreement?
will I miss out, should I ask someone for a contract?

Or was it something intangible inferred by the very fact of being born in a particular time and place?

I don't think I am gloating when I simply say I will take it.

Suzanne I am public sector. When I joined I signed up to the pension plan and so did the taxpayer in the shape of a long-dead lady in the personnel department.

This is why financial matter should never be on the table for discussion. One man's poor is another man's rich.

Public sector... Explains a lot.

well my sister is 60 and a baby boomer. She has had her pensionable age rise by the most being born in 1952. She is currently on jsa msnaging on 71 per week. no bus pass etc. o and my other baby boomer sister is out of work at the moment and because her dp has a modest pension and savings she gets nothing.

sorry not risen the most but had the goalpost moved more than others in the transition period.

LittleBear glad you made the point re inflation rates. It's conveniently forgotten by most boomers when they bring up the " but we paid 15% interest!" In the housing affordability debate. There is no debate, houses are far less affordable now than they were in the 70s and 80s, inflation rendered the interest rate effectively not far off what it is now and also meant the asset of said house sky rocketed.

Littlebearpad, please don't think all Public Sector pensions are great now. I've been a civil servant since the age of 16, predicted to retire at 68 and can look forward to a pension of 10k in today's money. I'm middle management. They are scrapping final salary pensions for anyone born after 1968.

Andrew your a typical baby boomer public sector worker.

LittleBearPad Would it be different if I had signed a private-sector final salary scheme when they still existed - which at the time I signed up they still did - or are you just having a DM-style go at public servants?

Turk - 10k + 4k state pension, plus free travel prescriptions, winter fuel etc. Presumably no housing costs to pay.

Tell anyone under 30 to live off that for 20-30 years and they'd probably bite your hand off.

I know Turquoise sorry for the sweeping statement relating to all PS employees. I realise that gen X and below PS employees dont receive the same benefits as their older colleagues.

I don't know anyone who would bite Turks hand off for that deal! Bet there will be NO luxuries in that package!

Not really. You would still be insulated from the realities of defined contribution schemes. Your contributions as a PS employee would have been a damn sight lower than your private sector counterparts. Plus there was never any danger of your pension scheme being stolen. So all in all you were very lucky, weren't you...

Also love the use of the phrase 'public servants'.

Plus I don't see free prescriptions as a perk as some poor bastard has to be ill to need them! It's not like they get Clarins on prescription!
I think there are a core of middle management boomers with final salary schemes who are very lucky but the vast majority of retirees don't live with financial surplus

LittleBearPad Now I know. You are in DM-mode.

20-30 years on 14k plus free travel without having to do anything and no housing costs is very good. If you want a luxuary you could work a day a week.

Sorry that's over 15k I mean.

Poor mugins on nmw earns less, has to pay most of their income on rent and a fortune to use the bus.

Without having to do anything???? They are bloody retired!
I think you've gone from having a valid point about insensitive parents to seeming to begrudge ANY retired person any financial comfort yoof

Yes its a passive income.

Gen x look very unlikely to ever retire.

I bregrudge people able to work that are being supported by the state, old or young. My parents could easily spend more time being retired than they did working.

op, surely you will get a whacking great inheritance one day?