Latest news with #Millennials'
Sydney Morning Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
As a Millennial, I've worn Gen Z's jibes with a smile. But this goes too far
What started out with shots about our skinny jeans, side-parts and use of laugh-cry emojis has snowballed into a laundry list of jibes from Gen Z. Another day, another TikTok video pointing out more ways in which us Millennials are cringe. In 2021, the term 'cheugy' was popularised on TikTok by Hallie Cain to describe anything that is essentially no longer on trend, examples including Millennial 'girl-boss energy'. Since then, Millennials have been mocked for loving coffee, pets and Harry Potter. Then it was our ankle socks and cross-body bags, the way we dance, pose with the peace sign and decorate our homes in 'Millennial grey'. At the same time, TikTok accounts detailing 'how to spot Millennials' began to appear, and terms like 'Millennial core' and 'Millennial coded' began trending. For the most part, Millennials have taken it all in good humour. We're often in on the joke and make fun of ourselves, acknowledging our tell-tale signs. One video from content creator Paula Weigel on 'how Millennials hide these days' has almost 12 million views, while another by Nicole Main Waring on the 'Millennial urge to French tuck' has been watched upwards of 7 million times. But at the risk of sounding like the geriatric Millennial I absolutely am, the latest perceived misstep of my generation is one too far. Apparently, we love green too much. Sage green, forest green, the shade matters little – they're all ' Millennial green' now, which is code for off-trend and uncool to anyone aged under the age of roughly 32. Loading I'm sorry, but I can't with this Gen Z versus Millennial dialogue any more. At this point, it's starting to feel as old as me, and it's getting just as tired. Of course, there's nothing new about intergenerational ribbing – just ask the Boomers. Every generation needs to carve out their own identity, and it's no surprise that much of this is done by rejecting the ideals and aesthetics of those that came before us. 'It's part of making your way in the world, particularly if you want to shape culture and make it your own,' says Dan Woodman, a professor of sociology at the University of Melbourne.
The Age
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
As a Millennial, I've worn Gen Z's jibes with a smile. But this goes too far
What started out with shots about our skinny jeans, side-parts and use of laugh-cry emojis has snowballed into a laundry list of jibes from Gen Z. Another day, another TikTok video pointing out more ways in which us Millennials are cringe. In 2021, the term 'cheugy' was popularised on TikTok by Hallie Cain to describe anything that is essentially no longer on trend, examples including Millennial 'girl-boss energy'. Since then, Millennials have been mocked for loving coffee, pets and Harry Potter. Then it was our ankle socks and cross-body bags, the way we dance, pose with the peace sign and decorate our homes in 'Millennial grey'. At the same time, TikTok accounts detailing 'how to spot Millennials' began to appear, and terms like 'Millennial core' and 'Millennial coded' began trending. For the most part, Millennials have taken it all in good humour. We're often in on the joke and make fun of ourselves, acknowledging our tell-tale signs. One video from content creator Paula Weigel on 'how Millennials hide these days' has almost 12 million views, while another by Nicole Main Waring on the 'Millennial urge to French tuck' has been watched upwards of 7 million times. But at the risk of sounding like the geriatric Millennial I absolutely am, the latest perceived misstep of my generation is one too far. Apparently, we love green too much. Sage green, forest green, the shade matters little – they're all ' Millennial green' now, which is code for off-trend and uncool to anyone aged under the age of roughly 32. Loading I'm sorry, but I can't with this Gen Z versus Millennial dialogue any more. At this point, it's starting to feel as old as me, and it's getting just as tired. Of course, there's nothing new about intergenerational ribbing – just ask the Boomers. Every generation needs to carve out their own identity, and it's no surprise that much of this is done by rejecting the ideals and aesthetics of those that came before us. 'It's part of making your way in the world, particularly if you want to shape culture and make it your own,' says Dan Woodman, a professor of sociology at the University of Melbourne.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's How Much Each Generation Is Tapping Into Home Equity — but Should They Be?
