"Kids These Days" Aren’t Broke Because of Avocado Toast: The Real Story Behind Generational Money Gaps

Every generation loves to complain about the next one—lazy, entitled, wasting money on gadgets and brunch. But here’s the truth: young adults today aren’t just making different choices—they’re playing a completely different financial game. In 1970, over half of 30-year-olds in America were married and owned a home. Today? Less than 15%. And it’s not because everyone suddenly decided marriage and mortgages were overrated. It’s the fallout from decades of policy decisions, wage stagnation, and skyrocketing costs that have made the old “American Dream” a whole lot harder to reach. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real reasons why hitting financial milestones looks different now, and why “just work harder” is the worst advice you can give someone trying to buy a home in today’s economy. You’ll hear: The shocking drop in homeownership rates for 30-year-olds since the 1970s How wages, housing prices, and student debt have completely shifted the financial landscape Why avocado toast is not the problem (and what actually is) How generational misunderstanding keeps us from creating solutions that work Practical ways both older and younger generations can bridge the gap It’s time to stop blaming brunch and start looking at the real math. Thank you to our sponsors!  Policygenius - Head to policygenius.com to compare free life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.  Ava - Help build your credit score with Meetava.com. Use promo code: Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices