As a Gen Zer in my early 20s, I’m starting my career and thinking about my future, and money is an important part of that. Many factors have influenced how I view and handle money, like my education, socioeconomic status, and being raised by baby boomers who are first- and second-generation immigrants. I’ve also realized that being raised by older parents has given me a different perspective than that of many of my peers.
There’s so much personal finance advice out there, but as I settle into adult life, I rely more and more on the fundamentals my parents taught me. Though the economy has changed since they were young, my baby boomer parents’ lessons of hard work and the importance of saving still ring true for me today living as an independent young adult.
They encouraged me to work hard
One of the most critical values my parents encouraged — and still do today — is to work hard. I started babysitting as my first job as soon as I could, went on to work part-time jobs in high school, and eventually got full-time jobs during my summer breaks.
Aside from birthday and holiday gifts, the money I saved or spent was money that I worked for. When I went to university, my parents had saved for my tuition (which lasted me a while, thanks to being an only child) and I also applied for scholarships at my school.
When I first started living on my own at 18, my parents would help me if I was ever in a pinch, but most of the money to pay rent and bills was that which I saved. Nothing was ever handed to me. This encouragement to learn how to manage what I earn and work hard is a value that extends not just to the number in my bank account but to my work ethic and career.
They taught me to save what I earned
It’s undisputed that saving money is smart, and it’s true that you can find this particular financial advice anywhere. But this is another one of the key money lessons my baby boomer parents taught me. It can’t be overstated how easy it is to spend these days any time you walk out your door, and this is a fundamental practice, regardless of how obvious it may be.
Ever since I can remember, when I received money as a kid, my parents would encourage me to save it. I even saved up enough and bought our family dog with my own money when I was eight. This practice of saving and reflecting before spending shaped my perception of money as something valuable, finite, and worth safeguarding.
I learned from watching their relationship with money
Observing my parents’ relationship with money and their reflectiveness when it came to spending throughout my childhood has also shaped my consumption patterns. For example, eating out at restaurants was a rarity growing up, an added expense saved for special occasions or travel — including fast food (though that may not have been entirely about money). It wasn’t until I moved out that I realized how normalized dining out or picking up food is. But often, for my parents, it came down to the good old excuse, “We have this at home.”
I also began formally managing my personal finances at a young age. I opened my first checking account when I was 13. I distinctly remember going to the branch with my mom and getting my first debit card. Going through this banking process at a young age gave me the independence to monitor how I was handling my money and learn how to navigate the basics of financial literacy as a teen.
Being economical often gets a bad rap, but I think it’s one of the most valuable money habits my baby boomer parents instilled in me, especially given the cost of living today. Now that I’m older and have more expenses, my experience and relationship with money influenced by my baby boomer parents have hopefully set me up for success.
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