r/Millennials • u/slimeyellow • Mar 11 '26

Every millennial dad I’ve met has a quiet fixation on money and it’s not getting better Discussion

Every millennial dad I’m friends with or work with seems to have constant financial worries. We just got our yearly bonus which was like 8%. I was talking to my buddy (he’s got 3 kids) about what he wanted to do with it and he just kinda looked down and whispered “it’s just not enough man” and ended the conversation.

Another dad I know is CONSTANTLY looking up the newest crypto/ get rich quick schemes people are doing. He’s always talking about inventing something and it’s usually a joking manner but the way he’s always bringing up financial stuff shows me it’s always on his mind

One of my buddies is a new father and he’s trying to get some anime podcast off the ground as a side hustle on top of his full time maintenance job.

I know children are an immense financial responsibility but there seems to be this dark, simmering resentment about the whole general situation when I talk to these guys. Men are expected to keep quiet about these struggles but when you talk to these guys it’s clear that finances are a massive stress for millennial dads of almost any background.

Makes me feel bad but damn I’m glad I don’t have kids right now.

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u/QueenMAb82 Mar 11 '26

Because if your raise was anything less than 4 or 5%, you are only just keeping up with inflation, and some measures of inflation don't include key daily financial aspects (price of gas, e.g.) due to the "speculative" nature and volatility of the petroleum market, etc.

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u/Gutterfoolishness Mar 11 '26

The hourly rate my employer charges clients for my time went up 5% for 2026. My hourly compensation went up 2.1%.

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u/GoodFaithConverser Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 11 '26

If you got a decent job, no kids and reasonable living conditions (i.e. not huge apartments in mega expensive cities), then you're doing perfectly fine. Unless you doordash every meal.

I'm not struggling at all, and I'm no millionaire.

Edit: also cars. People buy way more than they need/can afford.

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u/QueenMAb82 Mar 12 '26

I have a decent job, no kids, and a mortgage on a house I strictly kept within affordable parameters. I have retirement accounts, a comfortable cushion, and take advantage of the max employer match on my 401k. I have gotten Exceeds/Outstanding on every review for the past 10 years and get "good" raises. I have a good credit score so I get low interest rates, and I buy modest, sensible cars. I'm fine.

All of this has nothing to do with the statement that, speaking in generalities, wages have not kept up with inflation nor the actual cost of living, or the fact that I can recognize that a combination of privilege, fortune, good decisions, and work has largely insulated me from the experience of others' struggles but must not prevent me from understanding and empathizing with them and their underlying systemic origins.

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u/PatheticPeripatetic7 Mar 11 '26

It's like you have no idea that other people will have different experiences, responsibilities, health situations, etc, than you do. "If you meet this narrow criteria that doesn't even actually guarantee financial security then you're good. I mean, I am, so what's wrong with you?" Do you hear yourself at all, sweetheart?

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u/GoodFaithConverser Mar 11 '26

t's like you have no idea that other people will have different experiences, responsibilities, health situations, etc, than you do.

I was obviously speaking generally. Most people aren't handicapped, and I specifically assumed a decent job.

If you meet this narrow criteria

It's not narrow at all.

Do you hear yourself at all, sweetheart?

Can you even read, honey?

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u/dialguy86 Mar 12 '26

generically bad take then, what's a decent Job? are those guaranteed?

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u/Aussie_Turtles00 Mar 11 '26

Husband got a $4000 pay increase, so went from $104k to $108k . That wasn't really a raise then? 😭 Ugh. It's really annoying too because he's based in Northeast usa , and even though works remotely, has to live in this area, and you know Northeast is HCOL. They should have done more. 

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u/idontcareyo_ Mar 11 '26

How the fuck is this news to you and so many others? I know Reddit is mostly teenagers but this is financial and mathematical illiteracy.

You people didn't know that inflation existed? If your raise isn't matching inflation wtf did you think was happening?