Disclaimer: this story is rooted in hard work, smart saving and investing, & sacrifice. Not a tale from someone who was born or married into money. This author, along with parents and grandparents were all civil servants that held jobs available to anyone, required no special skill or education, if any education was needed at all.
I love how people love to say some random person or policy is responsible for their misfortune, when in reality they can’t even be honest with themselves. Yes, inflation is through the roof. Now that we got passed that, I want to share my personal story and let you decide who is to blame:
My wife and I bought a 550k home in 2017 on a RN/Civil Service salary. Never had any student loans despite both people eventually earning Masters degrees from private universities. How is this possible you ask?
Between my wife and I, 3 out of 4 parents were civilians servants for NYC. I have two siblings that are financially similar to myself. My wife has 3 siblings, also financially similar to us. So 7 total children between 2 families. Of the 7, 5 are homeowners and gainfully employed in various different industries.
After following my parents footsteps, I also obtained a civil service job that the hiring is based on a basic entrance exam where no technical or industry specific knowledge is needed. It is basically a reading comp test so I want to put to rest any notion that I have a very technical or elusive career. Anybody can take the job I have. I personally purchased my home in 2018 from savings along with down payment assistance from family. I refinanced when rates were rock bottom.
I was able to do this because I had my priorities in order. After getting married, we went on honeymoon and a few trips here and there. We saved tremendously by living in place that was by no means a dream home. But rather a practical apartment with a reasonable rent in Brooklyn and we saved saved saved. We didn’t waste money ordering delivery or going out every night, traveling lavishly, or driving fancy cars. We knew we wanted a home and we were willing to make sacrifices to obtain it.
Our parents lived similar lives to one I described above, worked hard to save from homes and education and make sacrifices as well to ensure that we wouldn’t be burdened with debt. We realize the value of not carrying student loans and we have already started saving for our toddler children (all 3 of them). Is it more enjoyable to go on vacations frequently? Yes. But in the long run our saving will be more beneficial than any trip
We could ever take.
My advice to all the whiners and crybabies on this forum: if you’re going to be angry at anyone, be mad at your parents for not properly preparing you for the disappointments and expectations a responsible adult deals with. Be mad at them for not setting aside a few dollars to help with your education costs.
Settle for things and sacrifice—public institutions will offer the same education as a private one, at a fraction of the cost. I know, I went to both types. Study a practical field instead of the trendy one like psychology or philosophy—you’ll never find steady, reliable work. Don’t discount manual labor, the trades, or civil service—you’d be surprised how many millionaire electricians are out there. On the note, learn a skill or a trade—even if you don’t do it for a living. Nothing is handed to you. Get your shit in line. Stop ordering Uber eats and cook a goodamn meal for yourself (you’ll be surprised how much better it tastes, the pride you’ll feel and the amount of money you’ll save), stop taking the lavish vacations to simply make a dumb Instagram post that no one actually cares about. Buy the Honda instead of leasing the bmw. Live in a cheaper area until You get your feet wet instead of renting in your dream neighborhood right out of the gate. No one said you can’t move. Take a stable & reliable paycheck over the volatile high paying one. Cancel the OnlyFans. If want all the nicer things I just mentioned, that’s fine, but then don’t complain that you don’t have any money for anything else. You have the money, you’re just using it for the wrong stuff.
People on this page crack me up, they don’t want to work in an office. They want to work from their sofa and they think they have the right to demand that from their employer. If they want to even work at all. They are mad at the rising costs of education when, in reality they didn’t have a nickel saved for themselves, probably because their parents were just as misguided as they are now, and never chose to save any money for the future and instead spent their whole lives. Learn how to invest smartly and responsibly.
PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY—LOOK AT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FOR YOUR CURENT SITUATION, INSTEAD OF SAYING IT’S SOMEONE ELSES FAULT.
I am sure I’ll get a lot of kickback from this because people will be angry that “I attacked and bad mouthed their mommies and daddies” but read it again with an open mind and really be honest with yourself.