The American Dream - going to college, buying a brand new car, getting married, buying a house, raising a family, retiring and living out your “golden years” - slips out of our grasp like sand through broken fingers.

I really believe that the current generation of kids aged 8-16 are not going to get the opportunities that I had when I was nearing graduation. Our population has increased but the availability of ways for students to get into colleges has not increased to keep up. This means that the gap between the educated population and the uneducated population is only growing larger. This pretty much destroys the hopes of many kids; to go to college when the graduate high school. Also, because labor is cheaper in other countries the uneducated population will have a harder time finding a job that will pay. So, for 80% of the current high school students, college is not an option and finding a job that pays well will be difficult. So, for those of you that do not continue to get a college education, there are other ways to get that brand new car, but has housing prices continue to rise; good luck on the house.

Then there are those of you that are going to take the Stafford Loan, get out there and get that degree. I am one of these people, but I have a step up. In less than a decade, prices to attend school have risen steeply. When you graduate, keeping up on the loan will be much more than buying that new car. Some of you might get a good scholarships or even a full ride, they are getting more rare these days. So, you get that Bachelor’s Degree and you are ready to go. Don’t forget that the loans are going to eat you alive for part of the next decade, if you pay them.

Ok. So because of the school loans, if you are smart you will go with the used car or a brand new low end car; like a Hyundai. These days better go hybrid, gas can cost as much as your car payment. So it might be 5-6 years before you can get the new car, but that is still going to happen if you get a job that pays off the loans and start off with a junker for a few years.

Now, you’ve met Mr. or Ms. Wonderful and you want to exchange vows. You have worked for near a decade and have a new car, nice apartment, nice gadgets, and a cat named Wilbur. Time to get that house. Both of you together can make it, no problem. You get the house. Then the Ms. gets pregnant. If you are smart you will wait, use protection and plan the child. But, that isn’t going to happen here. By the way, you might as well forget about the extra stuff you liked to do for awhile. Video games; out. Hanging out with buddies; out. But, what I will tell you is having that kid will be the coolest thing that ever happens, yes, it will be better than even Halo 3 when it comes out. But, back to the death of our American Dream. So, because you bought your car last and you are still making payments, you both decide to trade it in for a family vehicle… there goes a part of your dream, but hey, we all need to make sacrifices.

So, a decade passes. Your 401k is getting bigger, the house is 10 years closer to being paid off, hey, you’ll be 68 when it is paid. The family is set, the child hasn’t cost too much in medical bills. Now, in order for your child to even start on this trip you have taken, you must do your best to pave the way.

This is where the hard part comes in. The costs are triple what you paid for everything. The new hybrid solar hydrogen cars are nice. So, even when you get your 401k it is reduced because of the fact that the dollar is worth less. So, you basically can either get a motor home or bank it for retirement.

In the end, you might get to keep the home, you will struggle the rest of your life with monetary issues. There are a few 10% of these people that actually know what they are doing, invest well, and walk away smiling. But, these are few, the majority will lose the house on a reverse mortgage later, their children will be robbed of the only material possession that could have offered financial security.

So, what my parents generation could do, we no longer can. The generation behind me, my son and his peers will even have it harder. So, I guess after all this depressing, negative material… I believe that we need to look around at the people around us, forget about the American dream and getting on top, and live. Instead of buying a new car, buy a used one and spend the difference to take your teenage son on a Canadian fishing trip, even if you don’t fish. That single moment will live longer than any house or any car you could ever give them. I say let the American Dream die and stay dead… It prevents us from really living. Honestly, go do something with your family, or think about the future and keep this in mind; no matter what you own, what you drive, where you live - the only people that will remember you are the ones that loved you. The American Dream will never buy that.