Every generation loves to think it’s got it all figured out. Boomers, with their decades of life experience, often feel the need to pass on advice. That wouldn’t be a problem if some of that advice didn’t sound like it was trapped in 1974. Gen Z and Millennials are working with a whole different set of rules, and what worked back then just doesn’t land today.
This isn’t about disrespecting older folks. It’s about calling out advice that’s out of touch, outdated, or just plain wrong. Young people are tired of hearing things that overlook the significant changes in the job market, economy, relationships, and even housing. So, if you’re a Boomer, maybe skip being a life coach the next time you want to play one.
Just Get Any Job to Get Your Foot in the Door
Sure, a starter job makes sense. However, this advice often leads young workers into unpaid internships or low-wage positions with little to no clear future. It also ignores how hard it is to “move up” in toxic work environments. A better question is: what kind of door are we opening here? Some doors lead nowhere. Young workers deserve more than busy work and blind hope.
Work Hard And You’ll Be Rewarded
This sounds great until you realize wages have been nearly flat for decades. According to Pew Research, real wages for most U.S. workers haven’t grown meaningfully since 1978. Meanwhile, costs for education, healthcare, and housing have skyrocketed. Working hard is admirable, but it no longer guarantees financial success. Telling young people this feels less like encouragement and more like ignoring reality.
You Just Need to Stick With One Company
Boomers often preach company loyalty. But that’s not how today’s job market works. A Pew Research report found that job switchers earned more than those who stayed in their current roles. Most young workers jump jobs not because they’re flaky, but because that’s how you get better pay, opportunities, and benefits. Loyalty can be a trap if it keeps you underpaid and undervalued.
Buy a House as Soon as You Can
That advice worked when homes cost less than three years’ salary. However, in 2024, the median U.S. home price exceeds $400,000, while the median annual income is approximately $59,000. According to the National Association of Realtors, first-time homebuyers made up just 24% of sales in 2024, the lowest share since the association began tracking this data. Telling young people to “just buy” without acknowledging these numbers is tone-deaf at best.
Stop Wasting Money on Coffee and Avocado Toast
It’s a joke at this point. Young adults aren’t broke because of lattes. A CNBC report showed that Millennials are behind in savings, largely due to student debt and high living expenses, not brunch. Skipping coffee won’t fix a system where rent eats half your paycheck. This advice might sound frugal, but it’s wildly misplaced.
College Is Always Worth It
Boomers grew up when college was affordable and a degree was almost guaranteed to lead to a good job. That’s no longer true. Today, the average student loan debt is over $38,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. Many degrees don’t pay off as well as they used to. Young people are increasingly thinking critically about alternatives such as trade schools, apprenticeships, or certifications. Blanket advice like this no longer applies.
If You Can’t Find Work, You’re Not Trying Hard Enough
This one really stings. It implies laziness, when the truth is, the job market can be brutal. The average job posting receives over 250 applications, according to Zippia. It’s not about effort; it’s about overcrowded markets, automation, and employers who want ten years’ experience for entry-level pay. Dismissing someone’s struggle by blaming them doesn’t help. It just shuts down the conversation.
Kids Today Don’t Know How to Save
This is false and unfair. Gen Z actually saves money. A NerdWallet survey found that 28% of Gen Z adults had already established a retirement savings account. They grew up during the Great Recession and the pandemic. They know financial stress intimately. If anything, they’re cautious, not careless. Shaming them for spending occasionally misses the bigger picture.
You Shouldn’t Talk About Money
Boomers were raised to believe that money talks is rude. That silence helps employers, not workers. Today’s generations are changing that by swapping salary info, sharing budgeting tips, and fighting wage gaps. Being open about money isn’t impolite; it’s powerful. It helps people know their worth, avoid scams, and advocate for themselves. Silence never helped anyone get a raise.
Just Wait Until You’re Older, You’ll Understand
This sounds like a way to shut someone up. It assumes young people can’t have valid thoughts or feelings until they’ve aged into them. But Gen Z grew up fast. They’ve lived through 9/11, school shootings, a pandemic, and massive debt loads. They understand a great deal, and often ask better questions than those twice their age. Patronizing them doesn’t build bridges. It burns them.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
How Total Beginners Are Building Wealth Fast in 2025—No Experience Needed
How Total Beginners Are Building Wealth Fast in 2025
I used to think investing was something you did after you were already rich. Like, you needed $10,000 in a suit pocket and a guy named Chad at some fancy firm who knew how to “diversify your portfolio.” Meanwhile, I was just trying to figure out how to stretch $43 to payday.
But a lot has changed. And fast. In 2025, building wealth doesn’t require a finance degree—or even a lot of money. The tools are simpler. The entry points are lower. And believe it or not, total beginners are stacking wins just by starting small and staying consistent.
Click here and let’s break down how.
5 Easy Steps to Change Any Habit
5 Easy Steps to Change Any Habit
We all click on them with the hope that just THIS time the secret to changing a bad habit or adopting a healthy one will be revealed and we’ll finally be able to stick to that diet, stop that one or ten things that might in the moment make us feel temporarily good but really just make us fat, unhealthy, sad, mad or just frustrated with ourselves.
