My friends:

-dual, full time, way above median incomes

-have 400k or more in debt because it's cheaper than rent

-live in homes all built before 1980

-less than 10k combined in savings

-don't run air conditioning in the summer except for the room their in

-keep heat set to 50*f and use portable heaters for bedrooms

-still have over $300 or more in utilities excluding internet

-no assets outside the house and a tiny 401k

-have a tiny weddings and finance the whole thing

-one car/person or less, older models, paid off

-have to finance home repairs because they don't have it

-won't go out unless I offer to pay

-don't go on vacations or trips far from home because money unless family pays for it

-stopped visiting long distance family

-stopped putting up holiday lights because it cost too much money in electric to run

-stopped eating expensive food and often share meals when eating out

-cant afford a wedding so kids are way out into mid 30s if that

For me the worst part for me is it makes people paranoid and risk adverse to literally everything. I only feel like I'm entitled to share my opinion is that these are mostly issues none of us grew up with, on a single income blue collar profession, had kids earlier, and were married in their early 20s. Let me know if I missed something for those under 30 y/o

Were just trading more time and getting a worse quality of life.