Sandwich generation

Image via Wikipedia

Interesting to find this post on Frugal Pinoy's blog. I've always wondered what the generation is called and now I have a name for it!

I don't know many people who are in this generation, but I know a couple.

My friend

She lives with her mom and pays for their rent. Her father died when we were still in college. He used to support all of them, so when he died my friend and her older sister had to replace him. Her sister hasn't really stepped up to the plate. Sabi ng friend ko hindi consistent ang Ate nya magbigay. Hindi rin naman sila malaki kumita. Four years ago, ang sweldo ng kaibigan ko was P16,000/month lang and I think yung Ate nya was earning within that boundary din.

Ngayon may anak na ang friend ko. May sari-sari store ang nanay nya as one of their sources of income. Konti pa lang ang naipon ng friend ko. Lalo na ngayong may anak na sya mas mabagal na lalo ang pag-iipon.

My office mate

Ang office mate ko naman sinusuportahan nya ang tatay nyang may sakit. Her dad requires regular prescription and since wala namang insurance ang tatay nya, fixed monthly expense nya ang magpadala. Nasa kanila na rin nakatira ang parents ng asawa nya. Meron silang anak. Last time ko syang tinanong about retirement funds, wala pa rin sya. Sana ngayon meron na.

Gusto sana nilang bumili ng bahay pero para makaipon sila ng malaking deposito, panahon din ang kelangan lalo na sa current situation nila.


Hindi ako part ng Sandwich Generation. Buti na lang my parents have prepared for their retirement. They are both retired now and they're still in their fifties. Their source of income is mainly from rental properties. Marami rin silang savings and some investments.

I don't know how I'd juggle the expense of providing for my parents and for my family at the same time. Siguro sobrang tipid ang gagawin ko. Makakalabas pa kaya ako? Makakapag-bakasyon pa kaya? Yung office mate ko hindi nya alam kung kelan sya ulit makakabisita sa kanila dahil malaki nga ang gastos ng pag-uwi sa Pinas.

Nabago na ng parents ko ang destiny namin sa pagpe-prepare ng retirement nila. Ulit-ulit din nilang sinabi noon na ayaw nilang umasa sa amin. Ayoko ring umasa sa anak ko. Ayoko syang pahirapan. Gusto ko syang umasenso pagdating ng araw.

Kayo ba part ng Sandwich Generation?