Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Hi,
my two neighbors had heating oil delivered two days ago. The liter costs 1.40 euros, last year they still paid 0.66 cents.
Nevertheless, both stick to their good old oil heating system. ;)

This has been more like small talk for at least 700 pages.

I find it very interesting.

It’s not just about money, also the background. That surprised me when we last talked to the future neighbors; they are very concerned about whether their daughter should go to the Gymnasium or not. Quote roughly: "grade-wise she fits the Gymnasium but the demands are so high." Money for trips or tutoring is probably not a problem, he is self-employed in the IT sector. But he only went to the Hauptschule, she was, I believe, "only" at the Realschule. For them, the Gymnasium feels quite different compared to academics.

I think that’s good. There’s nothing like a relaxed school time.

Education is already predetermined. Even if a child is born with natural good intelligence, but the environment is difficult and there are no good role models, then the probability of making the leap simply diminishes immensely. And honestly... to those who are parents here: do your children have contact with kids from precarious backgrounds? So where should the role models come from?
As a child, I was once invited by a friend’s family to a week of riding holidays so she wouldn’t have to go alone. God, what luck that was for me. We could never have paid those 250 DM in our life.

Normally, people expect that their children will be better off economically than themselves. But when this is no longer the case on a large scale, it leads to social unrest.

However, this also causes problems because being better off economically often goes hand in hand with academic qualifications in career choices. That is why typical genuine craft professions are often so undervalued as training today. In the craft sector, a lot will have to change in the future so that our national economic needs can still be met. This includes appreciation, financial incentives for journeymen, and reducing snobbery so that this training is once again regarded as adequate and not as a fallback just because the parents might be academics.

Which is why typical real craftsman professions are often so undervalued as apprenticeships nowadays.

Is that really still the case?
I think that's changing right now.

It may just be starting to change ;) ... but only because everywhere you encounter a shortage of skilled workers.

My two neighbors received heating oil delivery two days ago. One liter costs 1.40 euros, last year they still paid 0.66 cents.

You certainly mean 66 cents.

Nevertheless, both stick to their good old oil heating. ;)

Well, they are now paying 14 cents/kWh. Just look at what you currently or starting in October have to pay for gas, that is at least the same. And with oil, you have it, if you have it. Namely in the basement and within your own disposal area. With gas, on the other hand, you only have a contract that - as we currently see - can still be changed at any time. So only a state-changeable entitlement, not unlike a pension. If it's gone, then it's gone... then you can only figuratively look down the (4000 km long) tube....