General Discussion

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

168. I'm in my 50s.

Wed Jan 23, 2013, 10:43 PM

Jan 2013

The most disposable income I ever had was 35-45.

I have as little disposable income today as I did in my 20s.

I'm not earning as much as I was in my highest decade; budget cuts have slashed my contract, and my income, repeatedly.

It's true that I make more than I did in my 20s, but I have more expenses, too, added when I was earning a better living. Today, with the repeated pay cuts, my mortgage is 53% of my income, and the value of my house has plummeted to about half of what I owe on it. The income is not more secure; my contractual days, rate of pay, and benefits have been cut every year for 4 years now.

Demographically, I'm supposed to be doing better. In reality, I'm not. If I go out to eat once every 6-8 weeks, it will be affordable, not high scale.

I haven't been to a "high scale" restaurant for about 6 years; then, it was on a professional trip and my supervisor paid for it.

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Boomers Dine Out While Millennials Cut Back [View all] Sherman A1 Jan 2013 OP

Thats because we are tired of doing the dishes liberal N proud Jan 2013 #1

And because it's nice to have HappyMe Jan 2013 #2

ain't that the truth! tech3149 Jan 2013 #3

We're also very tired of cooking. nt amandabeech Jan 2013 #71

One has worked for 45 years and the other has worked for 4 or 5 years... kentuck Jan 2013 #114

I live alone, and sometimes I'm just too tired or rushed to put together a meal for one Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #120

This boomer hasn't been out in years to eat dinner. I can't afford to. But I happen southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #4

Same here HockeyMom Jan 2013 #58

Me too. My husband loves leftovers. While allot of people will eat junk they buy at work southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #87

I used to live at restaurants. 1983law Jan 2013 #131

I am on the same page but I have noticed that the whole production.... Walk away Jan 2013 #80

LOL, you bet it has. Health issues do that to people. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #86

I'm in the same boat Worried senior Jan 2013 #81

Besides that I enjoy my own food better and it's peaceful at home. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #84

We are homebodies, too, & I love to cook & I don't mind doing dishes. CrispyQ Jan 2013 #102

My son works at a Restaurant. He always puts his customers first. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #138

Makes sense to me. Millennials still have kids at home, and going out to dinner can be more trouble MgtPA Jan 2013 #5

Well, the boomers whose kids haven't moved back in with them, maybe Demit Jan 2013 #6

True dat. MgtPA Jan 2013 #14

At least those "kids" don't need a babysitter. surrealAmerican Jan 2013 #31

I remember once where the babysitter cost more than the dinner for 2. MgtPA Jan 2013 #42

Or ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #73

HA. Now I'm always going to think of you as 1Strong*and funny looking*BlackMan, LOL. bettyellen Jan 2013 #177

So ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #181

I'm picturing a saucy noodle draped over the tip of your nose, LOL. bettyellen Jan 2013 #184

I am a younger Gen Xer and don't go out to eat much Jennicut Jan 2013 #32

Your schedule sounds like mine - Girl Scouts and piano lessons. MgtPA Jan 2013 #39

Jeez! PasadenaTrudy Jan 2013 #79

September 2014 :) MgtPA Jan 2013 #85

You don't. Jennicut Jan 2013 #197

My six were all in their teens at the same time(for 2 years). They are long gone now, virgogal Jan 2013 #137

Six teenagers in the house at the same time? MgtPA Jan 2013 #160

The youngest ones had to shower before bed,the older ones,my husband,and myself in virgogal Jan 2013 #165

And expensive, boomers can afford it Blue4Texas Jan 2013 #105

Going out to dinner is a luxury I can't afford lunatica Jan 2013 #7

Hell, I can't even afford groceries. GoCubsGo Jan 2013 #8

Happy early Birthday, anyway! kentauros Jan 2013 #34

Thank you! GoCubsGo Jan 2013 #48

Born between 1946 and 1964...you're on the younger end... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #52

