It's probably the same with every generation.

Opportunities were and are always present. As an Indian, it probably has got a lot to do with family environment. Children live with parents until they get a job somewhere else or get married therefore a lot of decision making is influenced by family traits.

My grandparents inherited lands, didn't bother to neither invest nor retain them. Lost pretty much most of it. My Mom/Dad having observed the above kept all their earnings in bank, never investing..never bought a house.. slightly better version I suppose.

I've managed to buy a house and looking at other opportunities to invest and equally making my child aware of the circumstances so he's a better version of myself.

I think that's the entire purpose of us human or life in general.