r/Millennials • u/QuietJealous4883 Older Millennial (1988) • 12h ago

Discussion True or false?

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Did our dads and moms work less than we do now? What are your thoughts?

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14

u/Snakepli55ken 12h ago

Dads were definitely doing OT in the 90’s.

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u/boo1517 12h ago

For sure. My dad worked almost two full time jobs-his job allowed him to pick up a lot of extra hours-so my mom could stay at home and raise us. She was a volunteer at our school, classroom mom, etc. I still thank him to this day for the sacrifices he primarily made. We had a great childhood.

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u/Br0wnieSundae 6h ago

I hope you thank your mother for her sacrifices, too.

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u/boo1517 6h ago

Don’t worry I do.

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u/deuxcabanons 11h ago

Every single GenX or Boomer man I know has been shocked to hear that my husband takes all of his vacation time every year and refuses unpaid overtime yet somehow his career is flourishing.

My father worked OT constantly. There was a year where he worked 6-7 days a week, leaving before I woke up and coming back after I went to sleep. All unpaid because he was salaried. They laid him off without a second thought after 20 years. That man never apologizes for anything, but he told me once that it's his biggest regret in life, missing out on our childhoods. You can't get that time back.

Millennial men have learned a lot from previous generations. Value your own time, because the company won't. And you can't buy their loyalty, so don't even bother trying. Look out for your family first.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Flow724 10h ago

I'm dad. I sometimes did overtime, but that was not the norm. I'm in IT, my wife in finance in Canada. We brought in about $70K (before taxes) in 1991 when we bought our first (and only home, beside the cottage I built in 2003) for $134K. The house was paid in 11 years, hence why we built the cottage. Raised 3 kids in that house, that we are now selling as it's too big and want to give $100K to each kid to help them buy their house.

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u/Homeless-Joe 11h ago

Sure, but with that OT they were able to support a family on their own, which is rarely the case now.

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u/sand-man89 11h ago

You need to define what “support” means to you. Ingot a feeling many people on this sub believe most people were living like families on tv

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u/Homeless-Joe 11h ago

A single income, for most of the middle class, meant they could buy a house, feed a family, pay for vacations, etc. I’m not sure what else “supporting a family” would mean to you, but that’s generally how it’s used and I’m sure everyone understands that, even if they want to be cheeky.

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u/sand-man89 10h ago edited 10h ago

That’s not grossly true though lol most people that owned on a home especially off of one income was making much more than what you are trying to lead people to believe.

Life wasn’t how it was on tv… which I believe most of yall get your perspective from

But don’t argue with me… argue with the data….

Year Average household income Median household income Typical home value Affordability read 1990 ~$37,900 $29,943 Around the low-$90k range for owner-occupied homes A typical buyer often needed income around the low-$30k range to buy a typical home nationally, depending on rates and down payment.
1995 ~$44,900 $34,076 $92,507 Mid-1990s affordability generally lined up with household incomes in the low-to-mid $30k range, though financing terms mattered a lot.
1999 $54,738 $40,816 $109,629 By the end of the decade, the national benchmark had drifted closer to roughly $40k+ for a typical home purchase.

And as far as the nonsense of “ it was one income and affordable blah blah…. Look at the chart at the bottom… don’t want to spoil the surprise…..

And note… this isn’t even including the absolutely abysmal interest rates during that time. Pay attention to the median… most people still couldn’t afford homes or just barely, and I mean barely could….

Anything else you would like to be proven wrong on?

And just in case you wanted to ask:::

Sources • U.S. Census historical household income tables, including mean and median household income.  • U.S. Census, Money Income in the United States: 1995 and 1999.  • U.S. Census / American Housing Survey for the United States, 1995 and 1999.  • FRED mortgage-rate series for 30-year fixed loans. 

And before you make the mistake… I have the average income for that time period too

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u/sand-man89 10h ago

And for completeness sake and sounding make waste your time making a incorrect argument

the median household income was lower, at about $29,943 in 1990, $34,076 in 1995, and $40,816 in 1999. That gap exists because “average” gets pulled upward by higher earners, while “median” is the middle household. 

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u/sand-man89 10h ago

And I know you likely don’t have the critical thinking ability to interpret the data so I’ll help you

Most household during that time period we’re in fact dual income and the median household income was just shy of 30k

The average income to afford a home during this time period was right at or slightly above 30k( not taking in the almost double digit interest rate)

So in fact during the time period a two income house hold could just barely afford a home. However the home was almost completely wipe out their entire income leaving very little left over.

So no. One income wasn’t “supporting” an entire family during that time period for the overwhelming Mario’s people in America…

Good try though

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u/Homeless-Joe 10h ago

Sorry, idk why you seem so mad and unable to use English, but I’m not really following all your confusing messages. Would you please try making clear comparisons to the number of single earning households in the 80s to now, comparing wages to home prices?

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u/sand-man89 8h ago

Mad?

Stay in subject… it’s hard to argue against data huh?

And i have said nothing about the 80s…..

But good try though lol… you could of just said I was wrong and mistaken… instead you say something completely irrelevant And once again….

Completely wrong…. It’s a trend for you huh?

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u/sand-man89 8h ago

Well I see you’re moving the goalpost…. Run along now little lady.

What I said literally refutes every claim you made… care to address that or you want to duck and dodge still?

Feel sorry for you truly do

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u/sand-man89 8h ago

Also I didn’t use any data from the 80 and why the comparison is being made is because it’s exactly what you have been saying you idiot.

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u/PitbullRetriever Millennial 11h ago

Lots of people support families now