In 1986, I was working for $3.35/hr-20 hrs a week- and going to school. With that income, I paid for my apartment, a car payment on a new Honda Accord, my school tuition (in cash, no loan) and for all of my essentials and utilities.
Everyone I knew had a car and happily worked whatever job they could get - restaurant employment, picking tobacco, retail- even selling magazines. EVERYONE had a goal in life - education/trade school, dating, marriage, family.
Now we are flush with lazy gamer stoners and pregnant teenagers who are fat, loudmouthed and worthless.
Correction: I did have a roommate - my childhood best friend - to split housing and utilities. After 2 yrs of that, I did get a job with an airline which paid $12,000/yr which was when I got my first new car.
Not all, but far tooooooooooooooooooo many!
You were making in todays money, $9.85 an hour, working 20 hrs a week and doing all of that?
Kinda obvious that the world has changed and that prices have inflated themselves out of the youth to be able to pull that off again.
Anybody you know working 20hrs a week, paying off college in cash, affording rent and utilities $200 a week?
In 1986 you paid for an apartment, a new car payment, school tuition, and utilities and I assume some food?
On $3.35 per hour or $67 per week or $3,350 per year? In 1986?
Boy in our area that may have worked in 1966. But not in 1986.