Save Your Generation
del.icio.usI've been reading a lot on how my generation (I'm on the cusp of X and Y, according to people who decide such things) makes less than their parents, and how we're not able to save for retirement and whatnot. Also, there is a movement to make salaries transparent. Funny, but I am not really a part of either. I currently make more than my mother or father do. Yet, they're much better off than I am. So what gives?
Lifestyle. Plain and simple.
As I write this post, I am looking at a new 22'' LCD monitor, with a
17'' LCD monitor directly next to it (dual setup). To my right, a 3rd
17'' LCD monitor is set up on my server, to keep an eye on things. And
I just gave away a 15'' that used to be on it. I recently purchased a
46'' LCD HDTV for the family room, new bedroom furniture, and a new
washer & dryer.
I mention this not to brag, but to point out a fundamental difference. I have spent more money in the last 6 months on 'stuff' than my parents have in the last 1-2 years. Granted, some of that was due to need, and some was due to a recent insurance settlement as the result of owning a home that is sinking into the ground. But the fact remains that we (my wife and I) spent the money.
As a generation, we acquire a lot of stuff. Stuff we don't really need. Recently, Apple just topped Google in market cap. The big deal? Apple doesn't make a single product that is really needed to get by, and Google doesn't make anything at all. All of Apple's products are considered discretionary. And Google sells advertising. So two of the biggest non-oil companies are comprised of selling gadgets, and convincing me to buy them. (For the record, my wife has an iPod, but other than that, I am anti-Apple).
As a Generation, we spend money that we don't have on stuff we don't need. But we've convinced ourselves we DO need it. It's made to seem that life wouldn't exist without the internet, and you couldn't do anything without some sort of social networking site. Well, my brother (35 years old) refuses to own a computer, and doesn't care about anything regarding web 2.0. He owns his own business, does very well for himself, has a large 'network' of people, much bigger and productive than I do.
The real issue, in my opinion, is our inability to go without. Whether it's information, interaction, or items, we cannot seem to be OK with having to put forth effort into anything, rather, we want the rewards to come to us. Maybe we've had it too easy. Maybe we don't have a polarizing event to shape us. But until we see that, our economy, long term lifestyle, and society as a whole will suffer.
I mention this not to brag, but to point out a fundamental difference. I have spent more money in the last 6 months on 'stuff' than my parents have in the last 1-2 years. Granted, some of that was due to need, and some was due to a recent insurance settlement as the result of owning a home that is sinking into the ground. But the fact remains that we (my wife and I) spent the money.
As a generation, we acquire a lot of stuff. Stuff we don't really need. Recently, Apple just topped Google in market cap. The big deal? Apple doesn't make a single product that is really needed to get by, and Google doesn't make anything at all. All of Apple's products are considered discretionary. And Google sells advertising. So two of the biggest non-oil companies are comprised of selling gadgets, and convincing me to buy them. (For the record, my wife has an iPod, but other than that, I am anti-Apple).
As a Generation, we spend money that we don't have on stuff we don't need. But we've convinced ourselves we DO need it. It's made to seem that life wouldn't exist without the internet, and you couldn't do anything without some sort of social networking site. Well, my brother (35 years old) refuses to own a computer, and doesn't care about anything regarding web 2.0. He owns his own business, does very well for himself, has a large 'network' of people, much bigger and productive than I do.
The real issue, in my opinion, is our inability to go without. Whether it's information, interaction, or items, we cannot seem to be OK with having to put forth effort into anything, rather, we want the rewards to come to us. Maybe we've had it too easy. Maybe we don't have a polarizing event to shape us. But until we see that, our economy, long term lifestyle, and society as a whole will suffer.
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Hey, btw, for the last few days everytime I come to your page TWITTER tries to prompt me to sign in. I've heard of this problem around a few blogs. It's pretty annoying.
Sweet post. Very true. Our polarizing event will come in a whole new form. Perhaps when everything becomes (life's ACTUAL necessities) so expensive, then we will start to realize we suffer from some sort of poverty of the soul.
Fools speak of nuclear war, Iran etc...but that generation is dying off pretty fast. The only thing our generation can die of is boredom.