Generational Archives - Page 12 of 27

Stocks Made a Few Millennials Rich—11 Mistakes That Caused the Rest of To Be Left Behind

July 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Some rode meme stocks to fortune—others got wrecked chasing the dream.

A few millennials cracked the code: bought low, held on, and cashed out with enough to quit their jobs or fund early retirements. But for most, stock investing wasn’t a golden ticket—it was a slow bleed of FOMO, bad timing, and misguided confidence. There were app notifications, Reddit threads, and half-baked strategies, but no real safety net.

They weren’t lazy. They were misled, overwhelmed, and learning as they went. And in the process, they made some brutally common missteps that turned potential gains into gut-wrenching losses.

10 Reasons So Many Millennials “Going No Contact” With Their Parents

July 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Cutting off contact isn’t cold—it’s the final boundary after years of being unheard.

It’s not always a dramatic blow-up that ends a relationship. Sometimes it’s years of dismissive comments, unmet needs, and emotional exhaustion quietly stacking up until someone finally says, enough. For many millennials, choosing to go no contact with a parent isn’t about punishment—it’s survival. It’s a radical, painful step toward self-preservation after realizing the dysfunction won’t fix itself.

These aren’t decisions made lightly. They’re made after trying to talk, to explain, to forgive—and after realizing peace sometimes requires walking away.

If You Remember These 10 Discontinued Foods, Your Childhood Was Privileged

July 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

These throwback snacks weren’t just food—they were status symbols of a sweeter, easier time.

You didn’t just eat these treats. You flaunted them in the cafeteria, begged your parents to buy them, and mourned them when they disappeared without warning. The packaging alone could trigger a wave of nostalgia sharp enough to stop you mid-scroll. They weren’t healthy. They weren’t necessary. But if your childhood pantry was stocked with them, it probably meant your parents had a little extra cash—and weren’t stressing over every grocery line item.

These discontinued snacks were more than sugary indulgences. They were low-key markers of comfort, stability, and having a bit more than just the basics.

12 Cities Where Millennials Can Actually Live a Good Life Without a Tech Bro Salary

July 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

These cities prove you don’t need a six-figure startup job to have a six-out-of-ten life—with room for joy.

Forget chasing unicorn IPOs and overpriced sushi in tech hubs where rent eats half your soul. A growing number of U.S. cities offer that sweet spot of affordability, creative energy, and livability that doesn’t require selling your twenties to venture capital. These aren’t just cheaper options—they’re better-balanced ones.

If you want to actually enjoy your evenings, own a bike that isn’t also your car, and meet people who don’t brag about pitch decks, keep reading.

The Retirement Time Bomb—9 Reasons Gen Z Is Losing Sleep Over Social Security

July 11, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Gen Z isn’t convinced that Social Security will still be standing when they need it most.

For decades, Social Security has been sold as the safety net every American worker can count on. But for Gen Z, that promise feels shakier than ever. Raised during recessions, inflation spikes, and political gridlock, many young people are deeply skeptical that this system will still exist—or work as intended—when it’s finally their turn to retire. The constant headlines about “insolvency,” “trust fund depletion,” and government mismanagement don’t exactly build confidence.

The fear isn’t just about whether they’ll get a check—it’s about what that uncertainty does to their entire financial future. If Social Security won’t be there, Gen Z knows they’ll need to save more, invest smarter, and carry even more financial risk than previous generations. These nine concerns aren’t paranoid—they’re real anxieties rooted in what they’re seeing unfold right now. And unless major reforms happen, Gen Z’s skepticism about Social Security may turn out to be completely justified.

12 Ways Boomers Pulled Up the Ladder and Left Gen Z and Millennials in the Cold

July 10, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

The people who built the system are often the ones pulling the emergency exits closed behind them.

Talk to anyone under 40 long enough, and it’ll come up: the sense that boomers climbed to comfort, then sealed the hatch behind them. It’s not just about avocado toast or student loans—it’s about an uneven playing field that somehow keeps tilting steeper. The rules changed right after boomers benefited the most.

What’s left is a younger generation playing catch-up in an economy that feels like it’s been emptied of upward mobility and empathy.

American Dream to Lockout: 13 Ways Gen Z Manages False Hopes in 2025

July 10, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

They were told to dream big, then handed the bill for someone else’s fantasy.

Gen Z was raised to believe they could be anything, do everything, and change the world while they were at it. But that glossy promise came with a fine print no one talked about—crushing debt, unaffordable housing, and a job market that rewards connections over talent. So they adapted, got scrappy, and found new ways to cope with the constant bait-and-switch.

They’re not giving up. They’re just done playing a rigged game by the old rules.

11 Harsh Truths About Full-Time Adulting That Millennials Fear Their Parents Don’t Get

July 10, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

They didn’t grow up paying rent on dreams they were told to chase.

Every generation thinks they’ve had it rough, but adulting hits different when you’re juggling student loans, gig work, rising rent, and the crushing pressure to “find your passion.” Millennials didn’t get the same roadmap their parents followed—most of those roads are underwater now, buried under inflation, tech disruption, and mental burnout. Yet parents still ask why they haven’t bought a house or had kids, as if those things haven’t become luxury items.

There’s a big disconnect between the world Baby Boomers built and the one Millennials are trying to survive in. It’s not just about money—it’s about stability, expectations, and the gnawing fear of always being behind. The hustle never stops, even when you’re doing everything “right.” And the worst part? You’re often made to feel like it’s your fault. These are the tough realities Millennials carry every day, even if their parents still don’t understand why brunch and anxiety meds replaced mortgages and retirement plans.