Generation Why?

There's a lot being said about Generation Y, about why they are called that.

Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and get my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?

Thing is, the world is a lot different to Gen X times and before. I'm Gen X. When I left school in the late 80's I could walk out of a job on Friday and be in work somewhere else on Monday. People could afford to get on the housing ladder in their 20's. Petrol and insurance was cheaper, and wages more readily reflected the cost of living.

Y don't you get a job? 

$50k in debt on a Uni degree and all the employers want 2 years experience minimum for anything worthwhile and unskilled work still has 100+ people applying for every position. They are between Scylla and Charybdis whatever they choose.

Y don't you leave home and get your own place? 

With the gradual drawdown of the buying power of wages over the last 20 or so years, most Gen Y's are struggling to even get a room in a shared house, let alone get their own place. Utilities are way up, rents are obscene, and the only thing worse than the rents are the house prices!

Y don't you get a car?

Buying, insuring, and running a car has never been more expensive. Driving lessons are a wistful dream to someone who's struggling to buy more than ramen again this week. Public transport costs just keep getting higher as well.

Don't judge people by a standard that no longer exists. This isn't the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, etc.. It's 2015. Things are quite different from how they were when we grew up. If you have to judge, at least try to base it on current conditions, not how it was when you left school.