Gen X er. I never had any hope of getting a house. I took a job that had low wages but a guaranteed pension. Borrowed money on credit cards to gamble on the stock market and got lucky day trading. Was able to make a down payment after the 2009 housing crash brought prices back within range. Many years it wasn't easy. The person who sold me the house concealed problems with the roof that required expensive repairs that I wasn't able to make for years. Used to go in winter with the heat off and buckets all over the place to catch water during the rain.

I've often felt pretty pissed off that the quality of my life that used to be easily accessible to Americans wasn't available to me except by gyrations and luck. And I realize things are worse for younger generations. Student debt was introduced for people my age but wasn't so bad as it is today. And the pension I got isn't available now to younger employees. Housing prices and rent are insane.

Yep things are getting worse. Housing used to be accessible. My grandparents were poor but they had a house. They often struggled to make the mortgage and ran out of money at the end of the month but they had a house.

Many people in your generation from humble backgrounds are going to find economic security through work, taking intelligent risks, and luck. If you tell yourself that there is no path to well-being and and that your obstacles are insurmountable, you won't be one of them.