Stress-reducing tips and actual benefits for the sandwiched generation.

One popular buzzword that has been going around a lot recently, especially due to the added struggles thanks to the pandemic, is ‘sandwich generation’. A lot of us fall in this category, and live with the day-today battles that come with it.

But when the glass is half-empty, it is also half-full—aka, there is upsides to every downer. Read on to find the positives of being squeezed between generations, and ways to deal with it when times get rough.

The meat between the bread

Before we dive into the goods and the bads of being among the sandwich generation, let’s break down the important terms to understand it more clearly. Based on BBC’s 2021 piece on the ‘sandwich generation’:

• Overall, terms like “squeezed” and “sandwiched” express the heavy pressure on people juggling duties in all directions.
• The term ‘sandwich generation’ more specifically refers to middle-aged people who support both their parents and their children, whether financially, physically or emotionally.
• The range of age varies between country to country. In the Philippines, sandwiched women tend to be aged 30 to 35, as for England and Wales it’s typically between 45 and 54.
• Beyond the sandwiched generation, there is also the rise of “triple-decker sandwich” or “double sandwich” generation;
• This includes individuals in their 60s who are helping to care for their grandchildren to allow their adult children to work, while supporting their own parents in their 90s.

Find the full BBC piece here to read the story of Jo Austin, who is a part of the sandwiched generation in the UK, as she navigates life with her full plate.

The value combo pack

A lot of people who are part of the sandwich generation would open their homes for their parents, hence allowing a situation where three generations live under the same roof. Some of them actually choose this lifestyle and reap the benefits of a multi-generational home, such as:

1. One nest for all. As many as 78% of young adults who still live with their parents say they find it satisfying. As for the elderly, it’s great that help is accessible.
2. Brighter economic picture. Combining the bills is a three-way benefit: more financial leverage for the young-adult kids, and grandparents’ pension income could help cover too.
3. Very family-friendly. 82% of respondents to a Harris survey said that multigenerational living arrangements had “enhanced bonds and relationships” among family members.

Though not applicable to every single household, these benefits could help ease the burden of the sandwiched. Read the full article with the full list of benefits here.

Discounting the problems

Other than the soothing tips to reduce the stress, such as joining a caregiver support group, seeking help from other family members or friends, and implementing a better diet and enough rest, we can start now by minimizing the burdens we might need to deal with later on in our life as a ‘sandwiched’ individual.

In his video on sandwich generation, Fellexandro Ruby, creator of the renowned “Thirty Days of Lunch” podcast, shared many financial tips for us to prepare while we’re still within our productive age.

Indonesia’s Context

Approximately, the sandwich generation in Indonesia falls within the range of 20-30 years old. One of the main reasons for this generation to be sandwiched is that a lot of our elderly might not have great financial literacy growing up.

Breaking the Cycle

According to the Kelly Services 2020/21 Salary Guide, an Indonesian with 5-7 years of work experience makes around Rp15.000.000-Rp20.000.000/month. With this income, we should spend, save, and invest accordingly to secure our pension fund and slow down or even stop the sandwich generation cycle.

The 4 Life Seasons

Just like the weather, our life is ideally divided into 4 seasons:

Green line represents those with pension fund, Red for those without it.

• 0-20 years old: Living with financial dependence, experiencing financial survival.
• 21-40 years old: Starting to reach financial stability, settling into financial security.
• 41-60 years old. With financial security, able to stretch to financial flexibility.
• 61-80 years old. Finally could stand at financial independence, and eventually financial freedom.

When we spend our income during our 2nd life season carelessly, we might not be able to make it to our 4th season comfortably, hence affecting our next generation’s financial situation.

Using PINA Mobile App

One tool that Fellexandro recommended was to use the PINA app to track our expenses, manage our budgets, and most importantly calculate our needs and gains in the future by filling in our financial goals and investment risk profiles. If you find your future needs to be greater than your investment gains, you might want to:

• Save more starting today!
• Choose higher-return investments.

Learn more about the ways you can take to put a stop to the sandwich generation phenomenon by watching the full 13-minute YouTube video here.

This week’s Monday Mavens edition is quite a lengthy one, but hopefully it’ll inspire your week to be more mindful with your income and expenses—especially after payday. ??

If you found this edition insightful, help us out by spreading the word and sharing this edition to your family members or friends, or anyone who might be stuck in the generation sandwich.

We’ll see you again next week!