to think that our children seem to be carrying the can for all this so far?

[ChocolateCard]

It seems to me that from a social perspective, it’s our children who have, so far, given up the most in order to support the country through this crisis.

They have sacrificed their education; their friendships; their sports events; concerts, shows, and end of term celebrations.

The most vulnerable groups of adults will have had to make the difficult choice to self-isolate.

And meanwhile, our fit, healthy grown adult population continue to go to the gym or the pub.

Poor children? This generation of children have never had it so good. Ye Gods! Thank the Lord they weren't born in Somalia or Yemen or Ethiopia. Get a fucking grip. It is the elderly whose lives are being sacrificed.

This generation of children have never had it so good rubbish!!! Ok yes better than than the poor kids living through wars but I Would say the generations in the UK that had affordable housing, free university and a better nhs had it a lot better (you know the condescending, judgemental baby boomers on these such threads)!

@onlyfoolsunmothers - those so called ‘Boomers’ scrimped and saved to buy houses when the interest rates were nearly 20%. They went through huge housing market and fuel crashes. Many of them were used to the majority of their friends and family dying as children due to illnesses that are now preventable (the vaccine-shy newer generations will see this when the next pandemic is measles etc). Many of them lived in absolute poverty before minimum standards on housing or benefits were put in place. Compared to my Dad’s miserably childhood mine was brilliant (Milennial) and compared to mine this current generation of kids have it amazing - they will inherit wealth in a way I will never. They will benefit from having older parents when they are younger and stronger.

Uk houses are now approximately 8 x a persons salary, the rental market is exorbitant, combined with coming out of uni with 10s of £1000s of debt - I’d choose the higher interest rates of the 80s any day! We have higher in work poverty than ever before!
You also reference the bank of mum and dad- the exact generation I’m saying are fortunate enough to have made a fortune on their homes. And that’s before we discuss pensions- I’m sure I will get to retire at 80....

@onlyfoolsnmothers - you’re making yourself sound stupid now. Houses were 8 times a single person’s salary then too the only difference is that now houses and salary prices are higher. Dad bought a gut job house for 40k when his salary was just under 5k at huge interest rates (over 16%). The big difference now is that men and women are both expected to work so the overall house price is 3-4 x joint salary which is really good.

Salaries have not gone up proportionately to the cost of housing- or do you think the housing crisis is a made up snowflake issue. All essentials have also gone up significantly: travel, utilities- these aren’t negotiable!
We can all use examples, my aunt and uncle were a tailor and a shop assistant with no family help they rented in zone 2 and bought in zone 2 london- no way in hell could they afford that today.

I’d choose the higher interest rates of the 80s any day

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

If you had lived through them, and found how they limited what you could do, you wouldn't. I bought my first house - tiny, no hot water, indoor loo, or heating - when interest rates were 15% and banks were very cautious about how much you could borrow. So I bought what I could afford (hence, tiny house, no heating etc) and lived in those conditions while I worked 1 full-time & 2 part-time jobs to save up for improvements on the house.

I was in my early 30s when I could afford to buy my first house as above.

I wonder whether many of today's 33 year olds would contemplate doing what I did, or living through it as I did. Or paying 15% interest (it went up to 18% at one point). Because it's not what they've been brought up to expect - they look at 60 year olds like me, and don't realise we most of us started poor & saving like them.

I had no car, made my own clothes and cooked from scratch. Today's lifestyles are very different. I'm glad they are, I benefit from lovely coffee shops, and cheap food and almost non-existent mortgage interest rates (and no, I am not yet mortgage free - that's what being single is like) but give over with your ageist crap such as you know the condescending, judgemental baby boomers on these such threads

I think that every generation has its version of tough times at starting out. And within each generation, there will be those who have it relatively easy & those who have it hard. That's down to the UK class system, not baby boomers.

I wouldn't much have fancied dealing with the huge interest rates and understand how awful it was for many people. The idea that it is no harder to afford a house now than in the past is just bonkers though.

The gap between average income and average house prices has changed between 1985 and 2015 from twice an average salary to up to six times average income. Median house prices in London the median house now cost up to 12 times the median London salary. In 1995, 19,000 and the median house price was £83,000, 4.4 times median income. By 2012-13, the median income in London had increased to £24,600 and the median London house price had increased to £300,000, 12.2 times median income (Wikipedia).

Young people have given up very little compared to those who have lost their jobs or seen businesses they have spent years building up going to the wall.

I do feel sorry for those such as my nephew who are leaving school this year and won't have the usual end of school/exam celebrations, but in the wider context no, I don't think they're making huge sacrifices

I personally think you have your priorities wrong!

I am completely alone. And so are many others - we aren't being supported, we are being forgotten.

I am completely alone. And so are many others - we aren't being supported, we are being forgotten

What area are you in, CinderellasSecrets? Would it be of any use to you if I tried to find anything being done locally to you to offer support to those who need it?

I'm in Essex, but i was answering someone alot further back I should have tagged them. But mental health services have basically ground to a complete halt and it will have a knock on effect on our kids.

For everyone who dismiss the kids feelings and says they are resilient etc:

www.itv.com/news/2020-03-27/huge-spike-in-childline-counselling-sessions-around-coronavirus-worries/