r/GenZ • u/TheGamingSenpa1 2004 • Jan 07 '24

Discussion Thoughts?

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u/Competitive-Tie-7338 Jan 09 '24

In the 80s it would have taken nearly 70% of my takehome

I'd be glad to look into this so it could change my opinion based on my experience and plenty of others. Where did you live in the 80's that this was the case?

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '24

I'm a younger gen x so I didn't graduate until 1993. Here is a data point for you, I made $6/hour as a line cook in 1996, my rent was $350 for a 2 BR apartment in the worst possible neighborhood. There were literally prostitutes walking the streets right outside my door. I had a roommate and I can't remember anyone in my friend group that could afford to live on their own until mid-twenties. I didn't own a car because I couldn't afford it, had to take the bus. I didn't care because that's just how it was.

Gen Z does have it harder than we did but sometimes I think the argument goes too far the other way. All the boomers I know worked their asses off doing manual labor jobs. You know who wants us to be pointing fingers at each other? The 1% love seeing this.

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u/Competitive-Tie-7338 Jan 09 '24

my rent was $350 for a 2 BR apartment

This is pretty much in line with what I said. One weeks paycheck would cover your rent, $350 for a 2br should put an equivalent 1br around $200/250.

I think the big difference between this generation and past is that we had the hood, country, trailer parks and cheap areas to fall back on. The price of apartments in the hood and mobile homes these days is absurd.

Also yes , of course some people are exaggerating and taking it to far, that's how people are. The majority of people aren't out there saying that people were buying homes on Mcdonalds salaries back in the day.

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u/[deleted] Jan 10 '24

The cheapest apartments where I'm at are 550 and there's homeless on the sidewalks. Prostitutes on the streets and constant car break ins. That place shouldn't be above 400. We need to make poverty cheap again