re: How can the average person afford to live?

Stay locked and loaded!!

Rent and Housing is what eats people alive.

I can tell you that i was probably in that number also.

We were very much the fake it before you make it type of people for awhile when we were younger, but we lived life and enjoyed ourselves and I do not have any regrets.

We was in school and I worked hourly jobs that provided for us. We took vacations, went to games, concerts and school loans.

We always paid on time and never had a new car until about 2013.

We lived in trailer in Auburn for 12 years, because we never could have afforded the down payment or mortgage on a $160K house which is what a 3bd/2bath at around 1200 sq ft went for. For the record my 16 x 72 had 1152 sq ft. We owned it and lot rent was $200-250 the whole time we lived there.

Moved to Mobile in 2014 and have excellent credit because of the credit cards and one used car we bought. Bought a house in Mobile, 3/2 with 1308 sq ft...Mortgage is $550/month.

I know a single mom that was paying $1700/month for a place my size.

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Economics have nothing to do with it

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Dude, you're wallowing in a sty of embarrassment here. Rather than "Boomer" comparisons and ignorant laments as to how much better others had it than your generation, take some ownership.

Those boomers grew up in homes with linoleum floors, naugahyde furniture, formica counters, +/- a/c, and about 1000 fewer sqft than you or zoomers.

More than half their generation completed all their education before calculators were even a thing. Though Boomers essentially developed the functional PC, PCs came too late for virtually any of them to use in college.

Phones were tethered to the wall by cords. A 13" tube TV with terrible reception/resolution cost more in actual dollars (not inflation adjusted) than a 65" 4K UHD Smart TV today. Inflation adjusted, Boomers paid about 5X more for their 13" 4-channel TV than millenials/zoomers pay for their 65" 4K UHD Smart TV's today.

When PCs did come available, Boomers paid $400 ($2000 in today's money) for a 20MB (yes ... MB) harddrive. They paid disproportionately more for groceries than you do. Their cars lasted about 5yrs as opposed to >10 today. Most never dreamed of traveling overseas.

I'd guess if you had to live their life instead of your own, you'd be very disappointed by comparison. So how about ceasing with the woe is me bullshite. You and your compadres were born in the the wealthiest country in the world, and the country providing the most opportunity of any, and you're complaining? REALLY?

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What’s more difficult is cost of education is at an all time high.

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NO!
What makes it more difficult is the refusal to navigate the challenge. If one can't afford college to begin with, the last damn thing in the world he should do is go into debt to gain a nonsense degree from an expensive institution.

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These old bastards don’t understand simple concepts like that. Doing so would invalidate their inflated ego. frick em.

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I see how y’all live, and it’s better than we lived - certainly better than I lived. I was willing to go out in the hot sun and labor. Are you? There’s your answer, pussy.

BTW, I had four children and inherited a niece and nephew. All six are in their 30s, have spouses, children (except one), and homes. All six living better than we did in our 30’s. Now, by my 40’s my wife and I were kicking arse and taking names.

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I see how y’all live, and it’s better than we lived

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... and there it is. The advantage you have is you've seen both. He hasn't.

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Most people

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Spend money they don't have on things they don't need. I'm in that boat right now, but my income fluctuates so carrying a little bit of debt for a couple of months is normal. I'm in a tough spot at the moment, but I should hopefully be able to get out of it if I can get through the end of the year with nothing major happening.

And a new Cadillac cost $500 in 1960.
If you’re poor in this economy you are either stupid or lazy.

Richleau This Boomer started out making $2.10 per hour. 30 years later I made $42k per year and bought a house, got an advanced degree. This poor arse planned and educated myself properly. I have plenty money to retire on and Im not retirement age. It can be done. (I didn't get married or have kids).