I'm not sure how much of a universal experience this is but I feel like I'm hearing about it more and more recently. I'm a 90s baby, not really fitting into either millennial or gen z but inbetween, and grew up in lower class and have only recently gotten myself to a place that I could call comfortably living. I've got 3 roomates and we split living costs based on how much we make at our respective jobs and pitch in extra when we can to help each other out.
My parents have been pushing me to work more and to try harder to find a better paying job, I'm an overnight gasstation clerk making 18.25 which is fairly decent for the area, and I feel like I'm talking to a wall when I try to explain to them that paying off the dept they put me in and just being able to enjoy living is what's important to me now.
I don't care about making a whole bunch of money or having some fancy title that looks amazing on my resume, the fact that I can afford to enjoy my days off is what matters. I'm even thinking about taking a pay cut to work at the same place my roomate does, just because it's a much less stressful environment and the management is a whole lot better than what I'm currently working with.
It's not that I've given up on “going somewhere” or “making something out of myself”, I still have dreams and goals that I'll eventually get to. Right now with the way the world is and how expensive just the cost of living is its not realistic to try and achieve anything greater than just surviving and being able to enjoy the life that we have.
Sorry I feel like this has turned into more of a rant that anything asking for constructive help so I'm going to get back to the point. Is there anyway, or any tips I guess, that anyone has to try and help my parents understand that what I'm doing right now is the best I can and even though it's not glamorous I'm happy and that's what should matter?