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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you're pissed off with the Baby Boomers?

825 replies

DamFineBeaver · 08/02/2015 17:33

Because people who are currently young-ish adults (MN's main demographic?), and younger, will be paying for the lavish lifestyle they've enjoyed?
The money borrowed for their nice big pensions will be paid back by us and our children.

Does this mean they shouldn't spend so much time in Tenerife?

OP posts:
bloomingMargaret · 09/02/2015 13:53

I'm not calling the young people workshy. I'm calling the ones that blame their woes on baby boomers workshy. I was brought up properly to just get on with life and make the best I can, rather than hating other people that might be more fortunate.

For what its worth I do help out in my family a lot. Where I can I often go without to help the grand children and will continue to do so until they reach 18.

Toughasoldboots · 09/02/2015 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GentlyBenevolent · 09/02/2015 13:58

It'll be when they hit 18 that they will need help more than ever!

EdSheeran · 09/02/2015 14:00

I do not begrudge you anything bloomingMargaret as I believe that comparison is the thief of joy. However, you aren't doing yourself any favours by claiming hardship when you are able to save one third of your salary. For me, it's not about what's coming in but your outgoings too. (When I say outgoings, I don't mean holidays and iPhones either!) Young singles, couples and families tend to have high outgoings due to the cost of living with housing being the biggest whack. I'm not blaming previous generations as I don't see how it's their fault, by the way, but you seem to be in cloud cuckoo.

taxi4ballet · 09/02/2015 14:00

I'd love to save 1/3 of our income. Unfortunately we can't do that, since after essential bills/food/petrol are paid for, we are left with precisely... sod all.

bloomingMargaret · 09/02/2015 14:06

I'm not claiming hardship, I'm just saying we aren't all wealthy driving fancy cars living in big houses and constantly going on exotic holidays. I manage OK, but I certainly do have to watch the penny's.

Inkanta · 09/02/2015 14:07

Oh Margaret - blooming heck! Smile

Toughasoldboots · 09/02/2015 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EdSheeran · 09/02/2015 14:15

Margaret you've missed my point entirely; being able to save one third of your income does put you at a significant advantage to many people. Don't you think other people have leaky roofs and cars that break down?

drudgetrudy · 09/02/2015 14:18

Baby boomer here circa 1952.

Disagree with Margaret (and I have less income).
That's the point isn't it-people from a particular generation aren't all the same.

In many ways -employment and housing-things were much easier for the post war generation as a whole, though working as a social worker in the 70s I saw people who were baby boomers with young families in real poverty-and their power supply was turned off with babies in the house.

Women in abusive relationships had nowhere to go and minor sexual harassment at work was par for the course.
So some things better some things worse.

I don't agree with the pensioner bonds thing when young families are struggling-but do not hate me I didn't decide the policy.
Fed up with these hate threads about baby boomers-its been done to death on here recently.

There has been sensible information on this thread to illustrate that the problem is the unfair distribution of wealth generally more than between generations.
It is insulting to suggest that people want to screw over their children and grandchildren.

BauerTime · 09/02/2015 14:19

Haven't got time to read the whole thread so apologies if it has moved on a bit but just wanted to add my thoughts now.

I think that yes, some baby boomers were lucky but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve a nice retirement and that they didn't also work hard.

My parents are an example. My dad left school at 14 because he had to get a job and has worked VERY hard since. He worked 6 days a week for most of his life, manual labour. My mum has worked all but 11 years of her life because she took time out to raise her children but they struggled hard during this time. They are now close to retirement and whilst my mum has a private pension, my dad will only have state pension and savings. They are mortgage free and can now afford to do nice things and not worry so much but they have grafted all their lives for it, with a bit of good luck with house prices etc along the way. I'm happy for them and others in the same situation. Yes, I think they DO deserve it.

I also believe I am lucky, even though I'm early thirties and probably won't enjoy good fortune to the same degree as them. Any wealth they have left I will benefit from, I was lucky to go to uni just before it got prohibitively expensive, I fell into a civil service job and so my pension will be adequate, I bought a house in a dip and after just 4 years we stand to make a large sum when we move. I look at others in my age bracket and know that in comparison I'm lucky.

