[quote=UCGal]I agree w early retirement… there are a lot of kids who aren’t working or going to school and basically need, IMO, a kick in the pants to stop sponging. I have a coworker who can’t figure out how to motivate his daughter into getting a job or getting serious about college. His wife refuss to consider the tough love approach, so they’re enabling her less than productive lifestyle.
And BG – I grew up in coastal San Diego in the 70s… I wasn’t ready for college when I graduated high school… but I got a job and moved out 2 weeks after my 18th birthday… I think it’s more of a generational thing than a geographical thing that is keeping kids at home these days. I see kids lingering at home well into their 20’s back east too.[/quote]
Yes, UCGal, I do think the HS grad urge for independence was somewhat generational. After all, apts in SD were $140-$240 mo back then (some with ocean views). “Granny flats” (with an “alley/dumpster-view,” lol) were less than $100 mo. At that time, SDSU and UCSD fees were less than community college fees today.
HOWEVER, I worked waiting tables in two different nice waterfront (union) restaurants in the years after arriving here. We typically made $65-$100 tips on Friday night and $100+ tips on Saturday night (from which we had to tip the bartender and our “busboy”). The Federal tip tax law was not enacted until 1983 under Pres Reagan so this $$ was entirely “under the table.” MANY of my co-worker waitresses (all women back then) were 25-35 years old and STILL living with parents. Some were recent divorcees and some students but nonetheless, even with the (by current stds) very reasonable rents, they were living in their parents home. Perhaps they were doing housework or landscaping for a busy or disabled parent??
HS Grads in parts of the nation who wanted to escape inclement weather and/or economic hardship and lack of jobs were MUCH more proactive about becoming independent of parents back then. Our HS diploma couldn’t come fast enough as we already had our 1960’s used cars packed for a post-grad “road trip.” California or BUST :=]
Today, we, as baby boomers and even Gen X-ers have made it “too easy” for our kids, enabling them to forgo disrupting the “status quo.” Rampant inflation in rents, utils, everyday commodities and college fees (w/o corresponding min wage increases) haven’t helped this situation, either.
Edit: I personally don’t have any “boomerang kids.” They couldn’t escape to NoCal fast enough. One moved up there and signed a lease while still 17! They’re expected to lay out a futon and put mom up on occasion (along with my dog) :=]
