'The exact apartment he had for $150 is now $2,400': Hardworking Gen Xer gives his dad a wakeup call after getting criticized for not being a homeowner

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 29, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

It's getting stormy out there for the renters of the world. With a flimsy roof above our heads, dozens of replacement tenants waiting in the wings, and greedy landlords looming over us until the lease is up, the housing situation is getting more and more uncertain. When you're working two jobs and can hardly make ends meet at the end of the month, the last thing you want to hear at the family gathering is constant nagging about homeownership. 

Now, I don't have a solution to this problem, but unlike the dad in our next story, I can at least empathize with the plight of my fellow renters. 

Recently a grown man was faced with a troublesome burden at the hands of his aging father. Having enjoyed the spoils of being born as a Boomer, this out-of-touch dad thought it was prudent to criticize his adult son for being a renter. But as any renter knows, it's not for lack of wanting that we remain under the thumb of our slumlord landlords–we don't exactly have a choice in the matter. 

Scroll for the entire tale of how a Gen X man stood up for his work ethic against an ignorant parent after getting burned for lacking assets. 

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  • 01
    Boomer dad can't figure out why I don't buy a home ... Boomer Story I showed him my income and we did the math. After rent, car, groceries and insurance I have $0 left over. "You should get a second job" I. I already have two. "Your a fool for paying rent, buy a house". Ok I think this is where we started dad.
    via Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 02
    Then he goes into, "right outta college I was struggling so I got an apartment for $150 a month but I only made $800 a month" so your rent was 1/5 your income" that would be like me finding an apartment for $500. "We'll rent is a lot cheaper than
    via Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 03
    that you should be fine" I showed him the exact apartment he had for $150 is now $2400. "You need to get another job" I told you I have two. " then you should get a good union job at a factory like I did, work hard" those don't exist anymore.
    via Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 04
    BleachedAsswhole 21 hr. ago Press and hold the reboot button on the back of his neck 1.4k Reply Share Ozwinjer 21 hr. ago nah these fools are allergic to technology and are made out of wood. To the dustbin they should go.
    via BleachedAsswhole
  • 05
    Mysterious_Ad9307 22 hr. ago Denial is strong with this one. 5.3k Reply Share chronocapybara · 19 hr. ago Boomers don't ever want to admit to themselves that they had it easier than the current generation.
    via Mysterious_Ad9307
  • 06
    Justin-N-Case - 19 hr. ago They were born on third base and think they hit a triple. ✩ 1.6k Reply Share TheTsunamiRC 19 hr. ago The generation of "- you, got mine" sure loves blaming younger generations for not managing.
    via Justin-N-Case
  • 07
    Invelyzi 18 hr. ago Their parents called them Generation Me because they were "the most egotistical and selfish kids they've ever seen". For obvious reasons they needed to rebrand that.
    via Invelyzi
  • 08
    soccercro3 21 hr. ago The boomers were complicit in destroying those "good union" jobs. 464 Reply Share roachsgirl 20 hr. ago They burnt the bridge after they crossed.
    via soccercro3
  • 09
    jhotenko 21 hr. ago edited 17 hr. ago My mom (silent generation) gets genuinely upset at how hard it is financially for the younger generations. Her husband (boomer) follows the general boomer logic that if he could do it, laziness is the only reason younger folk can't.
    via jhotenko
  • 10
    A few weeks ago, we were all having dinner, and he began to rant about California wanting to raise the minimum wage to $20. He insisted that's what a good union factory job paid.
    via jhotenko
  • 11
    Both my mom and I shut him down. She pointed out that he was several decades away from when that was true, and I told him what that job actually pays now, $70-$80 from what I understand.
    via jhotenko
  • 12
    Just Another_Day_926 21 hr. ago My kids at the same station in life (college degree, years of relevant experience) make the same pay $/yr that I did at that time. Like they are getting paid 1990s wages in 2024. Oh, and that excludes Pension, low college debt, and good low cost benefits package. So they are actually getting paid less.
    via Just_Another_Day_926
  • 13
    Munchkinasaurous 21 hr. ago I can understand not realizing how expensive housing can be if you haven't had to look for it in a long time. But the amount of times he doubles back and goes out of his way to not admit that he mistaken and things have gotten harder than he had it is ridiculous.
    via Munchkinasaurous
  • 14
    Empty_Ambition_9050 OP 21 hr. ago Lol good point except one thing... This convo started because he's helping his gf look for a house (down the street from him) they have enough money to both have houses next to each other so they can be close and have their space. He asked why I'm not looking for a house cuz I'm wasting money paying rent.
    via Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 15
    I think you're on to something with them preaching about how hard they've had it, putting them out of touch. Every generation has had it better than the last except for ours.
    via Empty_Ambition_9050
  • 16
    GalactusPoo 20 hr. ago His girlfriend is moving into a house nearer to him. You're working two jobs and have $0 at the end of the month. That absolute n tsack this man must have on him to remotely insinuate, whole chest, that it's because you aren't working hard enough.
    via GalactusPoo
  • 17
    SnooGoats5767 · 19 hr. ago My dad told me I didn't work hard enough when I had 3 jobs
    via SnooGoats5767
  • 18
    siobhanenator · 19 hr. ago When I was in college full time and also working two jobs, my dad told me I should stop partying so much and maybe I'd have money. Apparently working two jobs is just party time, I'm out at night (working) after all!
    via siobhanenator
  • 19
    Dependent-Outcome-57 20 hr. ago Boomers also get a kick out of feeling put upon and persecuted, so they have to be the people who "had it the hardest of all" in human history, at least if you listen them. The reality is the opposite of what they preach, and some of them probably know that on some level, which angers them - as does nearly everything else in life.
    via Dependent-Outcome-57
  • 20
    njdevil956 21 hr. ago My mom called crying because the company my dad worked for went bankrupt canceling their health insurance. I said "welcome to my world". Boomer dad had a company car until he retired. Hit the lots pop and I'll help u with insurance
    via njdevil956
  • 21
    Dependent-Outcome-57 20 hr. ago Pound the pavement! Go down to "the factory" (the one that closed decades ago thanks to corporate greed backed by Boomer votes) and shake the foreman's hand you'll have a job by the end of the day! Bring resumes with you and hand them out to everyone you see! /s
    via Dependent-Outcome-57
  • 22
    tiamatsbreath - 21 hr. ago I see the problem. He forgot to tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
    via tiamatsbreath

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dads landlord boomer house homeowner homeownership tenant parenting rent gen x dad baby boomers family Reddit Renters parents Father
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