boomer life UK

[WillyAp]

is life for Boomers in the UK like that?

The 1950s were a good decade to be born in Britain. A newly minted welfare state ensured that your early years were free from squalor. For the lucky few who made it there, university cost nothing. During your peak earning years, taxes plunged thanks to Margaret Thatcher, oil gushing from the North Sea and the restorative effect of the EU’s single market on the sick man of Europe. Rocketing house prices more than compensated for a few years of high interest rates. Defined-benefit pension schemes, then still the norm, ensured that retirement would be prosperous.
Whatever this generation wanted, this generation nearly always got.  ........

source: the economist over https://archive.is/aWdik#selection-1079.0-1093.67

Is it possible that the economist forgot about some classes? 
Or is the UK mainstream really like that ??

[1714485667]

1714485667

[1714485667]

1714485667

[Poker Player]

In general, the 50's and 60's were economically good decades. Europe was rebuilding and growing after WWII, it was a time when the economy was booming, getting a job was easy, and the welfare state took hold. There was an increase in energy consumption and no problem burning fossil fuels, the middle class grew, could buy more consumer goods and travel.

[Reatim]

This phase of history in britain was described as the golden age
however it must be noted that this only applies to some people.
Of course there are still economic classes. Those in higher classes
are the only ones who can go to universities despite it being free.

Not only does it not consider economic classes but also race classes. There
are still aftermath of slavery and racism are still very much prevalent.

[Kelward]

Economic boom is determined by the standard of living of the average income earners, so if the good life that economist talked about was only enjoyed by the rich, then it doesn't determine what the UK economy was then, but if the average income earners were enjoying those privileges then it's something to be missed. It might not be possible to enjoy such economic privileges in this present day because population has doubled many times over since then, including immigrants that are entering UK in their high numbers now. We're living in the age of do it yourself, so if you want the good life, then you'd need to earn it without relying on the state.

[DeathAngel]

I think UK boomers are like most Western First World country boomers. Those who are lucky to have good health live a very nice, comfortable life. They retired at a normal age, don’t have to work until they’re near dead to pay bills & they bought their home like 40-50 years ago for far, far less than it is currently worth. In many ways it’s so much harder for young people to succeed than it was for boomers.

[Spaceman1000$]

I think UK boomers are like most Western First World country boomers. Those who are lucky to have good health live a very nice, comfortable life. They retired at a normal age, don’t have to work until they’re near dead to pay bills & they bought their home like 40-50 years ago for far, far less than it is currently worth. In many ways it’s so much harder for young people to succeed than it was for boomers.

I feel this boom wasn't only in the UK, I've heard of similar stories in my country Nigeria where the older generation people use to talk about the good old days they use to enjoy, where they basically got free education, affordable social amenities life then general was easy for them. I feel maybe they had fewer population then and government could easy budget for the people.  Currently I think population growth has skyrocketed and government on their own side are trying to fend for the huge population we have at hand.

[Fortify]

is life for Boomers in the UK like that?

The 1950s were a good decade to be born in Britain. A newly minted welfare state ensured that your early years were free from squalor. For the lucky few who made it there, university cost nothing. During your peak earning years, taxes plunged thanks to Margaret Thatcher, oil gushing from the North Sea and the restorative effect of the EU’s single market on the sick man of Europe. Rocketing house prices more than compensated for a few years of high interest rates. Defined-benefit pension schemes, then still the norm, ensured that retirement would be prosperous.
Whatever this generation wanted, this generation nearly always got.  ........

source: the economist over https://archive.is/aWdik#selection-1079.0-1093.67

Is it possible that the economist forgot about some classes? 
Or is the UK mainstream really like that ??

Everyone sees golden years as some time in the past, many generations before them and in some ways they were. However each generation had its perks and difficulties, people in that era were born in a time after a global war had devastated everything around them and required a lot of rebuilding - that meant that there were plenty more opportunities to start something new. It was the same all over the world however, not necessarily a unique situation to the UK. Globalization has made things a lot more competitive, but also allowed people to own things for a lot cheaper and it has made it easier to outsource certain jobs to other places. For people who lose jobs it might not feel great, but the theory is that they are freed up to do more productive work at that point.

