Are Parents Really To Blame

The way I'm reading this, it was a reaction to criticism of millennials by boomers. Ott, perhaps, but understandable. If only more people in both generations would try to understand each other instead of lashing out!

It is a silly unrepresentative article as one might expect. But they do have a point about how easy it was for us to get jobs and mortgages.

However all my children have worked hard and studied hard and own their own homes (their choice - I see nothing wrong with renting). They all work hard and are proving to be wonderful parents.

I can see that life when you set out as an adult is a struggle; but, in spite of the above advantages, we did struggle in our own ways - certainly we did not expect much - one beaten up car, second hand furniture and baby items, no possibility of holidays. But we did not feel hard done by because of this - it is just the way of the world when you are starting out.

There is an element of unrealistic expectations from some people I think.

They would have each been paid around £1800 each to appear in the Daily Mail. They would have given their story then the journalist will have written it however the tabloid wants it to be angled.
It does read in a slightly staged, mocking manner and yes, there was an article recently suggesting that employers found this generation lazy.

The point here is that if you are going to agree to appear in a newspaper, be prepared for it to have little to do with what you actually said.

I think the key to getting a job, now as in the past, is the right attitude - willingness to learn, a bright, can do attitude without arrogance, understanding that you start out at the bottom and not everyone wants to know what you think and that you might be bored and you certainly won't be given fascinating or important work on day one.

As I said earlier, child centred education has not been a total success on a number of fronts.

And I do not agree that buying houses was easier in the past! It has always been a big commitment and debt that had to be paid for and other things foregone.

When we married our mortgage interest was 15% and it took my entire salary to pay the monthly bill.
We have been fortunate in being able to help DC to buy their houses but younger generation should not assume it is their right to have this.

A 17 year old came into my premises last month asking for a job. She came in speaking to me while looking at her phone and left soon after with a message about why I wouldn't employ her.

Yes - mortgage rates were indeed high - our children cannot believe the rates we paid - but the houses themselves were cheaper.

Good grief, well I have done several articles for the DM and never been paid anything! I now won't do articles for them, nothing to do with money but because all they are interested in is sensationalising any situation. Is sadly what sells papers.

I take exception to someone's comment that no one has to live in London. So where do we go then ?, those of us born and bred in London , our friends and family and jobs in London. Not everyone in London is on ridiculously high wages.

It was me who said no one has to live in London. No one HAS TO do anything in life, it's all about decisions we take. I know a number of people who have made the decision to move elsewhere for a better quality of life or a different job, they are happier.

It's possible to tie yourself up in knots in life - "I couldn't leave my family/job/cat/ big house" even though you rattle around in it and the kids couldn't care less and you can't face clearing it out. It's the same as that attitude when searching for a job, can-do gets you a long way, reasons not to do are abundant but keep you where you are.

Ok so anyone can do what they want, except live in London for £50 per week for a room.

Actually, it isnt London generally which tops the least affordable places to live.

The ones least affordable to live are where salaries are very low compared to very high house prices.

In London house prices are high, but so are salaries in comparison to elsewhere.

Currently there is only one area in London that makes the top 10.

The same old assumption that everyone in London is a city banker.

Rather proves my point Ankers. I'm the last one to have ever approved of the 'get on your bike' philosophy but unless disabled or saddled with some awful life circumstances, caring or something, there is a lot individuals can do, especially the young.

I sometimes remember having heard James Lovelock talk on the radio years ago, he was musing on a future overtaken by climate driven calamity and he said 'the one's who will survive are those who are willing to change, adapt and move' and I fear that we have produced a generation of youngsters who think it will come to them on a plate. Not all, but life is tough and you have to shape up and address it, none of us know what's round the corner.

I, and I assume the way it is assessed, are talking averages, or whatever way they work it out.

If the sticking point is 'there must be a room that is in London for £50 a week so that I can have it', that need can never be satisfied, so think of something else, the world does not run to fit the individual, it's the other way round.

Neither does anyone here think everyone in London is a banker, I grew up in London as it happens, I don't know why I'm bothering to answer because it's a deeply lame throwaway point.

I agree Azie09.

What I see happening where I live is this.
Those who go to uni, rarely return full time.

Those that do not leave that way, find it harder to leave for a variety of reasons.
1. They did not go to uni like others so, if they didnt already, start to feel a little bit of a failure. But there are others in the same boat as them so
2. in the first instance they try out the local area. But wages are low, though most manage to find jobs without having to go too far. But because wages are so low
3. they lose confidence to try their hand at retail or catering or care work further afield. Plus they may have a partner after a while from the local area. Plus
4. wat is the point of having maybe a bit more wages elsewhere, but instead of living at home, they would then have to pay rent, thus being financially worse off.

Those that did still live local, but basically had the fun of renting somewhere for a while, after a while worked out that financially, it was better to move back in with mum and dad.

For these groups of people, who never went to uni, getting on yer bike is rather a useless exercise, and worse financially too.

Yes, Ankers, I recognise what you are describing. I feel sorry for teachers and the way education has got messed up and devalued in the UK, but I do think education has let down so many youngsters and they get stuck in the cycle you have described. And I expect they get depressed and go shopping or drink or get into drugs as a way of making themselves feel better about a mundane existence.

Only a few will venture to break out and will find something else by good luck or sheer grit. I find it depressing that social mobility has got so reduced. I do actually come from a working class, somewhat deprived background but aspiration was always emphasised in my family and I went to a good school and was determined to better my lot in life. These kids need more help of the right kind, not magic wands but ways through.

Have you ever come across the journalist, Lynsey Hanley? www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/14/respectable-by-lynsey-hanley-review-class I was very impressed by her description of her own escape from poverty and by the way she examined the poverty trap and reasons many don't escape, or in fact have no idea how to even begin.

One thing I have seen is that some youngsters get themselves on voluntary schemes, working with institutions here or overseas or, dare I say it, join the armed forces and that gives them a different point of view, self esteem and often skills but they have to be inspired and want to do it.

It`s all very well to say they should take any job but then they get stuck in low paid employment.
It is easier to get a better job if you are already in employment than if you're not working.
I think employers are more impressed by the fact that someone is willing to do any job and will be keen and eager to learn.

Housing is a main issue and many like to blame the rise of migrants coming into the country.
But one reason that the government is stopping housing benefit to the 18-21 year olds is to stop them from claiming welfare to get a house, having a baby then perpetuating the cycle. More young British claim welfare than migrants. The reasons why are often to do with various things but not finishing education is one of them.

Here's a good link that's usually reliable.

fullfact.org/immigration/some-immigration-facts-factchecked/

I am confused Jalima by which types of people you are referring to?
Those who do go to uni or those that dont?

Here is the list of least affordable places to live in the UK:
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/uk-least-affordable-cities-house-prices-london-oxford-a7606326.html
Greater London comes in at number 2 with Oxford at number 1.

I thought that Cambridge would be number 1, but perhaps average salaries are higher there.

Anyone Ankers - anyone showing a willingness to work at a job, any job, instead of waiting and hoping for the 'right opportunity' to present itself.

I was loking at a slightly different list[prob 2016] but they are near enough the same.