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.

It's not a problem that my parents are comfortable..they have worked hard and been prudent. What does annoy me is the slightly smug boasting we get from time to time..last night discussing that we may possibly just about be able to afford a holiday next year if PPI claims are settled...was answered by a tale of the cruise they've already booked, a 3 week proposed tour round Spain and asking me which out of Peru or the Galapagos islands I would choose if I were them!

Those who think that non means-tested pensioner benefits such as the bus pass and winter fuel allowance should be tested might like to consider the 5.5b pounds left unclaimed by pensioners every year in the UK.

Universal benefits might benefit some who apparently don't need them, but the majority who do don't have to battle with the claims system to do it.

That's interesting info echt. Though my own example was more to reference the sense of entitlement among some in the baby boomer generation that the OP has talked about. "I don't really need it at all but I want it anyway, because it's MINE. And why should I not have it, even though there's someone who probably needs it far more than I do, because I paid my taxes for years" etc etc

Thankfully my parents and PIL share the wealth with us. I don't know if they would be baby boomers as they are aged 56 to 61 but they are incredibly fortunate financially. All from normal working class backgrounds.
Dad retired at 55 on a comfortable teaching pension, bought house for £65k, now worth £250k. No mortgage.
Stepdad retired also on comfortable teaching pension at 58, invested lump sum in BTL and now earns twice as much from rental properties as his pension. Very well off.
Stepdad two (three marriages) has just been made redundant at 56 from a director post. £200k redundancy. Immediate 6 months gardening leave of salary then pension of £60k kicks in.
FIL was high up in the civil service until retiring on around a £35k pension.
We couldn't dream of being this well off even though my husband works all hours and I work too. Both university educated. We are actually relying on inheritance to help us in retirement as our pensions won't be worth enough to support us. I would like to retire before 68 which is my date for my work pension despite having worked since I was 15.

My parents are in a kinda similar situation, lovely mortgage free 4 bed house, free bus pass and trips oot and about all the time. I have no idea what the spend their winter fuel allowance on but they don't need for heating.

However, I know they scrimpt and saved to get there, no big holidays for 20 years, corn beef hash for yer tea and having the heating set at 16 for years.

And you know what I am really grateful, it means that when the time comes they will be able to pay for their care and support. And I don't NEED to worry about them, but I shall want to I am sure.

Ps heating at 16? wear an extra jersey or even better a down jacket seeing they exist now unlike in 1980s...

Yanbu there are swaves of extremely wealthy baby boomers who continue to demand state hand outs in every general election when they are very well off.
They are really the golf generation.
My parents are very well off now. They only had one salary when I was growing up. Me and dh both work but will never even own our own home . we certainly won't be retiring at 60 either.

OP you sound awful. My parents are financially very secure and I admit that there have been times in my life where things have been hard for me moneywise. However, I would never ask then for money nor expect any to be given to me and if it had been I would have turned it down. They made their way in life from humble beginnings, worked bloody hard did without luxuries and saved every penny they could. I am delighted for them that they are well off and comfortable - they are after all my parents whom I love very much and I want the best for them in their old age.

I think that it is a poor sort of person (and I don't mean financially) who sits on their arse sniping at their parents on an internet forum just because they are comfortable and secure and you are consumed with envy and are 'fuming' about it. Appalling.

Can everyone read WhereYouLeftIt's posts and just try to understand them?

Then we won't have to revisit this envy-ridden rubbish every couple of weeks. I would LOVE the young complainers of today to spend even two weeks in 1973.

Yes she is talking sense.

All I can say is the status quo cannot continue unless we want a return to the seventies is a few years as you cannot have a situation where half the population are retired and the well off are receiving money they don't need because they are entitled.

What do you mean?

What about universal child benefit?

Stop picking on the oldies, they have contributed, worked for decades and are now OLD. That's the whole @&£(ing point of paying your tax and NI!

Mine was to iniquity.

Fizzy the OP isn't asking for money from her parents. In fact she has turned it down. She cross/upset/moaning, pick as you wish, that they seem to have the emotional intelligence of a flea. Complaining that you have to pay 40% tax in front of your rather poorer daughter is tactless and rude. As is complaining you can't finance a brand new BMW when your current one is 4 years old (not sure why this can't be done on a pension but anyway).

As far as I'm aware child benefit isn't universal for one thing. When it comes to welfare pensioner benefits are the only thing ring fenced despite most if them owning most of the wealth. It just doesn't seem fair.

I don't consider sixty old. My grandparents are still fighting fit in their 90s

What about child benefit? This is means tested now. Has been for almost two years.

Of course child benefit is universal!

Ok LittleBear so the OP's upset is to do with her parents emotional intelligence? If you re-read her first post that is not how it comes across at all. What I see is an envious, bitter daughter having a go at her parents (her parents ffs!) because she is envious. It is not pretty and I am unsurprised that the OP namechanged.

How is child benefit universal?

There's no point getting upset about the baby boomers - even though I gave to bite my lip when some relatives are on their third holiday that year.

You have to accept that retirement is not going to be the same for generation X.

I will work until I am 68. I will have a paltry pension. I will not be going on a cruise or flying to Spain for the umpteenth time.

Just accept it. There's nothing our generation can do to change this.

I feel a bit sad that we have the lowest pensions in Europe. I would have liked some security in old age.

It's troubling

Sorry yes - it is means tested now isn't it? My mistake.

Yes - there are so many elderly people living in abject poverty. My sister nurses in the community and the desperately sad stories she tells are heartbreaking. Many old people have nothing.

OP, you might appreciate this www.buzzfeed.com/michaelblackmon/scumbag-baby-boomer-is-another-meme-that-will-enrage-millenn#4czsjzx

No it's not fizzy.