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Comment by Cephlin | Hacker News Reader

I think after 10 years of being an adult and having relatively little money, it's not a question of whether I want a new car or not, it's just the simple matter of not being able to afford one. I can't afford to buy my own home even though I'd be saving money on the mortgage compared to the rent. I can't afford nice holidays even though it suggests I'm more inclined to do that.

I think a better title would be "Millennials aren't cheap, they're just poor..."

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I haven't bothered with a car because they're frankly ridiculous here (Ireland).

I just went looking for an example to put some actual numbers behind this - and I couldn't. I picked the most unassuming car I could think of (a 2006 Nissan Micra, €1500-€2000), and went looking for an insurance quote.

For a 35-year-old on a brand new license, with the dullest, most economical car I could think of - I couldn't find anyone willing to even offer me a quote. They'll let me put myself as a named driver on someone else's policy - but as my family don't live in this country, that's not an option.

Every time I read various articles about various industries complaining that 'millennials' not providing the business they expect from us, I just end up screaming at the monitor.

I won't buy a car because they won't let me. If they won't even allow me to bend over, they can't complain I'm not letting them screw me.

Or maybe owning a home isn't as high a priority for you as it was for earlier generations? So high that you sacrifice a lot of other things, including living in a much more modest place than the one you are renting now?

An argument I have had so many times with the fiancee (both on the older side but still millennial) is that renting means we don't have to deal with the things that can go wrong with a property. Absolute worst case scenario? We can just pack up and move without hiring lawyers and trying to sell a house. She would much prefer to settle and buy a place.

On the flip side of the same coin we don't yet have kids or any real specific ties to the area right now so my opinion may eventually change.

I realise my two data points are opposing and basically cancel each other out. Maybe grouping by "millennial" is too vague.

Nah, man. Real wages are flat to down, housing in areas with jobs is through the roof, and everyone gets a free debt treadmill upon graduation now.

Tastes change and all, but, end of the day, they are poor.

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