Here’s why everyone is making fun of this budget advice for millennials
There’s nothing we hate more than being told how awful we are. And a particularly popular topic of derision is the fate of the hipster. According to CNN, the writer Bernard Salt wrote an article for The Australian about hipsters and found himself under a barrage of ire.
Salt believes that hipsters misspend their money:
"I have seen young people order smashed avocado with crumbled feta on five-grain toasted bread at $22 a pop and more. I can afford to eat this for lunch because I am middle-aged and have raised my family. But how can young people afford to eat like this? Shouldn't they be economising by eating at home? How often are they eating out? Twenty-two dollars several times a week could go towards a deposit on a house."
And this isn’t the first time Salt has derided hipster choices:
How do young #hipsters keep baby #boomers out of their cafes? Milk crate seating doesn't work with tight hamstrings. Brilliant exclusion! pic.twitter.com/XwGgsC0HfH
— Bernard Salt AM (@BernardSalt) October 14, 2016
Of course, people were quick to point out that housing prices and the current economy does not exactly make it easy for hipsters to purchase a home:
@BernardSalt is right of course, just give up $22 a week and you'll have a deposit on a median priced house in Sydney in… 175 years.
— Kyle Sheldrick (@K_Sheldrick) October 15, 2016
A house would sure cost a lot of avocados.
Forgoing a $20 smashed avocado meal a week will save $1040 a year. A 20% deposit for a home in Sydney is ~$200,000 (@ median house price)
— Frank Keany (@FJKeany) October 16, 2016
Math is a lot less tasty than avocado toast.
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Some people used the article to advertise housing costs in their hood.
Smashed avo on fancy bread only around $15 in #Hobart plus buy an affordable house #tasmania #populationattractionstrategy #needmorehipsters https://t.co/sKZjI4V7yV
— Dr Lisa Denny (@workdemographer) October 15, 2016
Some are hoping for immediate results.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/787458685937131520
Some people can’t believe this is even a discussion.
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Others don’t want people to lecture them on their food choices.
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Bernard salt can pry my smashed avocado from my cold dead hands pic.twitter.com/4Pjz8y4aJG
— Simon R (@Rugbysmartarse) October 16, 2016
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Plus, the article isn’t even factually accurate. Millennials are actually saving more.
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And it’s important to remember that the gap between income and housing prices is the largest it has ever been.
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It’s always good to know history repeats itself…
1956…… (HT @donattroppo) pic.twitter.com/54drOi4KvB
— Tim Lyons (@Picketer) October 16, 2016
In short, it’s totally fine to love your avocado toast. Eating the tasty treat isn’t going to keep you from achieving your dreams as long as you remain smart about your personal finances.