How do millenials survive considering how much they love to travel and not work?

LaughingOutLoud++ wrote:

They’re gay/tranny democrats.

hooyah

Being a millenial and going through college myself, I can truly say that this is actually pretty accurate. I'm a Pre-Med major at major college and the vast majority of the students in my program, albeit the rest of the university doses it more, go on vacations and party quite some.

In fact, just a few weeks ago after the first week of class, a friend of mine decided she wanted to go to LA for a day so her parents bought her plane tickets on the spot and she flew out there at 10:30am and was back home at 11pm. (No, she is not one of the smart 4.0 "deserve it" kids)

Point being, this is more common than people tuned to realize for millenials at the university level. Most tend to be hypocrites, hate trump but know nothing about it, can't go a day without smoking weed, and when they do they're irritated and say they need to smoke, and say you can't get addicted to it, and like to act poor even when they have everything.

Growing up actually being pretty poor and having to work 40hr weeks plus weekends, seeing these students sicken me.

This, right here. I have a lot of Millenial co-workers and they all live this way. Quite frankly, it is a smarter approach to life than Gen X and The Boomers took. Of course, if you live in God forsaken, dull places like the Midwest and South, then buying huge homes with big yards, fancy cars, boats, etc. salves the pains of extreme boredom and a lack of interesting things to do. Millenials are also doers - not collectors, not watchers. They would rather travel and seek out experiences in their free time rather than mow that two acre lot, wash and wax the Benz, and watch 12 hours of televised football on an 80" screen whilst getting fatter and more depressed with each passing year.

Old folks - stop bashing the kids and ask yourself, "Why is my life so leveraged and stressful that I must hate others to justify my poor choices?".

And because of this, they live off a welfare and get free crap

Nothing about your post describes anything that is particular to your generation. People with money have been jumping onto jets on a whim for as long as there have been jets with passenger seats. Smoking weed is maybe a bit of an update on drinking.

They're relying on you and the rest of us to make their lives easy. In NY, they already made the tuition free for lot of people who parents live comfortably. They're waiting for Bernie to take over to provide free health insurance in 2020.

Do everything possible to pay least amount of tax as possible. I am not feeding poor slobs, illegal aliens and now lazy kids.

You're obviously someone who's parents paid for all their things.

Portland Hobby Jogger wrote:Of course, if you live in God forsaken, dull places like the Midwest and South, then buying huge homes with big yards, fancy cars, boats, etc. salves the pains of extreme boredom and a lack of interesting things to do.

JFC, you coasties are an arrogant bunch of a**hats. LOL.

Rich Kidd wrote:

You're obviously someone who's parents paid for all their things.

I didn't really have things. Neither they nor I could afford them.

Midwestern and not bored wrote:

Portland Hobby Jogger wrote:Of course, if you live in God forsaken, dull places like the Midwest and South, then buying huge homes with big yards, fancy cars, boats, etc. salves the pains of extreme boredom and a lack of interesting things to do.

JFC, you coasties are an arrogant bunch of a**hats. LOL.

No kidding. Just imagine if someone like that had to entertain themselves for any period of time.

This is a legitimate question borne out of curiosity: You just described a $1500 or so trip ($500 flight, $500+ fees for lodging, cabs to and from airport, meals, museums, whatever), While that may not be a big amount to you if you are a chemist or some other type of professional, how do those who are working retail, or at a coffee shop, or doing internships, etc., come up with $1500 of disposable income? Or is the premise that these are the young people who are taking these trips simply false? If they are indeed taking these trips, it has to consume a huge chunk all of their disposable income. Do these same folks save for retirement? Do they ever plan to own a home?Seriously, no value judgments in those questions, I am really just curious about the logistics and the mindset.

Historically, we are living in a period where travel is relatively inexpensive. Will this continue to be the case in the future? Should you take advantage of it now? For example, I've seen roundtrip tickets from the Pacific Northwest to Colombia for under $200. Crazy. A roundtrip ticket to Colombia for less than a roundtrip ticket to LA or NYC. I've seen roundtrip tickets to Southeast Asia for $550. That's cheaper than flying to France or Brazil, which are 1,000 miles longer in distance one way.

My parents aren't rich, but their situation is stable and they have savings and this is a factor that helps. I've recently gotten a degree in a field which is relatively high paying and has a worker shortage, but I've only been able to do the job seasonally in the summer. So instead of waiting around and applying to jobs, I go abroad to travel or work. Does it look bad in the eyes of employers? Probably. That's the trade off for my experiences. I used to feel bad about not being able to get a job in the US. Now my attitude is that I just do what I can and get experiences while I can. If I can't get a permanent job because it's going to somebody's relatives, oh well.

I've traveled by teaching English. I value the relationships that I've made while being abroad. And I hope that I see my foreign friends many times in the future. I go out with more higher quality women than I do when I'm in the US. Is it better for me to stay dateless in the US in some temp call center job?

