in almost every way except one. We have more clothes, more toys, more technology, and we eat out and travel waaaay more than previous generations. Our cars are fancier and our houses have more square footage and are more luxurious than what was offered 40 years ago.

That said, the one thing that we have less financial access to than previous generations is land. Lot sizes are downright shrinking. And many have no yard at all. The starter home of yesteryear was 1,200 sf on a 1/4 acre. Today it’s a 2,500 sf townhome. The reality is that there’s a premium now for elbow room, and it’s probably the one thing that’s less affordable for us than it was previous generations.

For people like me that value privacy, outdoor living, and growing their own food that’s a sad reality.