You used to be able to buy an entire house, pay the mortgage, support a small family, and still have minimal left over. One salary. Companies used to reward loyalty more than they do so you didn't need to job hop to get anywhere. Universities were affordable, like you could work any job and pay for the semester from that.

Someone more familiar with the economic conditions correct me if I am wrong. Boomers could afford to live because venture capitalists weren't extracting all the value from the economy to buy yachts.