11/23/2025
1990:
One solid middle-class job paid for a home, two kids, a station wagon, Saturday baseball games, Friday pizza-and-movie nights, and a two-week family vacation every summer.
No side hustles. No panic. No constant “how do we make this work?” math.
2025:
Both parents working full-time — sometimes two jobs each — still drowning in daycare costs, rent or mortgage payments that look like second incomes, and a cost of living that feels like it’s sprinting while paychecks crawl.
Taking one day off feels like a luxury. Taking a vacation feels impossible.
We used to think the 90s were “normal.”
Turns out, they were peak luxury, and we didn’t even realize it.
Here’s why this hits so hard:
• Housing costs exploded, while wages barely moved.
• Childcare costs doubled in many cities.
• Healthcare, groceries, insurance, and utilities keep rising faster than income.
• The “one income household” isn’t lazy — it’s extinct.
• And most families are stuck playing financial defense instead of building wealth.
But here’s the part people need to hear:
This isn’t your fault.
You’re not “bad with money.”
You’re living in an economy that changed faster than anyone prepared you for.
If you grew up in the 90s… your parents were playing on “easy mode.”
Today’s families are playing on “legendary difficulty.”
What are your thoughts?
