Boomers love to remind millennials and Gen Z that they “had it tough.” And sure, in some ways, they did — no smartphones, no remote work, no Wi-Fi.

But in many other ways, they had something far more valuable: opportunity.

They came of age in an era where hard work actually led to upward mobility. Wages rose alongside productivity. College degrees were affordable. Housing wasn’t a financial death sentence. You could get sick without going bankrupt.

So when a boomer says one of these “back in my day” phrases, they might not realize just how privileged their generation really was.

Let’s break down 10 of the most common boomer statements — and the modern reality behind them.

1. “I bought my first house when I was 25.”

That’s great. Truly. But it was also possible.

In the 1970s, the average home in the U.S. cost less than four times the average annual salary. Today, it’s closer to eight to ten times.

Back then, you could buy a three-bedroom home on a single income — often with money you’d saved from your entry-level job.

Today, millennials with master’s degrees are living with roommates, paying rent that rivals mortgage payments, and struggling to save even a small down payment.

It’s not that young people don’t want houses — it’s that they’re priced out of the system that boomers benefited from.

2. “If you just work hard, you’ll get ahead.”

This one might have been true once. But not anymore.

Boomers entered the workforce during one of the most prosperous economic booms in modern history. Real wages were rising, pensions were common, and a stable job could last decades.

Now, working hard often just means surviving.

Salaries haven’t kept up with inflation. Benefits have shrunk. Job security has vanished. And many millennials are working two or three gigs just to make ends meet.

Hard work still matters — but it doesn’t guarantee stability the way it used to.

Boomers mistake our exhaustion for laziness, when really, it’s the fatigue of running on a treadmill that keeps speeding up.

3. “You’re wasting money on coffee and takeout.”

This is the all-time classic — the “avocado toast” argument that refuses to die.

Sure, buying fewer lattes might save a few hundred bucks a year. But that doesn’t fix the $300,000 house price increase or the student loan debt crisis.

Boomers didn’t have to choose between a morning coffee and financial survival — they could afford both.

And let’s be honest: they had their own luxuries too. They just weren’t under the same economic microscope.

Millennials aren’t broke because of $5 lattes. We’re broke because we’re navigating a system that rewards corporations while punishing workers.

4. “We didn’t have it easy either.”

No one’s saying boomers didn’t work hard or face challenges. But “not easy” and “structurally advantageous” aren’t the same thing.

Yes, boomers dealt with recessions, inflation, and uncertainty. But they also had unions that protected them, affordable education, and an economy that rewarded loyalty.

Today’s generations are facing student debt, stagnant wages, and housing costs that have skyrocketed faster than any other expense.

The difference isn’t effort. It’s environment.

Boomers played on beginner mode — they just think it was hard because they didn’t know expert mode existed yet.

5. “You kids just need to stop complaining and save.”

This one usually comes right after someone mentions being stressed about rent or retirement.

But saving is a privilege — one that assumes your income exceeds your expenses.

In many cities, rent alone eats up 50% or more of take-home pay. Add groceries, transportation, health insurance, and student loans — and there’s not much left to “save.”

In 1980, you could save for a down payment in a few years. In 2025, it can take decades.

So no, we’re not bad with money — we’re operating in an economy where money doesn’t stretch the way it used to.

6. “College isn’t that expensive — just work while studying like we did.”

This one always gets an eye roll.

When boomers went to college, tuition was a few hundred dollars a semester. Today, it’s tens of thousands.

They could pay for school by working part-time at a diner. We can’t even cover textbooks that way.

The average millennial graduate now leaves university with over $30,000 in student debt. That’s not something you can “work off” over a summer job.

Education hasn’t just become more expensive — it’s become a long-term financial handicap.

Boomers were told college was a ticket to success — and for them, it was. For us, it’s a ticket to debt servitude.

7. “You’re too sensitive — we just got on with it.”

Translation: “We ignored our emotions and now we’re uncomfortable that you don’t.”

Millennials and Gen Z are often accused of being “soft” because we talk about mental health, burnout, and work-life balance.

But awareness isn’t weakness. It’s progress.

Boomers grew up in a culture that equated silence with strength. But that’s how anxiety, trauma, and depression went untreated for decades.

We’re not fragile — we’re just unwilling to pretend that emotional suffering is noble.

Talking about mental health doesn’t make us weaker. It makes us wiser.

8. “You’re lucky to have all this technology.”

Yes, we have more technology. But that doesn’t mean our lives are easier.

Technology has blurred every boundary that used to exist. Work follows us home. Emails never stop. Social media fuels comparison culture and burnout.

Boomers clocked out at 5 PM. Millennials are reachable 24/7.

And while they complain that we’re “addicted to our phones,” it’s worth remembering — those same devices are our offices, our maps, our cameras, and our connection to the world.

Technology hasn’t freed us from work; it’s just made it impossible to escape it.

9. “We earned everything we have — no handouts.”

It’s a comforting myth, but it’s just that — a myth.

Boomers benefited from enormous social and economic tailwinds:

• Affordable education funded by government subsidies.

• Employer pensions and strong unions.

• Cheap housing financed at low interest rates.

• Post-war economic expansion that boosted wages and opportunity.

They inherited a thriving system and were able to build wealth within it. Millennials inherited the debt that kept that system running.

That’s not resentment — it’s math.

So when boomers talk about “handouts,” it’s worth remembering: they were the recipients of the most generous economic handouts in modern history — they just called it “policy.”

10. “Kids today just don’t want to work.”

This one might be the most frustrating of all.

Because if you look around, millennials and Gen Z are working constantly. We’re freelancing, side-hustling, remote working, and gig-economy grinding.

But what’s changed is what we’re willing to tolerate.

We don’t idolize 60-hour workweeks anymore. We don’t buy into the myth that endless sacrifice equals success. We want purpose, fairness, and a life that actually feels worth living.

That’s not laziness — that’s evolution.

And ironically, many boomers raised us to believe we should chase balance, meaning, and authenticity. We just took their advice seriously.

The uncomfortable truth

Boomers aren’t the villains of history. They just grew up during a rare window of opportunity that no longer exists.

They came of age in a world where effort and reward were proportionate — and they assume that world still exists.

But the economy changed. Technology changed. The rules changed.

And while millennials and Gen Z are often painted as “entitled,” what we really are is aware.

We see the inequality. We feel the pressure. And we’re not afraid to talk about it — even if it makes older generations uncomfortable.

So what should boomers understand?

That we’re not ungrateful.
That we’re not lazy.
That we’re not fragile.

We’re simply navigating a version of adulthood they never had to face — one defined by instability, inflation, and a constant sense of economic precarity.

We’re trying to build a future that works not just for us, but for the generations coming next.

And maybe the best thing boomers can do isn’t to lecture us — but to listen.

Because when we say we’re struggling, we’re not making excuses.
We’re describing reality.

And if they can understand that, maybe we can move past the “back in my day” arguments — and start building a world where opportunity isn’t a generational accident, but a shared foundation again.