I've learnt that nothing comes of being bitter about what you don't have and what others do. It's not all gravy train and luck, it's also about choices. Not always though I accept that. We have to work with what we have the same as the baby boomers. We have to work to make it better for the next generation. Some of us will do well, others won't. There is no point in complaining about it.

Ubik1 · 09/02/2015 14:58

the 'working hard' thing.

Lots of people 'work hard.'

tarashill · 09/02/2015 15:04

Gentlybenelovent....... I did mean working class as well. My own DM went out to work for her own "bit of spending money", it was hers to spend on as she liked. My dads wage payed the rent and all the bills. Consequently successive governments instead of calculating how much was needed to live on by calculating one wage calculated it by two wages. The cost of living rose dramatically. Two wages were needed to rent a flat or get a mortgage, whereas once only one wage was required. The legacy of those women who went out to earn "pin money" is partly to blame for what we have today......two wages needed to get by.

bloomingMargaret · 09/02/2015 15:10

Yes I know I'm at an advantage, but my husband worked very hard for this and though my careful spending I'm able to save some money.

What is it you want, every pensioner living hand to mouth?

GentlyBenevolent · 09/02/2015 15:10

Different version of working class than the one I grew up in, then. Or perhaps it's just another example of the London/everywhere else divide.

GentlyBenevolent · 09/02/2015 15:11

Blooming - I don't quite understand - your husband worked hard for this? Is it not your own pension you are talking about then?

MamaMary · 09/02/2015 15:16

Blooming never worked. She's living off her husband's pension. And a state pension on top of that.

I wonder if she was ever 'politically active' and fought for the right for her husband to have a generous pension.

tarashill · 09/02/2015 15:17

Gently a council estate in the north, my dad was a postman.

bloomingMargaret · 09/02/2015 15:23

I did work! I raised two children and enabled my husband to sometimes work late and work away from home. Its horrible people who don't consider housewife a jib!

Also husband died without a decent retirement and the pension was cut by 50%, I've more than payed my way in this country.

Viviennemary · 09/02/2015 15:28

I'm afraid quite a lot of what you're saying just simply doesn't add up I'm afraid Margaret. Your husband must have been on a very decent pension to enable you to have £1300 per month pension and thus on a very good salary. I don't begrudge you this but to say you have to count the pennies whilst at the same time saving one third of your money. That's just not logical.

Ubik1 · 09/02/2015 15:38

I think it's a bit off to suggest that young people are lazy - as an example I couldn't afford childcare so worked evenings, weekends and nightshifts. Then cared for my three children.

Now I work full time. I don't think I am lazy .

bloomingMargaret · 09/02/2015 15:44

Not really, my husband had a not massive wage (but still very good I know) after 30 years of doing the same job in local government, about 50k.

You don't understand, I count the pennies to be able to save a bit each month.

EdSheeran · 09/02/2015 15:45

"I don't begrudge you this but to say you have to count the pennies whilst at the same time saving one third of your money. That's just not logical."

This is what I was trying to say.

Good for you, Margaret that you can afford to save and maybe you budget really well and live frugally. I wouldn't wish financial hardship on you at all. However, I found your comparison quite galling. You compared your income to a working adult on NMW (you were wrong anyway) when you have no rent or mortgage costs. How many NMW workers do you know with zero to pay in rent or mortgage?

As I've said up thread, I am not pissed off at baby boomers. They didn't ask to born in the 1940s/50s anymore than I asked to be born in the 1980s! My parents are in the latter part of this generation and they appreciate that they were fortunate in terms of living costs not being astronomical. In the same way that I appreciate I am fortunate to benefit from having maternity pay.

EdSheeran · 09/02/2015 15:48

"You don't understand, I count the pennies to be able to save a bit each month."

Yes, that's right, we have no idea what it's like to count the pennies each month. Confused Many people (of all generations!) count the pennies to pay to put food on the table and money on the meter. Welcome to 2015 Britain; watch the poor squabble over the pennies while the rich get richer. Sad

Ubik1 · 09/02/2015 16:08

Final salary pensions.

Remember those?

No neither do I.

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