[rodskee]

I think UK boomers are like most Western First World country boomers. Those who are lucky to have good health live a very nice, comfortable life. They retired at a normal age, don’t have to work until they’re near dead to pay bills & they bought their home like 40-50 years ago for far, far less than it is currently worth. In many ways it’s so much harder for young people to succeed than it was for boomers.

many of those in the older generation always like to compare their experiences with the
experiences of the new generations it even appeared as if new generations can not complain
\because they had everything worse than the newer generations.

but actually, everything is much more expensive these days hence why it appears to
be harder to become wealthy considering student debts and etc

[WillyAp]

but actually, everything is much more expensive these days hence why it appears to
be harder to become wealthy considering student debts and etc

Well while at it I did not really enjoy the hardships I went through, but those made possible to be the person I'm now. When young you lack experience, that experience makes choices much more easier and real.

The consequences of slipping is a good example. You need money to advance, when having a little it is very easy to blow through it.
Saving money is an art form. Wallets were the right step. Most people confuse crypto with trading. 

[davis196]

is life for Boomers in the UK like that?

The 1950s were a good decade to be born in Britain. A newly minted welfare state ensured that your early years were free from squalor. For the lucky few who made it there, university cost nothing. During your peak earning years, taxes plunged thanks to Margaret Thatcher, oil gushing from the North Sea and the restorative effect of the EU’s single market on the sick man of Europe. Rocketing house prices more than compensated for a few years of high interest rates. Defined-benefit pension schemes, then still the norm, ensured that retirement would be prosperous.
Whatever this generation wanted, this generation nearly always got.  ........

source: the economist over https://archive.is/aWdik#selection-1079.0-1093.67

Is it possible that the economist forgot about some classes? 
Or is the UK mainstream really like that ??

What classes are you talking about? Do you mean the working class?
Why are you writing about this as if it's happening right now? The decades between the 1950s and the 1990s where the time when Great Britain lost it's colonial empire and all the trade privileges and cheap natural resources, that came along with having colonies. The British pound had lost it's dominance in the global finance, even though the London City kept a pretty important role in the financial world. Finding oil and gas in the North Sea really helped the British economy during the 80s and 90s, but it didn't change the fact that Britain has a big national debt. Basically, Britain is a "poor country, that pretends to be rich".
The historical time frame between 1950 and 1990 was a great time for all baby boomers, not just the British baby boomers.

[WillyAp]

What classes are you talking about? Do you mean the working class?

Classes, working class, middle class, upper class,
Your vocabulary and mannerism decides nowadays where you wish to belong.

[JunaidAzizi]

I think UK boomers are like most Western First World country boomers. Those who are lucky to have good health live a very nice, comfortable life. They retired at a normal age, don’t have to work until they’re near dead to pay bills & they bought their home like 40-50 years ago for far, far less than it is currently worth. In many ways it’s so much harder for young people to succeed than it was for boomers.

I feel this boom wasn't only in the UK, I've heard of similar stories in my country Nigeria where the older generation people use to talk about the good old days they use to enjoy, where they basically got free education, affordable social amenities life then general was easy for them. I feel maybe they had fewer population then and government could easy budget for the people.  Currently I think population growth has skyrocketed and government on their own side are trying to fend for the huge population we have at hand.

I agree with you,  I also heard from my older that their old time was too good.  I think they were missing their young age but in reality, they were missing the good economy of a state.  I think at that time the population was too small because of the two greats wars and when the government was established it was easier to give all the necessaries of life at a very cheap price and job as well but in today's time the population is too high and of course, immigrants is also a big challenge so it is very difficult to provide a job to every person but if a state is not able to provide the job then what will we do a common man?

[Volimack]

Many boomers came of age during the postwar boom in housing and education in Europe and North America, and grew up genuinely hoping the world would improve over time. Those with higher standards of living and educational levels are often the most demanding of improvements. Boomers are the single largest group in their societies causing sub replacement fertility and population aging in some developed countries.

[kentrolla]

Those were past and we are not gonna have this earlier again as there were jobs easily available abundance but now everything is a struggle and it's hard phase which people are going through nt only in UK but globally and the reason it looks more difficult in UK is the kind of standard of living and the culture which has lived in 50s to 60s were completely wrong.

Those were the period when most of the countries were booming post the WW2.

