USA Today article. Says the bill they struggle with the most is their cell phone. Can’t imagine why we all rip on millennials so much.

https://bit.ly/2Kd5XGP

Can't blame them for not weaning themselves if you refuse to take the tit out of their mouth.

Young people want to live at least the same standard as when they lived with mommy and daddy but they don't have the same income. I still pay for the youngest two DF's phone bills on my plan.

The problem more with the parents than the kids.
It starts at the top with teaching responsibility.

All of my “millennial” children are pretty responsible, and out on their own. On the workforce, Paying their own bills, and handling their business. I continue to pay the cell bill not because I have to, but because I can. They are very appreciative of this. As long as they are productive and responsible, I have no issues helping with this bill.

Still pay my daughters cell bill since we have a family plan that includes up to 4 phones and it saves her money and costs me little to have her on the plan. No reason to have access for 4 and only use 3 and pay the same amount to make her pay them more money...

Many will inherit a boat-load of money too. So for many, they will always live off the hard work of others.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
The problem more with the parents than the kids.
It starts at the top with teaching responsibility.

Of course this is right. Complain about those boomer and gen X parents who indulge their children.

meanwhile, they get to stay on daddy's health insurance until they are 26.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
meanwhile, they get to stay on daddy's health insurance until they are 26.

My big kid came off ours last year....
He had a big awakening when he had to get a root canal and crown last month...

Why can't millennials seem to make enough money in general?

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
The problem more with the parents than the kids.
It starts at the top with teaching responsibility.

^^ THIS ^^

My Dad started me mowing the yard early. 2 years later, he had me mowing 6 other neighbors lawns for money. When I turned 15, I was able to get a moped license so he lined up mowing jobs across town where people had their own lawnmower for me to use. Right before I turned 16, dad came home from work and placed a vehicle title down the tables and said “congratulations you bought a truck today.” I inquired, “What kind of truck did I buy?” He withdrew money from my savings account to buy a great deal on a truck so I could have mowing jobs with my own mower. When summer football 2 a day practices rolled around I continued to mow the lawns. I always had money in my pocket and in the bank, and I knew how it got there (work). I’ve been 100% financially independent since 23, and the 2 times I borrowed money was payed back with interest in 6 months or less.

My brother had lots of allergies so my Mom wouldn’t let Dad put him to work (he also played Mom like a fiddle and exaggerated the allergies to get out of many things). He never lasted long at after school jobs either. His money was from Mom & Dad, and continued into his early forties “borrowing” money with no intent if repaying. Mom passed and Dad put an end to the “borrowing.”

I carried my son's cell phone on my plan while he was in boot camp so he would not lose the number and would have a phone available as soon as he graduated, a good plan as he ended up being a grad and go leaving for SC the day he graduated. Soon after he migrated the number to a new plan in his name. He and his wife have never asked us for money.

I do carry the cellular plan for my mother's iPad on my cell plan. Not a money issue, it was easier to have a sim card configured and send it to her then trying to explain to her what she needed to do. She just took the sim card to the local ATT store and they installed for her.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
Why can't millennials seem to make enough money in general?

This does not apply to all. I see it as a lack of the proper motivation. The motivation that comes from being completely on your own. No government services, no parental remittances.

You hear of the jobs Americans won’t do. Those are jobs Americans have no need to do. There is a fairly comfortable floor to live at that demands only that you work within the system. You are gerbil in a cage but it’s a decent cage.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
Why can't millennials seem to make enough money in general?

They don't want to bust ass and hustle like previous generations. They have been coddled by helicopter parents (and a new term, bulldozer parents). It's as simple as that. They think stuff should come to them. And they are completely addicted to being connected and drug addicts as it pertains to their phones. Take their phones away and some would hang themselves. They just don't have that go and get it attitude that previous generations have/had. In their mind it's easy street. You first have to understand their entire life was with the internet, devices, being connected, apps, and social media. Social media is a MASSIVE part of their lives so how are you going to bust ass and make your way in your working career when your bullshit fake life on the internet is more or equally important? I agree it's the parents also. It would take a parent teaching their kid there is no free lunch and you have to go out and get what you want in life. Nothing will be handed to you. And you have to work, extremely hard, to get what you want in life. They are all about things being "fair" and they focus their attention on that constantly. Newsflash allstars, life isn't fair and it never will be.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Young people want to live at least the same standard as when they lived with mommy and daddy but they don't have the same income. I still pay for the youngest two DF's phone bills on my plan.

Describes my step daughter exactly. And my wife gives in on everything. Everything.
I have no problem helping my step daughter stay afloat now that she has begun her career with a decent job. But it’s gotten ridiculous and if things don’t change soon I will divorce my wife over it.

I’m not giving up my chance of a hard earned retirement so cupcake can live the same lifestyle we have. It matters not that she is my step daughter of 20 years or my own flesh and blood.

My patience is about gone.

My kids are 28, 16, 12. I still pay the 28 year old's cell phone bill because it's part of my plan. He uses no data so I get $10 back. His line costs me $20 a month, so $10/month isn't going to kill me. I could probably add his wife to my plan and it'd be cheaper than whatever she's paying. Other than the cell phone, I give them no assistance. He and his wife and kids are doing fine. He just reupped again. He's been in the Army for awhile now.

My daughter has a job, I pay her cellphone bill. I give her $60/month for gasoline. She works 28 hours a week and pretty much pays her own way for stuff she wants. She's working on making herself independent.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimineer:

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Young people want to live at least the same standard as when they lived with mommy and daddy but they don't have the same income. I still pay for the youngest two DF's phone bills on my plan.

Describes my step daughter exactly. And my wife gives in on everything. Everything.
I have no problem helping my step daughter stay afloat now that she has begun her career with a decent job. But it’s gotten ridiculous and if things don’t change soon I will divorce my wife over it.

I’m not giving up my chance of a hard earned retirement so cupcake can live the same lifestyle we have. It matters not that she is my step daughter of 20 years or my own flesh and blood.

My patience is about gone.

You need to have a talk with your wife. Choose your words carefully. Step children are big divorce problem.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
Why can't millennials seem to make enough money in general?

Housing and tuition costs are seriously inflated compared to prior generations. Combine that with unchecked migration depressing entry level job wages, laziness, and poor spending habits and you get to where we are.