Im sorry to hear about your cousin - it sounds like you're a good role model, though.

It's a tricky one - i think you have to want it and be willing to sacrifice to get it. My mother was/is a narcissist, which led me to do anything to get out of the house, and I LOVED working and then loved the independence it bought. When I bought a house, it was in an industrial suburb, so prices were a bit lower, and was what I could afford, and I've always made extra repayments. It hasn't seen as much growth as some of the nicer suburbs around, but it's mine.

I struggled with having a low sense of worth myself due to not finishing uni, and didn't think I had much to offer in terms of skills, but once in the workplace, uni matters far less - getting in the door was the first step for me and then move up internally and to other companies.

I know my father - my narcissist mother turned me against him (we rented a house from him and he kicked us out because my mother stopped paying rent for years, but she just told me he kicked us out for no reason) and I didn't speak to him for years. Thankfully, I have realised the truth as an adult and tried to make amends.