I have worked in the US and Europe, and may give a direct comparison. US healthcare and education consume a vast portion of your pay. We paid cash for our daug

I have worked in the US and Europe, and may give a direct comparison. US healthcare and education consume a vast portion of your pay. We paid cash for our daughter's college (biomedical engineering) at a total of over $300K. That buys her freedom of choice when it comes time to take a job, get an advanced degree, etc. Her colleagues will have more than $500K USD debt hanging over their heads when you factor interest payments. The company pays for a portion of health insurance, but much of the cost is picked up by the employee, either though co-payments or deductibles. We live modestly, drive low-end cars and don't dine out often. We see our European friends taking great vacations and their children bounce in and out of college programs. We see free healthcare, mountain cottages, and other perks unavailable to us.