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Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
Yes and back in the day when you had to walk uphill both ways in 6' snow to milk the cows in the back 90, people didn't have to pay over $100,000 per year if they wanted to be a lawyer when they grew up. In fact, MOST people could afford to go to some kind of secondary school beyond 12th grade, and states had funds with super low interest rates to accommodate those who couldn't afford the cash but whose parents could co-sign for the long-term payback.
Back in the day when minimum wage, combined with 3 roommates, COULD support 4 adults living in a 2-bedroom walkup and allow them to pay all the bills and still have a few coins to toss in the bank. Back in the day, people didn't automatically assume that "independent living" had to mean "owning a nice house in a nice neighborhood and 2 cars." It could mean "renting a modest apartment in a neighborhood that had public transportation to work".
Sadly, many parents of today have taught their children differently. Sadly, those parents were taught by THEIR parents to do things differently. But who were those grandparents? Oh yea - that's right. It's US. And by US I mean people who are currently over 60, who have children, who have children. That wouldn't be me personally since I don't have kids.
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Actually, I did grow up on an 80 acre dairy farm, not 90, carried more 5 gallon buckets of milk to be lifted and poured into the strainer than the people in the lovely scenario above would ever consider doing. If you want the laundry list of all the work I performed on that farm, let me know. I was babysitting for neighbors from the age of 12, worked as a “mother’s helper” in the summer for two years beginning in seventh grade for $15./wk with a day off every other weekend. Our larger family couldn’t afford college back then but we all grew up hardworking, successful and failure wasn’t an option. I personally believe the high school education back then was almost the equivalent of many college educations now. By the way, our children had jobs starting at age 15.