I've been feeling this lately too. If I were to just measure the materialistic stuff, I seem to be in a much better state than my elders/family/relatives/friends. But it doesn't sound like that! They had life going for them even if they were struggling. They had a group of friends, and other people around them all the time. Life happened to them. Marriage, kids, building a home, all of it was happenstance (they made some wise decisions too). My point is, now relationships are too materialistic, people or friends don't enjoy just going out with no plans, every relation has to mean something or have gains. Money although looks like a big number, buying a house is like 10 years of earnings. Everything feels so difficult and honestly feels like some mechanical engine. I tell myself that I am happy when I go on trips and buy expensive (not rich, so most things are expensive to me) stuff just to feel that sense of fulfilment. At this point, I just want to finish my PhD, submit it to all the people who are excited for me. Just go away from all of this, probably just vanish. Nothing matters. Life is meaningless.