The Millennials (Gen Y, born between 1981 and 1996) may struggle to buy a home and may not enjoy the same lifestyle as their parents.
That…is garbage. I’d prefer to use a stronger word, but decency rules prevail.
I know this FOR A FACT. How do I know? I know because I (proud member of Generation X) was told the exact same thing when I was in Middle School. As an adult, I now live as well or better than my parents.
If you are in either the Millennial or Generation Z group, then PLEASE hear me and take my advice: REJECT the declaration that the universe has somehow doomed you to mediocrity.
But John, what about: inflation, student loans, affordability of homes, etc.
All of those things are economic facts being served up by writers that do not know you. They don’t know your capability, so why would you listen to them?
Some of the folks propagating that nonsense are saying that stuff to make sense of why they themselves struggle. All of those things are answers to a ‘Why can’t I….’ question based in helplessness. ‘Why can’t I’ gives away your power and responsibility. Do not do that to yourself.
Instead, flip the script and continually ask the empowering question: How can I?
Here is an example:
How can I buy a home in this environment? Well, home prices and interest rates are both higher, so I’m going to need more money for a down payment and for the monthly payment. This means that I need a plan to accumulate more money now by reducing expenses and increasing my income. That might mean that I’m going to share a place with my friends longer than I might like to in-exchange for the ability to save more money towards my down payment. Further, I’m going to dedicate one to two hours every day towards learning more about my chosen profession and potential career paths I can take that will offer greater income opportunity.
1) Figure out what you need.
2) Take actions every day that move you closer to obtaining those things.
The answer to the ‘How Can I’ question gives you a path to the thing you seek.
Choose to take control. Choose to make that ‘your life will be hard because of what year you were born in’ declaration FALSE for yourself.
Start today by taking ownership by asking a better question. How Can I?
This is the opinion of the author and not necessarily of Guardian and its subsidiaries.