Update Your Ideas

[IcedLemonade]

There are a lot of directions I could go with this because literally hundreds of the most common ideas out there are old and outdated.

But let's go with something related to relationships.

The vast majority of people out there are not making enough money to live the lives they want.

In 1950, when America was booming, about fifty million people were employed. That was just one-third of the population.

In 2000, two-thirds of Americans were employed.

This fact alone means that your labor today is worth much less now than it was. A change in how you're living your life is a necessity.

Unless you want to live above your means.

[nolabels]

In my opinion, you're looking at your numbers from your world view, and drawing some erroneous conclusions.
Population and the percentage of people employed have very little to do with a person's market value.
A person's skills, ambition, and attitude have everything to do with their marketable value.

An alteration of your perspective would change your view of things for the better.
In your own words, 'Update Your Ideas'.

I'm not saying that everything is lollipops and roses, and I also don't know if your numbers are the truth, but I believe an attitude adjustment would do you a world of good.

I'm not going to start quoting statistics to you because I'm of the belief that statistics can be made to look like anything to anyone for any purpose.
Do yourself a favor and search the subject of the manipulation of statistics.
You'll never look at them the same way again.

I've never made as much money to live life as I want.
That's pie in the sky dreaming.
I've made enough to live and enjoy life to the best of my ability, attitude, and ambition.
I'd like more, sure, but I'm happy with what I have.
It's called acceptance and gratitude.

Live your life to the best of your ability.
Fruit will be borne.

Just sayin'.

[ThisDudeHere]

1950s America was an economic and political fluke. Of course you'll be rich and successful when you're the only industrial place in the world whereas everyone else is either still catching up technologically or also industrialized but bombed to shit.

As Europe rebuilt and as everyone cought up to the West, it only made sense that the value of American labour went down. In fact, it would be more precise to say that it didn't go down and instead normalized, now that the world is starting to reattain the technological parity that the Europeans disrupted (which itself was also a fluke that had like one in a thousand chances of happening the way it did)

[TrueConfection]

I believe people today are trying to live lives way beyond the expectations of the 50's. Back then households had a single car, their appliances were bought once and lasted a lifetime, a telephone was still considered a luxury, gas wasn't needed to mow the lawn, vacations were a family road trip and probably didn't happen twice a year, not every family member went to college, kids didn't get iPhones, tv's, computers, iPad's, Airpods, and a closet full of designer clothes. That's just a start!

Maybe this generation should stop crying about how disadvantaged they are and scrimp and save like its the 50's and then they can afford a house and car.

[888theGreat]

They didn't use much credit either. They knew that would be a burden on their futures. Man worked and woman raised kids and they put 3 or 4 through college.

[IcedLemonade]

No, you can't save yourself wealthy. Income streams have weakened. Lifestyles will have to change.

[TrueConfection]

You don't have to be wealthy to be a homeowner.

[IcedLemonade]

To pay for a decent $50k car, $250k home, and the cost for family life, and also not owe the money you used back on loans, requires wealth.

[ProCoffeeAntiSleep]

You describing a very middle class lifestyle. Close to no one I know goes on regular holidays and even few own cars. This might be different in the Us, but these kinds of luxuries are luxuries which are not commonly seen outside of Instagram

[purplepoppy]

I don't follow your logic, I doubt the 2/3 who you claim were unemployed would have considered it a boom time.

[IcedLemonade]

The others weren't seeking employment, they were busy living other lifestyles.

[molonski2]

If they can't " live the lives they want " whatever that means? They have two choices , they can make more money and get dam busy , or they can lower their expectations , to increase your slice of the pie you need some qualification that will give you that option , you embrace free enterprise , you find a skill , you spend each day working towards than end goal.
You literally won the lottery if you were even born in the USA , you owe it to yourself and others to covert that opportunity via action.

[888theGreat]

we have 22 to 25% unemployed right now. Under employed would be even higher. The reason why people make less and work more is when women entered the work force. It is a fact that women will work for less and then add the illegals that will work for less than women.

[Lost_in_the_Woods]

That's a good point.

Women aren't expected to support themselves. Let alone a house and a family.

If they are on their own with a kid, they get huge subsidies from the government.

So they go take a job for less than a living wage. Employers offer less, then they complain that they can't find a rich guy to support them because men are lazy.

I don't think it's intentional, but I bet it does make wages go down for everyone.

Not to mention we all know the CEO's promote people around the office based on popularity and who they want to look at...
So it's that much harder for guys.

The idea that women make less than men for the same jobs is largely disproven. It's very rare that still happens at all. But a lot more women live for free, get promoted because they are pretty, and get tips for having tits, while a lot more men do dangerous and difficult jobs that don't pay like they used to.

I'm not blaming women. But maybe it's time we stop buying them drinks and paying their bills for them.

[OddBeMe]

Our credit card debt is evidence of that. Honestly we’re enslaved to the rich. They have the political connections and all the money. But hopefully they’ll see it’s in their best interest to lessen the gap before disaster.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GokKUqLcvD8

[Lost_in_the_Woods]

Those are some really interesting facts, and I definitely appreciate you sharing them, but I don't understand your point.

Are you suggesting that we should accept a lower standard of living than our grandparents did?

[exitseven]

It is more complicated than that. There is a gap between the haves and the have nots that grows more every day as well as a big disparity in the cost of living depending on where you live.

[888theGreat]

One big reason is debt. People want it all now and go in debt. Debt makes you poor.

[exitseven]

@888theGreat yes, I am not very comfortable with debt. I know people that owe a million dollars between home mortgage and car payments. Everyone carries debt on three or four credit cards. It is nuts.

[andreasderjuengere]

In the glorious country of opportunities and freedoms - everyone should be a self-employed billionaire by now.
It looks as if reality is a lot faster than ''dreams'' :)

[Jlegacy]

Wealth has rules or constitutions, if you understand them, you'd keep enjoying life financially irrespective of the economic seasons or times.

[Marhaban-1]

Interesting I have never thourght about that