For generations raised to see getting their own place as a major marker of adulthood, the idea of having roommates at 65 might sound like something went terribly wrong. But with housing costs eating up household budgets and retirement increasingly difficult to fund, some millennials and Gen Xers are starting to imagine a very different version of their later years
A recent Reddit post asked whether people expect to reach their 60s still working “with no end in sight” while living with multiple roommates, and whether that could eventually become normal for millennials and Gen Z. The answers revealed plenty of financial anxiety, but also surprising enthusiasm for communal living
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The ‘Golden Girls’ Retirement Plan
“It’s definitely a ‘new’ normal,” one commenter said. “By necessity,” Another worried that unless the imbalance between wages and living costs improves, people could have roommates well into their 40s, 50s and beyond
Yet plenty of people didn’t see sharing a home in retirement as a downgrade at all
One commenter said she and her best friend moved in together about 10 years ago after deciding marriage wasn’t for them. They split household responsibilities, cook for each other, host game nights and travel together
“Highly recommend the Golden Girl lifestyle,” she wrote
“I am going to Golden Girls the shi$ out of my old life,” another millennial was even more enthusiastic
One person envisioned “millions of single older women; divorced, never married, widows” pooling their reing alone in old age isn’t necessarily the historical norm anyway. Older adults have long lived with children, extended family or boarders
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The financial side, however, is harder to ignore. A person who works in senior living in Colorado said a two-bedroom apartment at their facility costs $6,500 per month. Split between two residents, that’s $3,250 each, including meals, housekeeping, transportation, activities and maintenance
Building More Options Before Retirement
For people worried that housing costs could dictate how they live decades from now, building assets earlier can create more choices later. Real estate is one possibility, although buying and managing an entire rental property isn’t realistic for everyone
That’s where Arrived offers a different approach. You can start with $100 and buy fractional shares of professionally selected rental properties instead of purchasing a whole house yourself
Arrived handles the tenant interactions, maintenance and other day-to-day work, while properties are selected with the goal of generating rental income and increasing in value over time. You can build a real estate portfolio based on your own budget, with monthly dividends offering a potential
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The broader retirement worries in the Reddit discussion extended well beyond housing
“I will literally never have enough money to retire,” a Gen Xer wrote. “I have no savings and will therefore have to retire by dying.” A 62-year-old widow said she expects to work until she is physically unable
Others are already redefining retirement. One commenter expects to continue earning money but wants to eventually control when and how much they work. “Just controlling my own time will be enough ‘retirement’ for me,” they wrote
That may be the bigger distinction. Living with friends, siblings or chosen family can be an appealing way to reduce expenses while gaining companionship. Being forced to share a home with strangers because retirement never became financially possible is a very different future
For some, the “Golden Girls” lifestyle may become a choice worth celebrating. For others, the goal is simply to build enough financial flexibility that it remains a choice
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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors canbuy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly
Frontieras
As electricity demand accelerates alongside AI and domestic energy production becomes a growing priority,Frontieras is developing patented technology that converts coal into fuels, chemicals, and low-emission energy products without combustion. Through its Regulation A offering, investors can gain exposure to an emerging energy infrastructure company focused on modernizing American industrial and power re
FarmTogether
Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors,FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches
Fundrise
Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio.Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estateand credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth
Qnetic
As electricity demand rises alongside AI, data centers, and renewable energy, long-duration energy storage is becoming increasingly important.Qnetic is developing a kinetic energy storage system designed to provide long-lasting, chemical-free electricity storage, offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting a more resilient and reliable power grid
EquityMultiple
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds,EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process
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