<p>It is a mixed bag, isn’t it? I grew up in a big, drafty house w/ lots of artistic opportunities (music and dance lessons, etc) - but there was one car, no a/c, all vacations were work for my dad (but heaven for us, as he worked at Arts Camps). I remember my mom having to “borrow” the car from my dad, and her being given the “housekeeping money” which she had to stretch to feed a family of 6. Watery stews with lentils added, white bread, housebrand yogurt, cheap apples, hot dogs and pizza for a treat. We ate out at HoJo’s (howard johnsons) or Arby’s, about once a month, and it was a big deal. Mom sewed our clothes, cut our hair, and began working after youngest sister was in 2nd-grade. Her salary helped send us to college, and we graduated with little or no debt.
Now, we have more cars, A/C, several computers, big screen tv, and I am much more likely to buy “ready-to-eat” food - so we spend more than they did. IF we are both still employed (knock on wood) in two years, though, we will be doing as well as them, because we will be DONE paying for college and can move into the “save more for retirement” era.</p>