If a major crisis hits, young workers' motivation will hit rock bottom

The underlying complaint is not just economic: having a job no longer guarantees access to goods that were once considered normal, and the antiestéticar is that a major crisis will worsen a situation already lived as precarious.

There is a generation that works and still feels it cannot afford the life it was promised. We are not talking about geniuses or well-connected people. We are talking about an ordinary young person who studies, works hard at the office and discovers that effort no longer buys what it used to buy. The frustration does not come from being unemployed. It comes from having a job and still not making it.

## Cars: 40,000 euros for something that inspires no joy

An Audi A3, which is not a luxury indulgence, comes to **40,000 euros** with engines the buyer considers shameful. If you want something decent with extras, the figure climbs to **60,000 euros**. And the problem is not just the price: according to this complaint, they are selling you junk.

Add to that the paralysis. Petrol or diesel, knowing the one you choose may be banned? A Chinese-brand electric car that fails to convince? The dream of getting a new car has turned into a risk calculation.

## Housing: an 80,000-euro down payment for a flat outside the M-30

In Madrid, outside the **M-30** ring road, any flat that isn't outright awful goes for **400,000 euros**. That forces a down payment of **80,000 euros** to afford the mortgage. Inside the M-30, it's not even a consideration.

The criticism is not only about price. It's about quality: new builds with rock-bottom standards, ridiculous rooms, open kitchens that fill the living room with the smell of fried food, plasterboard as the norm and multilayer piping instead of copper. And the feeling that no true professionals are left in the industry.

## Food, computers and the rest of everyday life

Finding a homemade croquette or homemade chips has become nearly impossible. The traditional places keep closing as their owners retire, and what remains is fifth-range and pre-cooked food, except at top establishments or a lifelong local favourite.

Computers are no exception. **RAM** is at astronomical prices and the reliability of many machines is nil. Another front where money doesn't buy quality.

## The antiestéticar of what has yet to come

All of this is happening with a job. Strong inflation and the big wave of **AI**-driven layoffs have not yet arrived, according to this antiestéticar. In other words, the scenario described is the starting point, not the floor.

If the floor gives way, the young worker's motivation won't go to hell: it's already there. The question is what happens when the major crisis hits those who already feel they have nothing to lose.

This article describes a subjective perception of prices and quality of life. For purchase, mortgage or investment decisions, it is advisable to consult official sources and seek professional advice.