Is it such a bad thing if a kid wants money to go abroad? If I could do it again, I'd join the military for four years, which would allow me to save money for college and travels. But, why do we as a society say that education needs to cost what it does? Look at the things that people pay for in the US as a matter of routine. $200 for a dentist visit (you can get it for $50 abroad). Thousands for a new car. Parents in the US would pay thousands of dollars for a single language class at a university when it's possible to take a year of a language abroad at a foreign university for under $1000 in tuition. Maybe a trip abroad could have as much value as thousands of dollars spent on textbooks or classes.

Am I lazy for teaching English abroad and traveling instead of getting a real job? A lot of people who have real jobs also have had life basically handed to them. Maybe they got to go on nice vacations with their family while at university. Or they got to study abroad. I know a bunch of people who work hard at their studies, in med school, dental school, PT school. A few have parents pay for stuff like vacations. The way the system in the US is, it takes money to live well. If a vacation allows a med school student to feel less depressed and less stressed, maybe it's worth it.

My only criticism of people who do stuff on their parents' money is that they should be modest or own it rather than show off to everybody that they got to where they are in their travels or in their careers all by themselves. People have a lot of misplaced anger when it comes to the lazy and the poor. Their are so many people who get to where they are because of nepotism. And there are bankers, defense contractors, and insurance sales people ripping you or the government (which in the end is you) off in plain sight, but you don't realize it because these people are white guys from fancy universities who wear nice suits.

To Gahuga on the first page: What is your job?

IT, I guess, but can you tell me?

Travel is cheap. Old people still think air travel is a luxury. It's not. Cheaper to fly most places than to drive.

The rise of the internet allows us to work more flexible. Many jobs don't require everyone being in the office at the same time. This is a huge perk that I think many older people don't recognize. A little time flexibility goes a long way in making you feel less tied down to your job.

Short answer is: because we can. You would have done the same at our age if it was feasible.

The older generation hated my generation for drinking and fornicating. Now we are hating on the younger generation for not doing enough underage drinking and pre-marital sex.

It's a sad day when I find myself agreeing with John Utah.

Do you have your own place, or do you live with your parents? If you have your own place, how do you pay to keep it while also paying to live abroad much of the year?What about when you decide to get married and have a family? Will you buy a place then, or will you rent? And if you want to buy a place, do you have a plan to come up with the down payment or will you worry about it then?What about retirement? Is that just so temporally remote that you will worry about it later? Do you figure that you just won't retire? What about the cost of medical care later in life?Or, again, are all of these things just so remote from your present situation that they are not concerns that drive your behavior at all and you will simply deal with them later?I really do just find this fascinating, probably because I am a middle aged man who grew up poor and worked really hard to attain some degree of stability and a modicum of financial security. I am not saying that is the right approach to life, I am just saying that it makes the questions above drivers for my life and I would like to hear the answers from others for whom those questions are answered, apparently, very differently.

Millenial1993 wrote:

Does anyone else see their friends/coworkers quitting their jobs to hike the

Appalachian trail for a few months of just working part time in general because they think they will be the next Pre? It just doesn't make sense. They are either rich or don't care about starving when they are senior citizens.

Given inflation, the rise of AI (loss of basic jobs), and loss of things like pensions - it would seem millennials are screwed.

Also the other day I mentioned this to a coworker and he thought it was normal for the parents to give $$ to their kid if they decided to quit their job and travel. I was like wtf I would never ask my parents to give me money even if I was homeless. I would rather just die.

Why do idiots stereotype individuals born in a certain generation? Do you really believe "millennials" quit their jobs to go hiking?

You are so right! Our rising home values, plentiful jobs in growing economic sectors, great weather, attractive and healthy people, natural beauty, resources, outstanding independent restaurants, local agriculture, creative class, etc. I could could go on but it would just make me more arrogant and self-satisfied with my move West all those years ago. I wonder why the coasts are so attractive to players in the new economy when tax and cultural paradises like Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri are available at rock bottom prices?

I still visit family in America's Heartland (where I grew up, FYI) every few years. Conversations are like, "They built a new Applebee's off Highway 35 where the elementary school used to be. Speaking of schools, thanks to the governor's tax cuts, them egghead school teachers ain't so high and mighty these days and some Chinese company might re-open the old air conditioner factory and create up to 50 new minimum wage non-union jobs making shower rods! State University football looks like contenders for the title this year so long as no starters get set-up by liberal feminists for raping co-eds like last season. The neighbors just got a new John Deere lawn tractor...pretentious d'bags! Their old mower was just fine and wasn't even as old as ours. You can't even get our mower any longer since the Sear's closed and they tore down half of the mall. Don't get me started on them foreigners hanging out at Home Depot next to the old mall looking for jobs."

