"Home and family have become a luxury for young people": Generation Z discusses the dream crisis on Reddit

The economy has reached a point where starting a family and owning a home has become almost an impossible task for the younger generation. This topic sparked lively discussion in the r/GenZ community on Reddit, where thousands of users share their anxieties and personal experiences.

The author of a popular post admitted that even with a "normal income," buying a house remains an unattainable goal, and the thought of having a child evokes more fear than joy. The main reason is the high cost of living. Young Americans have to pay for rent, student loans, and medical bills, leaving almost no savings. "I live to service my debts," admitted one commenter, receiving tens of thousands of supportive likes.

Why Gen Z feels cornered

— Housing is unaffordable. Even with a stable job, saving for a down payment has become almost impossible: property prices have risen several times faster than wages.

— Debt burden. Student loans and mortgages feel like a closed loop with no escape. Many report working 40–50 hours a week, but only having enough money to pay rent and bills.

— Social expectations. While previous generations already had homes and families by age 25–30, Gen Z often only has unpaid loans and a feeling of "falling behind in life" at this age.

Who is blamed?

Two camps clearly emerge in the comments. Some blame the "boomers" — the generation that, according to Zoomers, built an economy based on cheap credit and affordable housing for themselves, but left fewer opportunities for young people. "They bought houses for three salaries, and now we have to pay rent equal to half our income," users write.

Others are more pessimistic, arguing that the system will not change. In their view, even in the U.S., the only way to make life somewhat easier is the army: service provides housing, a stable income, and health insurance, which is increasingly hard to obtain in civilian life.

A symptom of a global problem

Although the discussion focused on the U.S., users from Europe and Canada confirm the same trends: housing prices rise faster than wages, and social mobility declines. For many in Gen Z, buying a home and having children cease to be natural life stages and become almost unattainable goals.

The conclusion from Reddit is alarming: the generation that should be building the future already feels deprived of basic prospects. The dream of a home and family remains at best a beautiful ideal, while in reality, survival and debt management take precedence.