The ‘Sandwich Generation’ and Why It’s Hard to Be Them
RELATIONSHIPS

Who Are the ‘Sandwich Generation’ and Why Is It Financially Hard To Be Them

Baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z — we describe ourselves as part of a generation depending on the year we were born, but did you know that there’s a generation that makes them overlap? It sounds delicious, but when you learn more about it, you won’t think of it like that anymore. We’re talking about the “sandwich generation.”

Who are the sandwich generation?

People in the so-called “sandwich generation” are adults who have to take care both of their ageing parents and their growing children at the same time.

The term was first coined by Dorothy A. Miller, a professor and director of practicum for social work at the University of Kentucky, in her published work at the National Association of Social Workers' journal in 1981. It’s described as “adult children of the elderly who are ‘sandwiched’ between their ag[e]ing parents and their own maturing children” and that they’re “subjected to a great deal of stress.”

While the academic paper mainly targeted those living in the United States, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t apply elsewhere.

Why are the sandwich generation struggling?

Family values and caring for loved ones have long been “an Asian thing” that’s engraved into our culture. While most of us genuinely want to take care of our parents when they grow old, it’s not that easy financially.

In Singapore, only 20% of the youth believes that their parents have enough personal savings for retirement, while 15% believes that their parents have already prepared. With such a low percentage, the chance of the ageing population relying on their children for support is high. Of course, this doesn’t bid well for those who also have to worry about their children’s tuition fees and expenses. The struggle even adds up if they have to suddenly take care of their young grandchildren as well.

As if those weren’t enough, Singapore has ranked as one of the most expensive cities in world for consecutive years. Buying necessities in the city-state requires a lot of budgeting, which could result in severely downgrading lifestyle choices and in some cases, juggling multiple work and responsibilities to make ends meet.

Is there a way to make life easier for the sandwich generation?

There’s no such thing as an easy life, but it’s possible to make it better.

First, communicate your personal and financial struggles. Maybe what you need all along is to set boundaries and manage expectations. Ask your family to help with more household chores so you can rest or ask them to cancel multiple subscriptions and choose only one that you use regularly or cancel everything completely.

Second, teach your kids about financial literacy. Make them understand the value of hard-earned money so they would think twice about their lifestyle choices. Who knows, it might inspire them to think of ways to earn money for themselves.

Third, remind your elderly that they can consult you if there’s something they don’t understand. This is in relation to scams, which have been more rampant in recent years and the likelihood of them falling into it. You barely make enough to survive, so make sure that your loved one’s retirement funds won’t go down the drain.

Lastly, break the cycle if you can. Plan your retirement so your kids won’t have to suffer the same fate. This is easier said than done, but they’ll thank you in the future.

Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.