>Quite aside from the fact that the target audience of this site can expect to make around 2X the median income of the US--meaning that we are those evil rich p

>Quite aside from the fact that the target audience of this site can expect to make around 2X the median income of the US--meaning that we are those evil rich people--surely the problem isn't this one-sided. Not debating this fact, however cost of living makes a huge difference. 2x the median income doesn't mean much if everyone lives in big cities where the cost of living is 2x the median also. I feel like this is a point that has been ignored in this thread by a lot of people. Also one note on one of your sources: the guardian article mentions she's living in an ex-council house with a flatmate. I've lived in an ex-council flat before in London, and honestly it is not for everyone. There was zero insulation so even with the heating on full, winter was unbearable. Constant electrical problems. Decent chance of getting mugged while taking out the trash. Mould in various places that never got dealt with. I know all ex-council flats aren't like this, but are we entirely comfortable with saying that above-average earning professionals in metropolitan cities should have to live with flatmates, often strangers, for up to ten years, often in increasingly poor conditions, while significantly cutting back on their quality of life, to be able to possibly afford a small flat likely an hour away from where they will work? It's easy to tell people to cut back on going to the pub or eating out, it's much harder to do when you're living in a mouldy shoebox and need an occasional break from misery, especially when you have friends that will still go out without you and adverts telling you to buy avocado on toast everywhere you go.