Tapping into your home equity is a pretty straightforward way to access cash that might otherwise be hard to come by, and a recent Experian study reveals that more homeowners across generations are turning to home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). That said, even though tapping into the wealth you've accumulated in your home is better than incurring expensive credit card debt, it still comes with some risks that you should know about. Be Aware: Explore More: Here's a quick breakdown of how each generation is using home equity and whether it makes financial sense for you. According to Experian's recent survey, HELOC debt nationwide went up by 7.2% in 2024 — the third straight year of increases. But some generations are tapping into their home equity more aggressively than others. Millennials' and Gen X's HELOC balances both grew by 8.2% in 2024, and both generations' average balances exceeded $50,000. Gen Z borrowers have lower balances, around $40,539 on average, which makes sense given their newer entry into the housing market and limited home equity. Baby boomers and the Silent Generation have seen more modest increases in their HELOC usage at 3.7% and 1.1%, respectively, likely because many are nearing or already in retirement and are less inclined to take on new debt. Find Out: One reason for the spike is today's interest rate environment. 'HELOCs tend to be popular in times like now when prevailing interest rates are higher than a homeowner's first mortgage rate,' according to Experian's Susan Allen. So with mortgage rates hovering around 7%, naturally, fewer homeowners will want to refinance and risk giving up their locked-in low rates. Instead, they're using HELOCs to borrow against their home equity without disturbing their existing mortgage. HELOCs also offer more flexibility than home equity loans since you can draw only what you need and just make interest-only payments during the draw period. HELOCs aren't right for everyone. Here's what to consider before taking out a home equity line of credit. HELOCs often come with a draw period (usually five to 10 years) where you can borrow money and make interest-only payments. After that, you enter the repayment phase, which can significantly increase your monthly payments. So ask yourself: Can you comfortably afford those future payments, especially if rates rise? Most HELOCs have variable interest rates. That means your rate, and your monthly payment, could go up with market changes. If you're on a tight budget, this uncertainty could make it hard to manage long term. Using a HELOC to fund value-adding projects like home renovations can make financial sense. But using it for things like vacations or ongoing living expenses could put you on shaky ground. Treat it as an investment tool, not a shortcut for lifestyle inflation. Make sure you're not borrowing too much against your property. If home values drop, you could owe more than your home is worth, which can be a risky position to be in if you need to sell or refinance later. Just because you can tap into your home equity doesn't mean it's always a good idea. Though borrowing against your home often comes with lower interest rates compared with credit cards or personal loans, you could risk foreclosure if you can't keep up with payments. Plus, many HELOCs come with variable interest rates, which means your payments can rise unexpectedly as rates go up. And in the case of a declining housing market, homeowners who over-leverage could find themselves underwater. More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region 7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 2025 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Sources Experian, 'HELOC Balances Surpass $45,000 in 2024.' This article originally appeared on Here's How Much Each Generation Is Tapping Into Home Equity — but Should They Be? Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
7 Critical Ways Gen X Strengthens Your Leadership Pipeline
While the media overflows with stories about Baby Boomers' retirement plans, Millennials' search for purpose, and Gen Z's digital savvy, one generation consistently fades into the background. Gen X—the 65 million Americans born between 1965 and 1980—has become the forgotten middle child of the workforce despite quietly leading today's organizations. Though they rarely demand attention like other generations, Gen X now holds over half of the leadership positions and forms the management backbone across industries. Yet this pivotal generation receives disproportionately less attention—an oversight that's unfair and potentially damaging to business performance. To appreciate why Gen X deserves recognition, we need to examine the distinctive qualities that make this group indispensable. Let's explore seven attributes that make Generation X valuable contributors who are essential to your organization's leadership pipeline and future success. Generation X has lived through and adapted to modern history's most significant technological transformations, giving them a unique advantage. Unlike digital natives or older generations who might resist technological change, Gen X bridges these worlds with remarkable adaptability. Gen X brings technological competencies: This powerful combination of technological fluency and business savvy makes Gen X valuable in implementing digital transformation initiatives across organizations. Gen X is at the peak of their careers, bringing decades of experience while still having many productive years ahead. This makes them your most valuable leadership asset—experienced enough to navigate complexity yet adaptable enough to embrace change. Gen X leaders offer critical advantages: Organizations that focus exclusively on developing Millennial and Gen Z talent while overlooking Gen X are essentially neglecting the very leaders currently running their companies, making Gen X engagement and development a strategic imperative. Organizations often undervalue institutional memory in an era marked by disruption and innovation. Gen X employees frequently serve as the keepers of this knowledge, having accumulated years of understanding about why systems, processes, and cultural norms exist. Gen X preserves critical organizational knowledge: This historical information becomes increasingly valuable during organizational transformations, providing the stability and context needed to manage change effectively. Having adapted to major technological and workplace shifts, Gen X is uniquely equipped to bridge traditional and modern work approaches. Their position within organizational hierarchies positions them as natural connectors within a multi-generational workforce. Gen X excels at cross-generational leadership: As workplace generational diversity continues expanding, this bridging capability becomes increasingly valuable for organizational alignment and knowledge transfer. Despite their reputation for independence and skepticism, Gen X demonstrates remarkable workplace loyalty compared to younger generations. Amdocs research found that only 14% of Gen Xers have considered leaving their jobs, compared to 31% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials. Only Boomers showed slightly more loyalty at 13%. This stability delivers significant organizational benefits: However, this loyalty shouldn't be taken for granted. During the Great Resignation, Gen X departures increased by 37% compared to previous years—a warning sign that even this traditionally stable generation will seek better opportunities if undervalued. Shaped by economic challenges, political scandals, and social upheaval, Gen X developed a distinctive pragmatism that translates directly to business value. Gen X brings a results-driven approach: This combination of practical assessment and openness to change makes Gen X leaders particularly valuable during periods of business transformation. Gallup's research reveals troubling disengagement trends among Gen X workers. Since March 2020, the percentage of engaged Gen X employees has declined (from 35% to 31%), while actively disengaged Gen X employees increased (from 17% to 18%). The data is particularly concerning because Gen X shows the most significant drops in crucial engagement areas: connection to organizational mission, opportunities for growth, meaningful manager discussions, and the sense that their opinions matter. The good news is that addressing this gap doesn't require complex tactics. Gen X typically responds well to straightforward strategies: Given Gen X's critical leadership roles, the ROI for these relatively simple tactics could be substantial. Organizations overlooking Generation X do so at their own risk. Gen X's competence, adaptability, and institutional knowledge become increasingly valuable as leadership gaps widen. In today's disruptive environment, this generation offers both stability and innovation—precisely what's needed to navigate uncertainty. It's time to bring Gen X from the background to the foreground of your talent strategy—not just as a recognition of their contributions but as an investment in your organization's future success.