It all depends on who is doing the defining... GoCubsGo Jan 2013 #76

Boomers must feel more entitled to have things and view luxuries as something they have earned. RB TexLa Jan 2013 #9

Eating out at a mom & pop diner HappyMe Jan 2013 #10

Thank you! kevinbgoode1 Jan 2013 #62

Crap marions ghost Jan 2013 #15

Lemmie guess, you are a Boomer AngryAmish Jan 2013 #17

I have no blind spots about this marions ghost Jan 2013 #21

Exactly theKed Jan 2013 #33

fail HiPointDem Jan 2013 #92

we might be talking about the difference between Republicans and Democrats Fight2Win Jan 2013 #36

"Hoarding" .. sendero Jan 2013 #134

no, I save money too Fight2Win Jan 2013 #141

Well life is full of injustices.. sendero Jan 2013 #145

lol tjwash Jan 2013 #20

+++++ marions ghost Jan 2013 #23

You do realize Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #24

these millenials would rather we hoard money and deprive them of work, LOL. Stupid. bettyellen Jan 2013 #41

Don't trash Millenials marions ghost Jan 2013 #45

I am a Millenial, and I am sick of boomers trashing me. It happened at the SWTORFanatic Jan 2013 #53

I'm a Boomer and I get it marions ghost Jan 2013 #64

I agree with half of your basic truth JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #96

Mooching? marions ghost Jan 2013 #128

+1. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #132

thanx marions ghost Jan 2013 #136

Mooching?!?! magical thyme Jan 2013 #146

I'm a boomer who eats out often with no guilt. unapatriciated Jan 2013 #167

You a boomer with gen X children old enough to have gen Y kids? SWTORFanatic Jan 2013 #191

Well I have three generations below me. My children, grandchildren and my great-grandaughter. unapatriciated Jan 2013 #203

I gotta tell ya Skittles Jan 2013 #200

It's hard to see that with a pocket book mentality most working class folks have. Selatius Jan 2013 #205

using computers??? Skittles Jan 2013 #126

yeah right LOL-- marions ghost Jan 2013 #129

Yeah but you guys spend all day on facebook. I'm playing video games SWTORFanatic Jan 2013 #170

oh well, as long as you're playing video games. Youth is wasted on the young, LOL. bettyellen Jan 2013 #178

See, Milleneal bashing 101 ;) SWTORFanatic Jan 2013 #188

you kind of walked into that one yourself, LOL. bettyellen Jan 2013 #190

that one is WAY too easy, bettyellen Skittles Jan 2013 #199

i know some nice gamers, LOL. but not one would point to it with pride as if it makes them a better bettyellen Jan 2013 #209

WTF Skittles Jan 2013 #198

i didn't trash a generation... just those that take the bait on this fake "issue". bettyellen Jan 2013 #176

OK let me explain... marions ghost Jan 2013 #180

i was replying to Sherm- about the segment of millennials who were whining about this bettyellen Jan 2013 #183

OK I see the ambiguity now marions ghost Jan 2013 #187

well, I appreciate you trying to reach the bitterest millenials, marions ghost.... bettyellen Jan 2013 #189

OK but marions ghost Jan 2013 #193

No, sounds like they'd rather boomers hoard money and then die, so THEY'LL get it. mainer Jan 2013 #110

Next up -- intergenerational warfare. So much better than class war...at least for some. magical thyme Jan 2013 #25

Well said except for the snark marions ghost Jan 2013 #47

meh. If nothing else, I'm entitled to occasional snark magical thyme Jan 2013 #111

meh yourself marions ghost Jan 2013 #135

You do realize Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #143

My reply was to Post #9, not the OP magical thyme Jan 2013 #147

Then you misread the intent of the article Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #150

actually, in retrospect, I did get the gist of the article from the OP magical thyme Jan 2013 #157

