I recently came across an article called “14 Things Boomers can learn from Millennials and Gen Zers”. Some of the list was helpful but I feel that some items were myths and would prove divisive among the generations. So, let me set the record straight.
- Respect Your Juniors – Don’t look now but Boomers have a lot of respect for millennials and gen zers because of how much more they have to deal with in today’s world. Boomers went through trying times also but we didn’t have the added pressure of social media. We don’t envy them, we sympathize, especially because these generations are our children and grandchildren.
- Pay With P2P Mobile Apps – This suggestion assumes that we don’t appreciate the simplicity and convenience of using these apps. We do appreciate it but we don’t appreciate 2% in fees and the possibility of no refunds. It’s a choice – not criticism.
- Avoid Revolving Debt – There is no need to tell us this – we learned this a long time ago – especially in college. If we have credit card debt its because retirees are on a fixed income and this is the only way to pay for needed medications or other necessities. Even if we have not retired yet, chances are we are carrying debt from the expenses incurred during our life experiences, i.e. mortgages, our children’s college education, house maintenance, etc. Also, we tried to teach this to our children and grandchildren so that they can manage their debt better than we did.
- Be Politically Active – Baby boomers have been influential in politics their whole lives. From electing JFK, supporting Rosa Parks, participating in Dr. King’s March on Washington and the passing of the Civil Rights Act, just to name a few. We practically invented political activism and we don’t need lessons.
There were some good suggestions in the article, such as volunteer your time, practice tolerance, be nice online and develop multiple revenue streams. However, these are good suggestions for all generations.
You can read the article here and decide for yourself https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/14-things-boomers-can-learn-from-millennials-and-gen-zers/ss-AAT0Phd?li=BBnbcA0&fullscreen=true#image=5
ourboomerworld.com 