We're at the end of a supernaturally stable era, returning to the mean. The labor demand outstripped the supply in the US from it's founding until about 1970. This allowed the normal working man to support a family, house, car, kids, vacations, etc.
The Dollar was completely debased to it's current fiat status in 1971, and now buys about 2% of what it used to. Real wages have fallen as labor supply was almost doubled thanks to the influx of women into the work force, and reduction of demand due to automation starting in the 1960s.
However, this is the best time to be alive, on average. If you can get it, modern medicine performs at levels that would have seemed miraculous a century ago. Even if you're broke, antibiotics and other over-the counter drugs can save you from things that would have killed our ancestors. They routinely died from scratches that got infected, parasites in the water, and malnutrition.
If you live below your means, and associate with others who share that goal, you can have a quite happy life.
As far as college, it's not worth it unless you're going to be a Nurse or an Engineer. (Not a programmer with stolen valor, that's a different job, and you don't need a degree)
The Dollar was completely debased to it's current fiat status in 1971, and now buys about 2% of what it used to. Real wages have fallen as labor supply was almost doubled thanks to the influx of women into the work force, and reduction of demand due to automation starting in the 1960s.
However, this is the best time to be alive, on average. If you can get it, modern medicine performs at levels that would have seemed miraculous a century ago. Even if you're broke, antibiotics and other over-the counter drugs can save you from things that would have killed our ancestors. They routinely died from scratches that got infected, parasites in the water, and malnutrition.
If you live below your means, and associate with others who share that goal, you can have a quite happy life.
As far as college, it's not worth it unless you're going to be a Nurse or an Engineer. (Not a programmer with stolen valor, that's a different job, and you don't need a degree)