The gist of the article is that.. sendero Jan 2013 #174

My reply was to post #9 magical thyme Jan 2013 #175

I apologize.. sendero Jan 2013 #204

that's ok, sendero... magical thyme Jan 2013 #206

right on, magical thyme shanti Jan 2013 #70

Well said, "MT" This Intergenerational Warfare" is being pushed by some Big Interest KoKo Jan 2013 #113

if they saved their money... actslikeacarrot Jan 2013 #49

I don't care if they go out OriginalGeek Jan 2013 #66

This boomer can't afford to eat all that much AT HOME. djean111 Jan 2013 #51

yep sheer arrogance CountAllVotes Jan 2013 #55

OK...Boomers should all stay home, Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #56

Boomers will not stay home, will die running the streets Blue4Texas Jan 2013 #107

"running the streets"? Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #109

Going here, there, everywhere lol Blue4Texas Jan 2013 #112

Oh... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #122

Yes shame on those arrogant high living Boomers. Ganja Ninja Jan 2013 #59

No one should have increased spending on anything Shivering Jemmy Jan 2013 #60

No I certainly would not have. Making more money in no way entices me to spend more money RB TexLa Jan 2013 #67

austerity brings more of the same. i'm saving but I plan to spend every red cent I have as I exit bettyellen Jan 2013 #185

your post is a display of fail. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #91

Boomers are in their 60s now. mainer Jan 2013 #108

How are those royalty checks doing, Skippy? Ikonoklast Jan 2013 #149

'Entitled?' elleng Jan 2013 #151

We had been going out once a week canoeist52 Jan 2013 #11

Oddly enough I've stopped eating out. bemildred Jan 2013 #12

Same here. I used to have more time than money eridani Jan 2013 #16

I my case it was more money than time. bemildred Jan 2013 #22

I thought that they all just sat around watching The Big Chill and LA Law reruns Orrex Jan 2013 #13

None of my family, LWolf Jan 2013 #18

Boomers are in their 40s to 60s, when people earn the most money happyslug Jan 2013 #28

I'm in my 50s. LWolf Jan 2013 #168

This boomer eats at home Uben Jan 2013 #19

Ageism. MineralMan Jan 2013 #26

yep, and it's about how they screwed up their marketing- trying to only reach younger people bettyellen Jan 2013 #43

Yes...the article is misleading but folks want to go with the OP's snip KoKo Jan 2013 #115

No surprise, here.... ReRe Jan 2013 #27

Actually, you aren't the largest anymore. jeff47 Jan 2013 #156

You might want to... ReRe Jan 2013 #161

When responding to your factoid? jeff47 Jan 2013 #163

Let'a agree to disagree... ReRe Jan 2013 #171

That's a surprise to me. sadbear Jan 2013 #29

With what money would these resturant owners pretend I use? Earth_First Jan 2013 #30

What boomers are dining out? We're certainly not. LiberalEsto Jan 2013 #35

Bull* Article? Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #38

Yikes! Why are you carrying your daughters in this way? Orrex Jan 2013 #40

We eat out 2, maybe 3 times yearly IDemo Jan 2013 #37

I work in food service. Fearless Jan 2013 #44

REALITY: the wealth inequality is largely based on age Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #46

Look like you're drinking the kool-aid marions ghost Jan 2013 #50

Indeed. HappyMe Jan 2013 #61

Really? Apparently economists disagree with you Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #97

Um... marions ghost Jan 2013 #140

Results of alert on your post hack89 Jan 2013 #69

Oh boy, it's juror 4 again! HappyMe Jan 2013 #75

Every once in a while I'm reminded Morning Dew Jan 2013 #72

that has always been true, and is somewhat logical hfojvt Jan 2013 #74

+1 marybourg Jan 2013 #82

The answer is crystal. Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #99

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #127

I am going to invite you to actually think through what you just wrote Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #139

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jan 2013 #155

They can accumulate it the old-fashioned way: inherit it. :sarcasm: nt raccoon Jan 2013 #130

