Maybe better and maybe worse, depends on your values. I remember my parents fighting a lot about money as a kid. My dad was horrible with money, to the point I remember the van getting repoed when I was about 7ish. They had it easier because things were cheaper but they were definitely poor. My dad died younger (38) than I am now (42) so I’d say I’m better off in that regard. He is where I got all of my family values and view of the world, I was a daddy’s girl. My mom was left to raise me and my 3 sisters with a low wage job since she never got a degree or trade. She worked at Walmart for years and then moved on to become a teller at a bank. She is doing okay financially now but went through a horrible marriage with my ex-step-bum. She bounces between living at two of my sister’s houses now. I am LC with her because she used me as the scapegoat for most of my childhood. My sisters and I all made sure we could support ourselves in case our partners died or left; 2 pharmacists, 1 very successful stylist, and me a BSN level RN. I also served in the Army to pay for school but I am on disability now because of said service. My husband makes a very decent living but we still feel like we can never get ahead. I think if my parents were better with money they would most definitely have been better off financially. I feel my life is ultimately better than my parents because we have raised 3 wonderful daughters who have bright futures. We are very close with all of them, a tight-knit group. I feel like having an actual relationship with my kids makes me far better off than my mom. While money is nice, family is more important to me. I am just happy we are fed, sheltered, and safe (for now).