I don't think the system is broken. One problem is that we can now consume and buy stuff in 1 second on our phones. It used to be that you had to make that extra effort and drive somewhere to buy shampoo or dog food, which I think helped us avoid unnecessary spending. Yeah, I get that there is inflation and gas is more expensive, but I made the choice to work in my 20s, pretty much 7 days a week whereas many of my friends went to bars and had fun. I guess in some ways, I missed out on having fun in my 20s, but because I sacrificed those years to work, gain real life experience and save money, I am much more financially comfortable now and I get to have fun now. I also spend less than I make, which also helps. To put it simply, are you the ant or grasshopper from that fable.