There were times I could afford a new car, but I figured in that immediate loss when you drive it off the lot. Cars are hammers to me, a necessary tool I don’t wish to spend a lot of money on. I never married or had kids, so I preferred home maintenance costs be on the landlord.

I had friends splitting an apartment in NYC mid-80s and they were each basically living in closets.

I am first year GenX, have never owned a new car, and didn’t buy a house til my late 40s.

I’m first year GenX, and those numbers are not far off (for East Tennessee) for living on your own mid-80s to early 90s. Location matters. But, everyone wasn’t walking into $40k a year jobs off the bat. Being able to get your bills paid w/a lil extra is entirely different from living the high life.

I got an MMR booster in December. The pharmacy tech asked me why? Which I thought was curious since it’s on the schedule of recommended boosters ever 10 years. She said, well really only for specific settings. I told her my specific setting is numbnuts not vaccinating their kids.

Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City
We were protesting these fuckers in the 80s.