Are You Between 65 and 74? You lucky dog you!

[planosteve]

Interesting article. I am at the upper end of the range. Reflects what I have thought for a long time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/business/economy/american-seniors-enjoy-the-middle-class-life.html?ref=business&_r=0

[GFB]

Nothing new about that.

Geezers have been the most well off age group for decades.

[planosteve]

Nothing new about that.

Geezers have been the most well off age group for decades.

Depends what you mean by "well off". Look at the graphs on the article. Median Household Income. It has been flat since 1989 except for seniors which has risen from about 35 to 45 thousand a year, but is still below the median of 52,000.

[GFB]

Nothing new about that.

Geezers have been the most well off age group for decades.

Depends what you mean by "well off". Look at the graphs on the article. Median Household Income. It has been flat since 1989 except for seniors which has risen from about 35 to 45 thousand a year, but is still below the median of 52,000.

"Most well off" goes beyond "income."

..Assets.

But "most well off" means..as compared to other age groups.

[ralph]

I've often said similar , best group was my parents group that was born poor in the 20s but if the males made it through ww2 or korea then the world was their oyster . 2nd best was the way that their kids had it . Country was also much freer with less rules , laws , regulations and far less population . He11 , when I was growing up a person could even draw 'mohamed' cartoons or say wet8ack if the wanted to and no one gave it a second thought , now they'll cut off your head or sue you in court or get you fired from your low paying job at 'wal mart' !! yep , times have changed , going to change a lot more !!

[GFB]

I've often said similar , best group was my parents group that was born poor in the 20s but if the males made it through ww2 or korea then the world was their oyster . 2nd best was the way that their kids had it . Country was also much freer with less rules , laws , regulations and far less population . He11 , when I was growing up a person could even draw 'mohamed' cartoons or say wet8ack if the wanted to and no one gave it a second thought , now they'll cut off your head or sue you in court or get you fired from your low paying job at 'wal mart' !! yep , times have changed , going to change a lot more !!

Can a Wetback draw a Mohammed cartoon?

[ralph]

Sure Greg course --- plus as I talk to the few really old guys in their 80s , 90s that I run into at places like the post office its pretty easy to strike up a conversation , I'm younger than them and probably about the same age as their kids . I ask them about my observations and they pretty much agree with my take and observations as they agree that they had / have it made .

[planosteve]

I think Greg and I are both DINKS. So, you have to consider that. People with kids are in another world.

[ralph]

depends on the job Steve , I only had 2 jobs my entire life and they both were good jobs with no reason for my wife to work and that was the norm in my parents and my house hold . Just mentioning as I think 2 people working and latchkey kids started in the late 70s and became mandatory , I don't know , maybe the 2000s , maybe earlier . People with kids are in another world , I think that that's a 40 year old phenomena rather than the entire American experience . Just a comment .

[GFB]

I think Greg and I are both DINKS. So, you have to consider that. People with kids are in another world.

No dinks at my house.

One income..me.

[GFB]

..and still way under 65.

[jellowrestling]

I think Greg and I are both DINKS. So, you have to consider that. People with kids are in another world.

No dinks at my house.

One income..me.

Yeah, but you have two sources of income.

[jellowrestling]

The problem for kids today is that they tend to have no idea what sacrifice, or doing without, means. They are used to having pretty much everything they want, when they want it, and not having to do anything to get it.
We had to work for things, or wait until a birthday or Christmas. That's why I had a paper route when I was 8. Of course, that would be considered child abuse today (although, initially, I shared the route with my 10yo brother).

One of the best things I ever did as a parent was the small lawn business I did with my son, about the time he turned 12. He worked hard, made money, and understood where it came from. By the time he was 14, he had several thousand dollars in the bank, and owned half of a business, which included a (used) truck, three commercial mowers and other appropriate edgers, trimmers, blowers, etc... He also learned the value of doing a job efficiently and expertly. Too many people would never let their kids have that opportunity. I seems that they would rather have them sitting on the couch playing Xbox, or trolling the internet.

[jellowrestling]

Anyway, my point is that expectations have changed. Most people today spend a large percentage of their income on things which didn't exist 40 years ago, or which people would have never considered spending money on. And that in spite of the fact that most things are relatively less expensive than they were 40, 50, 60 years ago (and exponentially more functional).

[crocmommy]

Most people my age and younger go out to eat way too often. I'm guilty of that to an extent. My girls want to go out to eat anytime we've been out to church, shopping etc. After a long day at work, it's very easy just to give in. But it's a killer on the pocketbook when you add it up.

[ralph]

I find that people just don't know how to cook unless its men cooking meat on a barbecue . I and my wife know how to cook , she cooks from scratch , I cook meat , eggs and just about anything else well but I don't care about fancy or the modern interpretation of healthy and nutritious although I eat lots of fish [poached] and salads and hot vegetables . Worst thing that happened was the disappearance of Home Economics , usually for girls . Course I really learned to cook by raiding the MEAT freezer when my parents left me in charge of the younger brother and sisters at 10-11 years of age when they'd go out for the occasional movie .

[millergrovesue]

Most people my age and younger go out to eat way too often. I'm guilty of that to an extent. My girls want to go out to eat anytime we've been out to church, shopping etc. After a long day at work, it's very easy just to give in. But it's a killer on the pocketbook when you add it up.

Another advantage of living in the boonies - every place there is to eat is at least 1/2 hour away. Last thing I want to do after working all day is drive an hour there and back to eat when there is plenty of food 20' away. For the really long days I keep pre-made frozen things that can be tossed in the oven with little or no prep. What I'd really like is to have a cook to prepare healthful gourmet meals. A girl can wish.

[crocmommy]

When I cook (not regularly), it's usually something preprocessed like tacos, spaghetti or a frozen entree. Not a cheap as from scratch, but still cheaper than eating out. And the kids don't seem to appreciate the extra work anyway.

[millergrovesue]

Is hubby not cooking any more? I thought he was the primary cook at your house.

[crocmommy]

Is hubby not cooking any more? I thought he was the primary cook at your house.

Yes, he should be but he's not doing well. It seems that if he can't make something from scratch, he's not going to do it at all. I keep telling him the girls don't appreciate it anyway. So I've been doing some of my type of cooking a few times a week. We do store bought rotiserrie chicken about once a week....easy to make the sides at home.