The Greatest Gift My Parents Gave Me"

 

The USA Today article on generational wealth highlights the stark contrast in financial realities between baby boomers and younger generations. While millennials and Gen Z face mounting challenges—rising housing costs, student debt, and job market instability—many boomers benefited from an economy that allowed them to build wealth more easily. However, the article misses an important point: the values and work ethic passed down by the older generation often hold as much value as financial inheritance.

My parents are a perfect example. My father, a 25-year Navy veteran turned truck driver, and my mother, an in-home daycare provider, lived a frugal and disciplined life. Despite their modest means, they not only raised my siblings and me but also became surrogate parents to 30% of our friends, offering them the stability and structure their homes lacked. Family dinners, curfews, and expectations of passing grades gave us all a foundation that far outweighed material wealth.

My mother, one of ten children, and my father, one of three, came from very different upbringings. Yet, they aligned on one goal: retiring debt-free. My dad gave my mom a retirement date, and she made it happen. Together, they paid off their home, lived without credit card debt, and set a financial example that continues to inspire me. Their real gift wasn’t wealth in the traditional sense—it was the ethic of hard work, resilience, and stepping up to face life’s challenges.

Younger generations may not always inherit financial security, but we can inherit values that empower us to create our own. Policymakers and businesses must address systemic inequities, but the lessons of frugality, discipline, and community from older generations can also bridge the gap. After all, wealth isn’t just measured in dollars—it’s in the legacy of resilience and purpose.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/18/boomers-wealth-money-millennials-gen-z/77779320007/