‘Leech on society’: Dallas golf caddy, 23, spends almost three times more than he earns and refuses to work a ‘boring job.’ Caleb Hammer calls him ‘childish’

Hammer’s guest, Josh, is so reluctant to have a “boring job” that he actively avoids the workforce by spending more time playing video games than trying to make money.

“What if I just don’t feel like getting a job right now?” the 23-year-old asked Hammer on an episode of his series, Financial Audit.

“That’s the most childish thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Hammer responded. “How are you OK with being essentially a leech on society?”

Josh appears to be living up to the stereotypes many associate with younger generations (ie. lazy or entitled), but the data shows he might actually be an outlier.

Just a stereotype

In reality, most younger Americans are currently in the workforce or in school — or both.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the youth labor force (those between the ages of 16 and 24) grew by 2.2 million (10.4%) between April and July 2023 alone — the period of time when high school and college graduates search for summer jobs or permanent employment.

At 23, Josh is nearly at the tail-end of his tenure of the “youth” category. However, he refuses to get a regular 9-to-5 job, blaming his struggles to hold down a job on his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.

An estimated 8.4% of kids and 2.5% of adults have ADHD in the U.S., according to the American Psychiatric Association, which researchers have linked with negative employment outcomes.

However, Josh’s lack of steady income hasn’t prevented him from spending money.

Debt-fueled spending habits

In the span of one month, Josh earned roughly $1,000 after working only three days as a golf caddy. That doesn’t even cover his rent of $1,200.

“I’m surviving via 0% APR credit cards and I don’t want that debt to snowball,” he told Hammer.

Promotional interest rates are a common trap for many Americans. A study by TransUnion found that roughly 50% of Gen Z has a credit card, while Bankrate found that 16% of this cohort have already engaged with a debt management company to mitigate their debt burden.

However, even credit cards are not enough to plug the gap in Josh’s spending habits. Hammer estimated that Josh’s total expenses in the previous month were $2,750 — nearly triple the amount he earned. Josh’s mother covers some of these expenses with frequent money transfers to his bank account.

Nearly 47% of Americans with adult children are spending an average of $1,384 every month to support them financially, according to a study by Savings.com. The rising cost of living is forcing many to turn to the so-called “Bank of Mom and Dad.”