Jason Mustian
I’ve heard every boomerism in the book. From “Back in my day…” to “Kids these days don’t know how to work,” my instinct has usually been to roll my eyes and move on. Out of touch? Sure. But I’ve also realized some of those phrases are less about lecturing and more about passing on lived experience—sometimes clumsily.
The danger in dismissing them entirely is that we also lose the parts that are grounded in actual wisdom. When you strip away the outdated framing, a lot of these sayings point to habits, mindsets, and values that still work. So yeah, I’m not giving up my oat milk latte, but maybe I’ll stop pretending all boomer advice belongs in a museum.
Here’s where they might be onto something.
1. “You can save money by making your coffee at home.”
Yes, we’ve all heard the latte factor lecture. And yes, skipping your $5 coffee every day won’t magically hand you a down payment in 2025. But beneath the math is a point about mindset—big wins are built from small, repeated choices.
When you get in the habit of looking for little ways to save, it shapes how you make bigger decisions, like skipping an impulse trip or buying a smaller car. Over time, those choices add up more than the coffee ever could. According to research on habit formation, small consistent behaviors are the foundation of lasting change.
So sure, keep your coffee ritual if it’s worth it to you—but don’t ignore the principle that daily discipline often determines your long-term financial freedom.
2. “Buy it nice or buy it twice.”
This one used to sound like permission to splurge, but it’s really about avoiding false economy. A cheap jacket that falls apart in a year costs more in the long run than a well-made one you’ll wear for a decade.
Boomers grew up when repair culture was stronger—you fixed shoes, you mended clothes, you maintained appliances. That’s harder now, but the principle holds: quality over quantity saves money, reduces waste, and avoids frustration. Consumer research shows that durable goods often have a lower lifetime cost even if the upfront price stings.
The trick is knowing when to invest and when to go budget—because you don’t need a $400 blender, but you probably don’t want a $20 one that smells like burning after a month.
3. “Don’t quit a job until you have another one.”
To younger ears, this can sound fear-driven—stay miserable for a paycheck. But the wisdom here is about protecting your leverage. It’s much easier to negotiate salary, benefits, or even just a better title when you’re not desperate for an offer.
Millennials are more likely to value mental health over toxic jobs, and that’s a good thing. Still, leaving with nothing lined up can lead to taking the first opportunity that comes along, even if it’s a bad fit. Career coaches often advise that strategic exits protect your options and your future earning power.
So by all means, get out of a bad situation—just try to do it with a plan, not a panic.
4. “Live below your means.”
This one has been memed into oblivion, usually with a sarcastic “Thanks, I’ll just buy fewer yachts.” But beneath the obvious advice is a truth that’s even more relevant in an age of Instagram envy and easy credit.
Living below your means isn’t about deprivation—it’s about building a margin for the unexpected. A sudden job loss, medical bill, or rent hike is stressful, but it’s far worse if you’re already stretched to the limit. Studies show that financial resilience comes from keeping fixed expenses low and saving consistently.
The challenge for millennials is that “means” are often smaller than they were for boomers at our age. Still, the habit of spending less than you make is one of the few money rules that hasn’t aged a day.
5. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
It’s corny, but diversification isn’t just for investors—it’s for anyone who doesn’t want one bad break to take them down. Boomers might use it to talk about spreading your money around, but it applies to skills, income streams, and even friendships.
Relying on a single employer, a single client, or a single coping mechanism leaves you exposed. Expanding your network, keeping skills current, and building multiple ways to earn gives you a safety net. Financial advisors still push diversification because it’s one of the simplest ways to manage risk.
It’s not about living in fear—it’s about not letting one failure become a total collapse.
6. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
We tend to think we’re too savvy for scams, but the truth is they’ve just gotten more sophisticated. Whether it’s a “work from anywhere” job that’s actually a data-harvesting scheme or a miracle skin cream on TikTok, the principle still stands.
Boomers grew up with fewer digital tricks, but they learned skepticism the old-fashioned way—by watching neighbors lose money to door-to-door sales pitches. Modern scams are faster and flashier, but fraud prevention experts still say the easiest defense is to pause, verify, and walk away if something doesn’t add up.
It’s not cynicism. It’s self-preservation.
7. “Don’t burn bridges.”
Sometimes leaving a job, relationship, or group feels so cathartic you want to scorch the earth on the way out. But boomers know reputations have a long memory—and sometimes, so do opportunities.
Professional networks are more interconnected than ever. That manager you told off might end up at your dream company in three years. According to career research, maintaining positive relationships increases your chances of getting hired and even finding mentors later.
You don’t have to fake friendship with people you dislike. But leaving gracefully can make the difference between a door that’s closed for good and one that’s still cracked open.
To sum it all up..
It’s easy to scoff at boomer advice, especially when it’s delivered with a side of “kids these days” energy. But a lot of these phrases are shorthand for habits that build resilience, independence, and long-term stability—things most of us want, even if we define them differently.
The trick is to separate the useful principle from the outdated packaging. We don’t have to follow their advice to the letter to appreciate the intent behind it. And maybe that’s the real generational bridge: keeping what works, letting go of what doesn’t, and admitting that sometimes, the old ways still have something to teach us.