There's hope for the younger generation yet

[oldhat]

They are showing an alarming amount of common sense when it comes to their parents' stuff (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/boomers-unwanted-inheritance/2015/03/27/0e75ff6e-45c4-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html).

[gimmethesimplelife]

They are showing an alarming amount of common sense when it comes to their parents' stuff (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/boomers-unwanted-inheritance/2015/03/27/0e75ff6e-45c4-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html).Something I really respect about young people today is that they tend to drive less and be less interested in cars in general. I see a lot of hope in this. I remember when I was in high school it was not hard to find a low paying job but one that paid enough to insure and pay gas for a clunker - and it was a big deal to have a car for most kids. I've been reading that this has changed and I believe it - it's hard for teens to get their first job now and insurance costs have risen a great deal since then. Maybe this is responding to simple economics but it's a trend that I approve of. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

I don't know, so maybe they don't want a table passed down because it's too big for their dwelling, makes perfect sense. But do they also turn down a reasonably sized table? And go off and buy a new one? Or maybe they get one used. I mean they still need things like tables right? (yea I lived in my 20s for awhile without much furniture, but even with no kids, is one going to be that extreme for life? Probably not)

[pinkytoe]

I have been trying to sell my "brown" furniture, ie real wood furnitre on craigslist now for a year and there are no takers. Estate and garage sales around here no longer draw throngs as they once did. Antique stores are closing up. I live in a young city and seems like they prefer to spend their money on getting together with friends - eating out and socializing, etc. Uber, Lyft and riding bikes or taking transit is increasingly preferred over owning a car. It is interesting to watch these changes.

[ToomuchStuff]

Something I really respect about young people today is that they tend to drive less and be less interested in cars in general. I see a lot of hope in this. I remember when I was in high school it was not hard to find a low paying job but one that paid enough to insure and pay gas for a clunker - and it was a big deal to have a car for most kids. I've been reading that this has changed and I believe it - it's hard for teens to get their first job now and insurance costs have risen a great deal since then. Maybe this is responding to simple economics but it's a trend that I approve of. Rob

IMHE the car situation has various reasons coming together. The prevalence of social media and handheld devices have certainly effected the kids I know (don't have to leave to be engaged with others), as well as the increase in the costs of aquiring a vehicle, in addition to ownership issues. (when I was a kid, I owned my first vehicle, now, according to my state, one must be 18, or emancipated) One was not required to have insurance (although most of us did and knew what it would do) and gas was cheaper. Also you had to go out to buy the things/have experiences that, that pocket device can bring to you (movies, music, entertainment, seeing your SO naked)
The article also seems to miss, that with our credit society (get everything now, and pay for it later), beside the education that one may not be able to afford, they can go out and buy "NEW" stuff and not the "old broken down" stuff that they grew up with and tend to be tired of. (also kids tend to want other styles then their parents) It did go into the transitory nature of kids.
That won't even get into any chemical caused issues from medications.

[Lainey]

I wonder if it's because the Millennialls have spent their adulthood in the Great Recession. Things are still shaky with the economy and the need to pack up and go to wherever the next job is must be something they have to consider.

Also don't most young adults reject their parents' taste in furnishings and other items? I bet some of the older Boomers wish they'd inherited and kept that now very trendy and retro 1950s furniture and accessories. Although I can definitely see someone saying yep, but where would I have actually kept it all these years?

Would be fun to peek in on these same couples 10 years from now and see if they still feel the same.

[Zoe Girl]

i think it is great, i have a small space and am in gen X age range, and it is so hard to keep the door shut against everything entire family tries to send me. i up cycle clothes so i get even more of all that as well. i love how the article said that younger people have a great sense of style and simply don't want the older stuff they don't need.

i wonder if i can politely send this article to my mother?

[Simplemind]

I'm a boomer and I'm buried under my parents stuff. I'm three years in going through it and trying to unload it. My dad is so upset we don't see this stuff as treasures or even want the house and property. As God is my witness I will never leave our kids this kind of mess.

[sweetana3]

My 90 year old dad was disappointed that none of the kids wanted the "farm" and his new wife could not afford to keep it. But it was HIS dream and not ours and was not in a location that was desireable.

Thankfully none of our relatives have "stuff" that comes to us. We have enough trouble trying to get rid of our own.

[ctg492]

I have been absorbing all of the changes in generations because it is in my face this week. My 27 year old and soon to be wife came to visit and I never met her before and have not seen him in a really long time. They are grown adults and have thoughts on topics, wants and needs, likes and dislikes, far from ours. Still all good solid ideas and values, just not like "we would have done it", I can hear my folks says that and probably their folks.

[ctg492]

Simplemind, I hear you! I am dealing with my Mom's stuff and Dad will pass the rest on to me. I have learned so much from this event and I swear I won't do this to my kids.

[Chicken lady]

My dd is almost 23. She and her s.o. 24 moved into a duplex this week. they came by and happily carried off anything functional we would give them. chests, slightly broken futon couch, folding chairs, stool, lamp, a dreadful wobbly table I've been using for crafts for years. s.o. is very handy and an artist and dd has already built herself a bed and a desk from scrap wood, so I imagine when we next see the furniture it will have been upcycled.

What they don't want is "stuff" - tablecloths or placemats, candle holders, curtains, cookie jars, baskets, anything purely "decorative". Also games, books, music - it's all digital.

My mil hates our taste in everything and the fact that I love cheap, durable, and used. She has this plan that in 13 years when she and fil move to assisted living dh and I can retire and move ten hours away from our friends and kids to take over their farm. She actually thinks this will make me happy because it's fully fenced - with electric strand for horses, I have goats - and full of nice things, which we can mostly keep, since we own almost nothing worth moving.

I have a farm. not moving.

[ApatheticNoMore]

What they don't want is "stuff" - tablecloths or placemats, candle holders, curtains, cookie jars, baskets, anything purely "decorative".

curtains are purely decorative? Not to block the light in the bedroom from waking you up, and the neighbors from peeking in all the time? Baskets I use as storage/organization type purposes (for useful things for the most part - the most part, a little of it could probably go). But I could see how if you didn't use them this way they might be purely decorative.

[Chicken lady]

We don't have curtains at my house because the neighbors are livestock and most of the year if the light wakes you up, you overslept. My kids have rentals with blinds. but "anything purely decorative" was meant to be the last category on the list, not a description of the others. I use most of the other things on the list. they don't.

[TxZen]

When my mom passed, my sister cleaned out the townhouse of a lot of stuff. Thing is, she has no kids, so I don't know who this will all be passed onto. I think they took it in hopes of getting $$$$ for things. Whatever!!! I think they stuff should have been sold and the money divided up between us 3 kids but ya know, I am the crazy, fair one. :)