Originally Posted by jcountry

Negative.

We make far, far more in adjusted dollars than our grandparents on average.

The main difference is lifestyle. People of that generation had no concept of taking out small loans for shoes, clothes, dinner or cars, furniture or whatever useless crap.

Back then, people owned far less stuff. Houses were smaller, they were paid for in 20 years, and everything in them was paid for.

Now, people are slaves for debt. All these tiny loans people take out with credit cards for lifestyle stuff really add up. That’s a big part of why both spouses work.

The other component is tax. We pay far more tax now. I bet my grbdparents paid less than 20% combined (fed, local, state, property.). I pay damned near 50%