i think its just a complainy pants statement without much if any backing at all. i think your claims are simply unfounded IMO ... show data that backs the fact that it costs more to live now than 30 years ago.
Articles that talks about averages, not HCOL:
http://www.mybudget360.com/cost-of-living-2014-inflation-1950-vs-2014-data-housing-cars-college/
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2014/09/24/96903/the-middle-class-squeeze/
Recommended book:
The two income trap by elizabeth warren
An excerpt from The Two Income Trap
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_united_states_of_debt/2016/05/overspending_isn_t_why_americans_are_in_debt_an_excerpt_from_elizabeth_warren.html
You realize one of the main premises of the Two Income Trap is that people spend way too much on housing for <reasons> but actually spend much less on everything else than before, right, but since housing is a fixed non-variable expense when you buy a house they get trapped into requiring both incomes in order to support their lifestyle?
A key premise of that book is pretty solidly in support of how it is actually considerably cheaper now than 30 years ago to live for most things.
i love how one of his references actually supports my arguement. thanks.
i still dont see how in a forum about optimizing lifestyle and spending there is a big uproar about "how expensive life is now compared to 30 years ago" houseing has gone up b/c of the GIANT F"N HOUSES PEOPLE BUY. but you're still focusing on a few key things. the "middle class squeeze" thats just b/c everyone spends too much money. everyone has cell phones and cable TV and new cars, they go out to eat, everything this forum is against is what the avg american thinks they "DESERVE"
the median household income is 51329 in the united states so thats middle class b/c its middle salary. let construct a very nice lifestyle off of this in KC where this is on the lower side of the median household income.
Family of 4 - i'll include daycare in this too as thats the most expensive time in their life b/c they are in one of the top 2 school districts in the KC area in this home
Housing
http://www.reecenichols.com/homes-for-sale/3213-SW-Tiara-Lane-Lees-Summit-MO-64082-179017919Monthly payment 1060 including taxes an insurance and HOA fees
Food
600/month
Childcare
1000/month - 125 a week per child. i have friends paying this in this area for affordable and great in home care.
Gas
300/month
Health Insurance
200/month
House maint
150/month
Car maint
100/month
Misc.
300/month
Taxes are basically nothing for this family.
Monthly spend - 3610
annual spend - 43320
amount available to save - 8009 savings rate = 15.6% and thats not counting if we can get them the savers credit which would get them a little bump. thats a pretty sweet saving rate for a family spending quite a bit of money on a middle class life in america. and we didnt even optimize their life yet. plus once the kids get to school that 12k a year on childcare can be pumped into savings. and all this is done by both parents making an avg of 12 dollars per hour each. thats not an insanely high wage to make for someone who has decided to start a family.
they dont need a house this expensive on this income ... the daycare cost will largely go away in a few years. so how is it so hard to live now adays? they are blowing 300 a month on either cell phones/dinners/cable/clothes/travel etc. they are spending a ton on groceries.
so how i ask you is this not possible to live what i would say is a reasonbly baller life on 12bucks an hour 2 income family that could be optimized even further if they chose to be more frugal.