Wages do not keep up with inflation, assets do. The sacrifice is to secure enough assets to move up in levels of “security” (such as security of being able to

Wages do not keep up with inflation, assets do. The sacrifice is to secure enough assets to move up in levels of “security” (such as security of being able to procure medical/legal/education/land/other services that are beyond most wage earner’s capacity. Although, it is also a perfectly reasonable move to not gamble on that and instead spend time with your family or friends or whatnot. Just depends what an individual wants to bet on.