"Remember the guy that anchored the local news? Well, he retired and now some stuck up blonde lady reads the stories. Don't like her but the new weather gal is cute! Aunt Betty got a new Fusion -nice car, not like those prissy Asian and German things. Oh, you gonna' be around next weekend? Bumpkinville is having their annual Popcorn Festival. I liked it better years ago but, we saw some ladies wearing those Muslim head scarf thingies a couple of years ago and it doesn't feel safe any more. When you moving back here? I know you and your wife have really good jobs out there but maybe you could run the shower rod factory and get your kids into the new Christian charter school where the gays can't indoctrinate them?"

I know the "Real America" very well. I also understand why they fell for the hope and promises of Dolt 45. There is a reason that it is called The Rust Belt and why it has largely been in a permanent recession for 30 years - belief in "magic", a lack of imagination, and a stubborn resistance to try anything new. I appreciate my Midwestern upbringing but also understand why talented and ambitious people move away - things never change for the better, the political and cultural scene is stagnant at best and backwards at worst, and staying severely limits your opportunities.

I'm not going to take the time to read this whole thing...but here are the basics of my life & outlook.

I am in my mid 30's.

Unmarried & single.

Consider me in the 60k-80k bracket (somewhere in the middle)

My rent is $800/month (a deal) for a spare bedroom in a very expensive US city.

I have what amounts to about a $300/month car payment.

Zero debt beyond the car loan (yes, partly because my parents payed for the remainder of my college bills that weren't covered by generous academic & athletic scholarship). I have not received a dime from my parents since college other than the modest (by today's standards) birthday or holiday gift that probably amounts to $50 - $150 worth.

I save about $600-$700/month for retirement...or whatever. This is through various life insurance policies, investments & a retirement account through my job.

I travel/am not "at work" 8-10 weeks out of the year. A little of that is both work & pleasure...but usually strictly pleasure. I'm always "on call" for work but not usually "working" a lot during that time...but I do work during some of that time since most of what I do can be done from a cell phone. I realize I could be further ahead in "life" if I saved more, lived in a less expensive area & traveled a lot less. But I have also realized what's important to me and what's not.

I do not want a family. I'm open to a life-long partner...but definitely not kids & never met anyone that I have wanted that life-long relationship with. But I'm open to it happening...if it does. I couldn't give two sh!ts if we call it "marriage" or "besties who fvck for life." Same thing.

I don't care if I ever own a house/property. Being this tied down when I'm rarely home & don't really care how nice that home is is too much of a trade off. And I just don't want the responsibility at the end of the day.

Although I certainly like making more money, it's strictly so I can travel more & live a little more comfortably. But I'm no more "happy" than I was when I was making less than mid 30's/year (for most of my life). I just live a *little* more comfortably now, worry less about staying in a dorm v. private room in the hostels I stay at (and I still camp a lot because that's what I like to do), pay for that extra tour or activity or two while traveling & cook less in that hostel I stay at. Basically, I worry less about traveling on a shoe string budget...but I still travel very cheap. In a way that most people my age do not want to. But it's exciting and rewarding for me. And that's what I care about. Oh, and I really like living on the coast like I do...I lived in the midwest (and even some in the south) of the US for most of my life. And I hated it. Sh!t hole. All of it. Mostly because the weather was terrible, the outdoor recreation opportunities were few, no real nature & mostly very ugly land scape...& zero culture (at least the kind I care about). Oh, and I just had very little in common with the locals. Doesn't make them bad people or wrong - they just had different life priorities than I did. This may sound like I'm just complaining/whining/am a very negative person that can't deal with adversity & have unrealistic expectations about where I live. But why live in a sh!t hole when you don't have to? I can deal with bad weather, or not living close to beautiful nature, or being socially isolated...but all of them at once? There was just no redeeming value in any of it...besides being able to buy a big house, have a family, make more money & feel more "secure" or "stable." ...see above for my priorities.

What's the end game here? I don't know. But I've also realized there is no point in this whole thing...there is no end goal. I don't care about my "legacy" and there is no "heaven" or "after-life" to work towards...we know this is highly likely no matter how much people want to believe there is. If that helps them sleep at night, that's fine with me. But let's just say I'm not worried about working towards anything beyond this immediate life. What about "retirement" you say? I mean, sure, I guess I could be saving more but the amount I do save isn't bad and they way I live my current life, it's rewarding enough that I'm not sure I'll care if I don't get to retire. It's not like I'm "counting down the days" and hoping and praying for the time when I don't have to work anymore. There are zero guarantees I'll make it to that age anyway... If I'm still doing what I'm doing now when I'm 70, I really think that'll be OK...because I don't hate my job & I generally like my life. I'm sure there will come a point where my health will fail me & I won't be able to work anymore...so "what then?" and "who will take care of me?" I'm just counting on there being an affordable, safe and reliable euthanasia process in place so I can skip that whole unpleasant part...I mean, what's it to me a moment later once my life isn't rewarding anymore? I guess that's the one gamble I'm taking here...that euthanasia will be very accessible in another 30-40 years....but I like my chances.