Think about this: Micro-weddings/elopements. Tiny homes/full time RV living. Not having any kids. All of these things are legitimate life choices that people should be free to make if they are truly what they want and work well for them.
But it hit me recently…I’ve seen so much content from folks doing this stuff, and as someone getting married in a year or two it kind of sucks. A couple generations ago nobody blinked an eye about having weddings, buying homes, or having kids. Now these things are becoming only accessible to the wealthy, and we are being encouraged to settle for quasi-weddings, quasi-homes, etc. because that’s all most of us can afford nowadays. Wages aren’t covering basic costs of living, so why not forego the wedding? Don’t worry about not having those family memories for a lifetime, just elope!
Also, everywhere I look there’s another TikTok/reel or listicle of random plastic products I ‘need’ from Amazon. I feel like we’re being conditioned to buy so much unnecessary crap. Crap that breaks fast and needs replacing more often than well-made alternatives.
It really seems like we’re being paid pittance wages, pressured into spending lots of money on BS products keeping us cash poor, and then gaslit into giving up on long-term investments and traditions that people honestly would love to participate in if it weren’t for the high costs.
Again, no shame if you’ve eloped or live in a van or don’t want kids. But I feel like a lot of people that do want these things are basically not allowed to have them now.