[WillyAp]

Those were past and we are not gonna have this earlier again as there were jobs easily available abundance but now everything is a struggle and it's hard phase which people are going through nt only in UK but globally and the reason it looks more difficult in UK is the kind of standard of living and the culture which has lived in 50s to 60s were completely wrong.

Those were the period when most of the countries were booming post the WW2.

I think people just complain more and have a platform to do so.
How many influencer love to complain about non-existing hardships?
There are diseases now which could be cured by installing a regime of regularity,  aka circadian rhythm.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm

 

[btc78]

What classes are you talking about? Do you mean the working class?

Classes, working class, middle class, upper class,
Your vocabulary and mannerism decides nowadays where you wish to belong.

I don’t think that’s right lol. Hierarchy of classes are now dependent on an individual’s salary. It usually vary per country but typically there is a set number of us dollars for example that you must earn so that you can be classified in a specific class. Mannerisms and behaviors will not determine your class.

You can act as much as you want as another class but if you do not meet the social requirements to be in that specific class, then there is no point in the end. The only way to jump classes is for you to earn more.

[WillyAp]

I don’t think that’s right lol. Hierarchy of classes are now dependent on an individual’s salary. It usually vary per country but typically there is a set number of us dollars for example that you must earn so that you can be classified in a specific class. Mannerisms and behaviors will not determine your class.
The only way to jump classes is for you to earn more.

I have had quite different experiences, A rich guy with a foul language that is not really someone you classify as upper class.
I recognize that some societies lack finesse though. If in your society that is the way to qualify even a thief can make it?

[Uhwuchukwu53]

Those were past and we are not gonna have this earlier again as there were jobs easily available abundance but now everything is a struggle and it's hard phase which people are going through nt only in UK but globally and the reason it looks more difficult in UK is the kind of standard of living and the culture which has lived in 50s to 60s were completely wrong.

Those were the period when most of the countries were booming post the WW2.

The narrative of this matter as discussed is not far from the truth you have started this was extremely available at period of WW2, allot has changed as the economic hardship hit many nation even The developed countries are not free as the under developed face it higher .

The recession experience's and the pandemic and other global shift this not far from over population which have limited many citizens of access the natural resources.

Boomer issue is not limited to the afamation as others faces similar challenge of limited job and hardship.

[Casdinyard]

is life for Boomers in the UK like that?

The 1950s were a good decade to be born in Britain. A newly minted welfare state ensured that your early years were free from squalor. For the lucky few who made it there, university cost nothing. During your peak earning years, taxes plunged thanks to Margaret Thatcher, oil gushing from the North Sea and the restorative effect of the EU’s single market on the sick man of Europe. Rocketing house prices more than compensated for a few years of high interest rates. Defined-benefit pension schemes, then still the norm, ensured that retirement would be prosperous.
Whatever this generation wanted, this generation nearly always got.  ........

source: the economist over https://archive.is/aWdik#selection-1079.0-1093.67

Is it possible that the economist forgot about some classes? 
Or is the UK mainstream really like that ??

I mean there's a lot of truth regarding the economist's article, and for one, this isn't just the case for UK, pretty much every country out there was in some sort of Financial Golden Age where it's just way easy to earn money and things don't cost a lot, which is what they were probably talking about.

On the same note let me just give you an example, this isn't necessarily an experience of someone in the UK, but from some boomer in the Philippines. Initially her husband died from causes I wouldn't really have enough time to discuss with you, nor is it relevant, and she was shunned by the husband's family, forcing her to move to a different city, with 4 kids and a bachelor's degree. Back then employment wasn't as hard as it is right now, but having 4 kids depending on your attention is a massive toll, so you can't really look for a structured employment. Despite this, she was able to make an honest living out of washing people's clothes, and despite how fucked up the situation is she is still able to buy an 80 sqm house and lot. That's my fucking grandma right there. Now, you try and do that thing in this economy.

[bestcoins1]

I have had quite different experiences, A rich guy with a foul language that is not really someone you classify as upper class.
I recognize that some societies lack finesse though. If in your society that is the way to qualify even a thief can make it?

The phrase you say also has a very deep meaning because thieves who have become rich people can also be highly respected in society. Even though if they are caught they will be punished according to the existing rules, a rich man with foul language usually won't have more relationships to build up so a person like that cannot be relied on by many parties or society. Everyone does have different experiences in their life, but if that experience is more about facing a rich man with foul language, I think it's an experience that is just a waste of time.