Prior to leaving campus for the summer my daughter asked me to come visit so I could go apartment hunting with her.
Much to my surprise, every apartment complex she liked at had a pool and fitness center. The landscaping was impeccable and some were gated communitities---which means a security guard had to approve your entrance. Rent ranged from $595 to $800.
My, how college life has changed!
My first apartment in college was on the upper floor of a two bedroom house. It wasn't in the best condition but it was liveable and it was quiet. It had a stove and refrigerator but no fancy carpet and certainly no pool in the back yard. My fitness workout was the distance I had to walk from my apartment to campus. My rent was $100/mo plus utilities.
OK, so that was more than 30 years ago and I do understand the cost of living and all but what happened to the little mom and pop landlords who just want to help out students who are trying to advance in life? Do they exist anymore?
But then I thought maybe that's not the issue. Maybe my daughter didn't seek them out because she has become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. She has never known what "second hand" is or had to live in a less than desireable home. She grew up with a country club mentality because of her parents.
I believe we, as baby boomer parents, have to look at ourselves when it comes to how our children are growing up. Many young people today feel a sense of entitlement. Why? Because we have given it to them. A lot of them have no clue as to what it's like to struggle for anything because we constantly provide for them---even to a fault.
To my daughter's credit though, she does have a job and has been operating on a budget. She is also mindful of the fact that she has a son for whom she must provide for.
By the end of our apartment hunting, she came to the conclusion that she needed to give it more thought and work out a financial plan.
Pretty smart for a young lady who came from a country club mentality.
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3 comments:
Bev,
I'm like you - my first apartment was in the attic of an old house in Akron Ohio and my exercise program was trudging up and down the 3 flights of stairs. and look where we are now!
Kathy
Congrats that you have taught her the value of a dollar. And you must have been listening to my radio show...a common theme for me. Kids have to taught that not everything comes easy or they will not be able to survive in the real world. In fact, there is one school of thought that that is the reason so many young people are on mood altering meds--they cannot cope with the real world when they move out of the fairy tale world of mom's house.
She may have a country club mentality, but she has her mother's sense of reason, and is maturing more every day. You've done a good job, Beverly.
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