A little of a hijack from jeep pricing, but this is very true. I easily made an extra $20,000 a year for several years working overtime hours that the newer employees refused to work. I dont say that as a dig on generations, what you choose to spend your time on is your business, but the group I heard complaining the most about not having money was also the same ones who let the "old guys" work their overtime.....usually as they were drinking an $8 latte & leaning on the fender of an $80,000 vehicle. It was to the point that the employer figured it wouldnt be long and there would be no overtime because they couldn't get anyone to come in on a day off or beyond an 8hr shift. Also, many of the new hires were trying to opt out of the retirement plan so they could use that money to pay current bills, there is a generation out there that could use some financial planning. Go to the grocery store, fast food place etc and tell me if its all young employees trying to earn a living vs retired people still showing up to supplement their income.
I'm 52 and pretty much retired from a govt gig with the exception of picking up some occasional construction work, when I left alot of the younger employees razzed me figuring I got a big bag of money from a dead relative or something, kind of insulting. I have been in the work force since I was 15yo, was out the door at 18 with a car and apartment i paid for with my own earned money, and going to school on money i earned, always had more than one job, for the past 28yrs worked 50-60+hrs a week on my main job and 8-24hr a week on side jobs and lived within my budget. My dad is an 80yr old cancer survivor and still works 30hrs a week hanging windows and doors.
There are a few people that fell into easy money, but frustrating that such a broad brush is used to generalize anyone over age 45. If you are over the age of 18 and still live at home, driving a vehicle mom & dad paid for, attending college that mom and dad are paying for, misc expenses like cell phone on mom and dads plan health care etc......it might not be $100 bills of free money handed over, but definitely money you are spending that you didnt earn.