Millennials grew up in a world where not all technological innovations were at their fingertips. Their childhood was spent playing with beaters in the yard rather than with a smartphone in their hand – although research shows that nowadays the average millennial rarely leaves their touchscreen phone and is very active in social media. The report “OMG!, or how to talk to Polish millennials” prepared by Odyseja Public Relations and Mobile Institute a few years ago showed that 66 percent younger and 60 percent older millennials use smartphones every day. Besides, nowadays it would be hard not to do it.
Generation Y is a social group that draws many of its life values from its parents’ generation, but also successfully resists many stereotypes and established patterns. Millennials are much more aware when it comes to issues such as mental health and therapy, and they are also more likely to choose a childless family model – unlike their parents.
Generation Y. Who are the millennials? These are today’s 30- and 40-year-olds
They also have a completely different attitude to work, they do not intend to work hard for pennies like their older “colleagues”. Although, of course, they are not on par with Generation Z. “Zets” are currently the most conscious social group when it comes to fighting for workers’ rights, and in turn are considered by employers to be the most demanding.
However, the lives of today’s 30- and 40-year-olds are full of difficulties. Some of them already have a family and often rent an apartment on loan or simply rent it. They work, often hold higher positions, some are in the process of changing industries. And it goes without saying that the costs of everyday living are rising at an astonishing pace. We live in times of high inflation, and socio-political events in the world are also, to put it mildly, not optimistic.
According to our interlocutors, millennials – in the face of rampant prices, rising costs of living, etc. – have mastered saving to perfection. Although, of course, not everyone. They admit that things are often not rosy and that studying and working full-time, which they had previously dreamed of, did not turn out to be a dream come true, neither personal nor financial.
Millennials need to save. “When the bill comes, he will die with his shoes on”
Kamila thanks heaven for photovoltaics. Without it, the electricity to power a house outside the city alone costs several thousand PLN per year. There is also gas. – Here you have to be disciplined and regularly overpay a few hundred a month, because when the bill comes once every six months, it will die, I can’t make a few thousand out of thin air – he notes.
The last time she went to the hairdresser was in 2021, when she wanted bangs. – That’s the advantage of waist-length hair, you don’t have to do anything with it except wash it – she laughs.
Shopping for a family of four is a driving school. What cost PLN 200 in total before the pandemic now costs PLN 400. Savings? Nothing of that. Maybe now that the loan has been paid off, we will be able to save something
– he adds.
“I started wondering if I should buy new shoes”
Karolina recently turned 30, she has a husband and two children. – It cannot be denied that if it were not for my husband, we would probably have no savings. I don’t consider myself a spendthrift person, but I do spend a lot of money. Of course, this is also due to the fact that we have children who have their own needs, extracurricular activities, and sometimes they just want to go to the store for new clothes. Nevertheless, my eyes opened wide when my husband created us an Excel spreadsheet that showed me how much life costs us. The amount terrified me, our interlocutor recalls.
After that, I started to wonder much more often whether I needed a given item and whether I needed to go to the hairdresser, get my nails done and buy new shoes in one month. However, I think our financial situation is really good considering that we are 30 years old and have children
– judges.
“Coffee out and ordering food once a week” is rule number 1
Iza, in turn, always tries to adapt to the situation. He says he doesn’t like to complain, but lately it’s been hard not to. – Everyone has been complaining about expenses and prices lately, so I’m contributing too. My friends who earn much more than me also complain, so sometimes I come to the conclusion that there is probably no amount of money that would guarantee a peaceful life in Poland right now, she notes.
So in the last two years I have been living more frugally. I have rules: Uber once a week, coffee out once a week, ordering food once a week. I didn’t think about it at all before…
– he recalls. To save money, she gave up Netflix, HBO and several other platforms. She renews them once, only when a title that interests her appears. Previously, it happened that she didn’t watch anything for months, and the fee disappeared from her account every month.
It’s sad that I’m older, I work honestly, and I can save less than as a person fresh out of college. But it’s a sick country, we’ve been ruled by losers for the last eight years and they made it so expensive while talking all the time about some imaginary prosperity.
– he adds angrily.
Millennials talk about their problems. “I can’t afford my own apartment”
Ala, as she says herself, is a 100% millennial. He saves on everything he can. Reason? – I see this money disappearing at an extremely fast rate. And I’m getting older! – says.
Meanwhile, I cannot afford my own apartment, I am faced with the dilemma of whether to sell my car and buy a more economical and cheaper one. I’d rather buy food for my animals than spend money on something stupid
– he announces. And he adds that he “knows where he’s losing money.” – I spend it on travel. This is my joy in life, but I try to spend as little as possible on it. No “olekskjuzmi”, more like a cheap hotel, as long as there are no rats – he specifies.
But he saves on other things. – I go to the hairdresser once every six months (thank you for my curly hair, where no roots are visible), I do my nails myself, and I haven’t been to a beautician for over a year. I gave up many amenities that I could have had. When I have to go to the doctor, I hold my head. For example, I have a dentist appointment next week and I’m already nervous, she confides.
“I have to work 14 hours a day to earn money for the holidays”
Ala runs her own B2B business. She pays ZUS, taxes and settles taxes herself. – I spend so much on these types of fees every month that I cry. This is sick. Moreover, as an entrepreneur, I felt like a thief during the years of the previous government. Now I feel like a failure because everyone is threatening AI and that copywriters, journalists and graphic designers will soon be out of work… so I’m panicking. It’s great, no worries! – he says.
Marta has a similar opinion on this subject. He says he doesn’t have to look far for an example. – And that’s sad. I have to work 12-14 hours a day to be able to afford a dream vacation once a year, live a decent everyday life and have any plans for my own home. I wouldn’t even be able to pay rent on the salary of one full-time job. Let alone the rest. Yes, it’s nice – he sums up ironically.
However, not all of our interlocutors are skeptical. According to Małgosia, who comes from the end of her generation, it’s not that bad at all. In fact, it completely disagrees with its predecessors. – My husband and I are both millennials and we work, we have a home loan, we pay it off and we live well. Our parents helped us with our own contribution. Before we picked up the apartment, we had already bought almost everything needed to prepare it, he says.
We waited for them for two years, and in the meantime I was hunting for promotions on equipment, panels, wardrobes, etc. We cannot afford luxuries, but we are not poor either. I am quite a frugal person, the Too Good To Go app is my faithful friend. I buy clothes, chemicals and things – whatever I can get them – on promki. My husband is not a thrifty soul, but thanks to this we complement each other
– he adds finally with a smile.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
