Young adults in the U.S. are experiencing a very different trajectory than their parents, with more of them hitting key milestones later in life and also taking on more debt, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
A majority of young adults say they remain financially dependent on their parents to some extent, such as receiving help paying for everything from rent to their mobile phone bills. Only about 45% of 18- to 34-year-olds described themselves as completely financially independent from their parents, the study found.
Not surprisingly, the younger members of the group, those 18 to 24, are the most likely to rely on their folks for financial support, with more than half relying on their parents to help take care of basic household expenses. But a significant share of 30- to 34-year-olds also need assistance, with almost 1 in 5 saying their parents provide aid for their household bills.
More broadly, the survey offers a portrait of a generation that’s struggling with debt in a way that their parents did not, with more of them shouldering student loans and, for those who own a home, larger mortgages than their parents had at their age. But the analysis also showed that young adults expressed optimism about their futures, with 3 in 4 who are currently financially dependent on their parents saying they believe they’ll eventually reach independence.
You honestly piss me off because I have a mystery disease and have not eaten solid food for five months. I live on Ensure and Gatorade. The fact that you can choose to eat want you wanted but don’t?
And sure, I’ve lost weight too. And I was overweight. I’m now within 10 pounds of my ideal weight according to my BMI. I don’t get to go to the Mayo Clinic until the end of March. I will be underweight by then. Possibly significantly- my weight loss amount tends to fluctuate, but it can be over a pound a day sometimes. Hoo-fucking-ray. Oh yeah, also I’m not spending much on food BECAUSE I CAN’T FUCKING EAT IT.
(Please no medical advice. If I’m going to the Mayo Clinic, you don’t have the answer.)
I’m far from alone even with people who don’t have mystery diseases. There are plenty of people on severe dietary restrictions because of their health who would love to do nothing more than eat a large pizza or a burger, something they will never be able do to again for the rest of their lives.
Go eat some real food. Because you can.
I haven’t been so annoyed in a while.
I upset you because… I found a sustainable way to eat better without breaking the bank, and I’m now healthy for it? I’m sorry that you have to deal with whatever you’re dealing with; nobody deserves to live in a universe where their body rejects common foods. I’m not a doctor don’t worry; I have no medical advice for you. I do have some philosophical advice though. You should look within to figure out why you’re mad at me; I’m not your enemy.
You upset me because you could eat whatever you want and instead live on nutrition shakes when, not just me, but a huge number of people wish they had the choice you did. And wouldn’t brag about it.
I cannot “eat whatever I want”. Eating whatever I wanted lead me to be 375lbs. Since I cannot eat whatever I want, I choose to eat something convenient, easy to count, and inexpensive to obtain. I live a life closer to yours than you think, constantly wishing I could eat whatever I desired and remain healthy. I brag about it because for me it’s hard to choose to do the right thing, and I make the right choice every day, multiple times a day.
An alcoholic should be proud to brag about being 8 years sober, shouldn’t they?
Okay, you’re right. I apologize.
We’re all in this world together dude/dudette/dudelse, I truly wish you the best and hope you get whatever you’ve got figured out. I’m glad we found some common ground; that’s what this place (is? should be?) all about!