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From health to finance and beyond, Millennials have shaken up the status quo in today’s modern world.
From investing in Crypto-currencies to reforming societal norms, this generation of young adults is doing things their own way, a path that deviates from traditional trends established by Baby Boomers.
In this blog post, we’ll look at 22 ways Millennials have revolutionized classic Boomer trends and discuss what makes them so unique compared to previous generations!
#1. Cable News
Just as subscribers to cable TV are falling, so is viewership to cable news.
This is for a few reasons. First, millennials don’t want to sit down at a specific time to watch a news broadcast.
Another reason is the rise of independent media.
Millennials are trusting these sources for their news and information more and more as they feel they get a complete picture of the story, not a one-sided angle.
#2. Pet Food Brands
Millennials love their pets, and it shows in the sales decline of major pet food brands.
Just like this group is more proactive about the healthy food they put into their bodies, they are keenly aware of what they put into their furry friends.
As a result, millennials are opting for smaller pet food brands that focus on natural, healthy ingredients.
#3. Landline Phones
Landline phones were once a common household item.
However, millennials have rejected this technology as landlines are no longer necessary with the convenience of mobile phones.
Today, it is estimated that more than 90% of households in the United States do not own a landline phone.
This rejection of landlines has been attributed to millennials, who prefer modern forms of communication, such as text messages and video calls.
#4. Stock Market
For long term wealth building, the stock market is an excellent choice.
But millennials and other younger generations grew up with the Dot Com bubble followed by the Great Recession, and saw the impact on their parents finances.
As they grow older, most turn to gold, cryptocurrency, and real estate to build wealth.
#5. Cereal
Eating a bowl of cereal was a staple on Saturday mornings.
Some people even enjoyed a bowl during the week.
But Millennials are shunning cereal in record numbers.
They cite the high sugar content as one reason.
The other? Brace yourself, as they claim the cleanup is too much work!
#6. Bar Soap
Don’t worry, Millennials aren’t foregoing showering or cleaning themselves.
It’s just that they prefer body washes instead.
The reason is because many believe bar soap has germs on it whereas you avoid this possibility with body wash.
#7. Suits
Wearing a suit was a staple for professional men during the workweek.
Then casual Friday was ushered in, and and the trend of getting dressed up for work began to decline.
Fast forward to today, and few professions require a suit.
Most are business casual making suits a thing of the past.
#8. Post Cards
Remember when you traveled, you would find a cool post card and send it back to friends and family, letting them know some details about your trip.
That doesn’t happen anymore.
With texting and FaceTime, post cards are quickly becoming extinct.
If anything, some people buy them as keepsakes, but this is even rare.
#9. Milk
Boomers were raised on milk, believing that milk does a body good.
But Millennials aren’t buying it any more.
They are opting for alternatives live soy, oat and almond milk instead.
10. Doorbells
While most all homes still have doorbells, you are unlikely to spot a millennial ringing one.
When they arrive at a house, they instinctively pull out their phone and text that they are there.
#11. Designer Clothes
Wearing designer clothes with the brand written somewhere visible was a status symbol back in the day.
But the younger generation isn’t having any of it.
They would much rather shop at thrift stores and find high quality clothing on a discount, than pay premium prices for designer labels.
#12. Wine With Corks
If you have made it this far, you can spot a trend with millennials.
Everything they do is to make life easier, not harder.
Wine falls right into this.
Millennials do not buy wine with corks because they don’t want to go through the trouble of uncorking it.
Instead, they opt for a wine with screw caps.
#13. Diamond Industry
Many might think this industry is in decline because younger generations are putting off marriage.
But this isn’t the main reason.
It’s that millennials have issues with the sourcing of diamonds.
They don’t like the treatment of workers who mine the gem, and they realize the only reason a diamond is valuable is that where it comes from has regulations that limit mining to keep the price high.
#14. Movie Theaters
Back in the day, going to see the latest blockbuster in theaters was a can’t miss event.
But with streaming services, the younger generations would rather sit on their couch and watch movies on their mobile devices.
In some ways, this is understandable.
Not only is it cheaper, but less crowded, and you don’t have to worry about the annoying person behind you who talks the entire movie.
#15. Beer
Beer sales are down as the younger generation moves away from drinking alcohol.
They enjoy other recreational vices instead, mainly smoking pot.
As more states legalize it, expect the trend to continue.
#16. Live To Work
Boomers and Gen Xers are known for working hard to get ahead.
Not only do they want to earn an income to support themselves, but they also want to climb the corporate ladder.
Millennials, on the other hand, don’t aspire to these beliefs.
They see that corporations are only in it for themselves and have no loyalty to their employees, regardless of whether they are top performers.
#17. Wedding Industry
Millennials are getting married when they are older and throwing out many of the traditions that come with weddings.
This includes getting married in a church, dressing in a certain way, having lavish receptions, and more.
#18. Ironing Clothes
Who has time to iron clothes? Not millennials.
There are a few reasons for the lack of ironing, the most significant being that many workplaces are switching to casual attire from business attire.
Also, the increase in work-from-home jobs has an impact.
So too, does technology.
More and more clothes are made with fabrics that resist wrinkles, making ironing unnecessary.
#19. Owning a Car
There are a slew of reasons why Millennials and their younger counterparts aren’t buying cars.
First is the high price.
Many people find it difficult to afford a new car.
Next, there is the issue with the climate and car exhaust contributing to climate change.
Finally, many aren’t interested in owning or driving a car because of where they live.
They would rather walk, ride a bike, or hail an Uber instead.
#20. B2B Sales Models
The traditional B2B sales model of making a sale in person and then shipping a product after payment was made has been completely overhauled by Millennials.
They have instead adopted an online approach, where customers can purchase products and services from the comfort of their own homes or offices.
#21. Cable TV
It’s no surprise that the cable TV industry is losing subscribers.
But most of the ones cutting the cord are millennials.
They find streaming alternatives fit their lifestyle better as they can sign up and watch what they want anywhere they are on their mobile device.
#22. Useless Junk
Millennials are smart when it comes to limiting the purchasing of junk.
Since money is tight, they only buy things they need and a few things they want.
They see big houses as a waste as rooms are filled with useless stuff that never gets used.
One person pointed out how many houses in their neighborhood have cars parked in the driveway or the street, not the garage.
This is because the garages are overfilled with useless stuff.
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I have over 15 years experience in the financial services industry and 20 years investing in the stock market. I have both my undergrad and graduate degrees in Finance, and am FINRA Series 65 licensed and have a Certificate in Financial Planning.
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