The Vietnam War ended when the older boomers managed to convince amandabeech Jan 2013 #78

pernicious bullshit. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #95

Which part? Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #101

start with the part where you spin concentration of wealth as a generational rather than class HiPointDem Jan 2013 #121

And yet it is absolutely factual that wealth IS concentrated by age Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #148

...and always has been. for obvious reasons. & will be when the millenials get old, too. but HiPointDem Jan 2013 #162

yeah, 30% of people took a generation longer to save up 100K. It's sad only 60% were able to. bettyellen Jan 2013 #179

Here comes the new angle - intergenerational warfare so it feels good to vote to raise the Social flamingdem Jan 2013 #54

Yup, I've seen it right here on DU, their solution was the classic "we'll fix it later" TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #142

Exactly right. Le Taz Hot Jan 2013 #173

These Boomers Can't redstatebluegirl Jan 2013 #57

+++++ marions ghost Jan 2013 #68

Right you are CountAllVotes Jan 2013 #77

Our out of pocket redstatebluegirl Jan 2013 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author CountAllVotes Jan 2013 #104

I feel so lucky PasadenaTrudy Jan 2013 #83

We Go Vols Jan 2013 #89

boomer here shanti Jan 2013 #63

My situation exactly. I agree with your conclusion. erinlough Jan 2013 #93

I'm a boomer and I cook at home. no_hypocrisy Jan 2013 #65

that web site is fascinating grasswire Jan 2013 #88

My pleasure! Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #90

Aren't boomers mostly republican? snooper2 Jan 2013 #94

Hmmm...... Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #118

Depends on where they live Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #123

Divide...and conquer...divide...and conquer Taverner Jan 2013 #100

In an industry study on spending habits for Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #119

I personally don't know any Boomers who are doing well enough to eat out as often as they want.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #103

At least Boomers are less likely to breast feed in a restaurant! klook Jan 2013 #106

Or bring their brats with them to scream and throw food. MineralMan Jan 2013 #116

their 'brats'? this thread is disgusting. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #133

The thread's purpose was age-war. WinkyDink Jan 2013 #154

You have never encountered a brat in MineralMan Jan 2013 #164

no, just children. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #172

I heard a commercial for Medicare supplement insurance happyslug Jan 2013 #125

Interesting. klook Jan 2013 #158

When I was the millenials' age, I didn't dine out because I didn't have the money. mainer Jan 2013 #117

Yes, I spent most of my twenties as a grad student and an unemployed Ph.D. Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #124

enjoy Enrique Jan 2013 #144

I cook Sunday through Thursday Night TheOther95Percent Jan 2013 #152

TFBad for "Millennials." For Boomers, the 4-BR house was a GOAL; for M's, it's a "Starter." WinkyDink Jan 2013 #153

how dare those boomers go out and eat! It's an outrage! liberal_at_heart Jan 2013 #159

How dare people spend their own hard-earned money on anything of their choice! mainer Jan 2013 #182

I'm going out to get pizza after I make this post. kentauros Jan 2013 #166

"We're out, spending our children's inheritance". nt MrScorpio Jan 2013 #169

that sounds funny, but it is actually kind of mean Fight2Win Jan 2013 #186

cutting and pasting that silly shit about 30K houses? OY. bettyellen Jan 2013 #194

True, houses aren't $30,000 any more mainer Jan 2013 #196

When you are cooking for one or two people, it is sometimes more expensive Arkansas Granny Jan 2013 #192

Agreed Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #195

I'm a Gen Xer, I could eat out, but instead save my money to help teenagers in the community Fight2Win Jan 2013 #201

And a Good Person You Are for doing so Sherman A1 Jan 2013 #202

How dare they eat at Denny's! Tabasco_Dave Jan 2013 #207

"The visit rate for older restaurant consumers is now the same as it is for those younger." Sparkly Jan 2013 #208