[lawgirl]

I think that materialism is our generation's problem (Xer here..12.28.74 birthday FWIW). We were the first generation raised really on the designer label-- we all had to have Guess jeans and that stupid horse on our shirts and grew up idolizing "Friends". Life is not a Friends episode. It's hard-and it's a wake up call to realize that you have to work hard for what you have and it's not all going to be given to you.

The one thing that I also see is wealthy boomers leaving it all to our generation--this generation sees that and combined with our expensive taste and few of us are doing much saving I think.

[dakine]

The 20s' had their must wear clothes, 50s/60s also, etc...

Every generation believes they have discovered something new...

[birbear]

I think that materialism is our generation's problem (Xer here..12.28.74 birthday FWIW).

From what I've seen (I'm an Xer, too [1/10/1971]) Xer's had more pressure put on them to achieve more in a shorter amount of time than previous generations. Materialism may have been a cause of that. (Most Xers I know have Boomer parents. They left their parent's home and immediately felt it necessary to have the latest and greatest because that's what they left. It was "necessary" to have the 46" TV, the DVD player, the higher end furniture, higher end car, etc.) Most Xer homes I visit are decorated better than my parents. (And my parents were the "in between" Generation. They were born during WWII, so they were pre-boomer, but post-depression.)

It's no surprise that if you visit mental hospitals today, a good portion of the clientele are Xers. Burned out at 30. Most are trying to live life like a 45-50 year old, at 25-30.

And Generation Y is even worse. My best friend's brother is 22. He's in grad school (bio engineering) and holding down two jobs, so he can afford better computer equipment than his dad. He already drives a Cadillac. And he's quite the clothes horse -- designer everything. He'll be in therapy before he's 30, too, I bet.

[Tamar1973]

We were the first generation raised really on the designer label-- we all had to have Guess jeans and that stupid horse on our shirts....

We are NOT the first generation with "designer" clothes. Although we might be the first generation to make neon a fashion statement.

[ECM]

Good post. I pretty much echo those sentiments ('74 baby here, too).