Go search Zillow, they're there. I never said anything about it being an amazing house, youll have to fix it up or have a longer commute or not the best area.

Thats what I am talking about, I never said anyone could or should afford a family on 36k yet you're assuming I'm saying that, you just keep strawmaning everything I say. Ive just been saying the world owes you nothing and you got to live within your means and make sacrifices in some areas if you want success in others. You portray this idea of a family life you seem entitled to and the world owes it to you but thats not how the world works. You want a home, stay at home SO, kids, then it is on YOU to go EARN a job to support that lifestyle. And if you can't get that job with enough income, then you are going to have to cut corners and sacrifice or change your plans, whether you like it or not. Hence why I brought up the coffee example, if you're lifestyle (whatever it may be) is not meeting your income (strapped for cash) your lifestyle is the problem, especially since we were originally talking about people making 60-70k which I don't care where youre at, a small family could easily live off of that and not live pay check to pay check. And for some odd reason you need more cash, we'll I guess the SO will need to make a sacrifice and get a job too.

Now I know you aren't actually reading what I'm writing but just picking and choosing what you want to see as I clearly said that I was making less before col AND RAISES (and youre assuming I've worked at the same place the whole time). You dont even understand basic math and finances as 25k to 36k is a 50% increase in pay yet you think I'm making the same exact money (sometimes you only get like a 25-50 cent raise in a year which only equals $500-1000 a year, welcome to the life of a front line worker, the people which people like you look down on yet act like you are the champion for). Good luck with yourself as I'm tired of saying the same thing over and over and you completely ignoring what I've said. I already addressed everything you just posted and can go back and read for my reply.

Make better choices or live with the consequences.

I have over 100k in my 401k and I'm in my mid 30s so retirement is totally fine and well on pace, got 20k in my bank account, bought my car new a couple years back outright so don't have to buy another for over 20 years... all on my 36k a year living by myself since I was 21 (actually less as most of the time I was making 25-30k before COL increases and raises) and its not like I don't spend money, I just am more thoughtful like I rarely eat out and would rather make the same thing at home for half the price. If I was making 50k, I'd easily have enough to own a house within 10 years (with a mortgage obviously which I would pay off early).

Thats great other people value taking vacations that cost chunks of money, thats is THEIR CHOICE how to spend their money but they also had the choice to not go and save it if they really wanted a house. Sometimes in life you can't have both options and whatever choice you make you have to live with. You picked your profession, picked where you live, what you buy, what hobbies you have, whether to have kids or not, everything involving what you make and how you live is all your choice so stop blaming the outcomes of all these on others and start looking at what you can control.

What "keeps the middle class broke" as you call this is people's inability to properly manage their own finances, unable to live within their means. My examples were just some small items that most people take for granted yet if you actually extrapolate them out over a year and then add up all these tiny luxury expenses, you easily start seeing it adds up to a decent chunk of their yearly income.

A simple example is someone who has to get a coffee at a coffee stand every workday. Let's say you spend $4 a day on this, thats $20 a week or $1000 a year... for coffee. Delivery food, thats another $4 plus tipping thats another $4. So $3000 a year just for those 3 simple things. Now obviously thats just rough numbers assuming someone does that everyday but its meant to drive home a point, people waste their money without realizing it.

People need to take accountability for their own spending habits first before blaming lack of pay. I don't care where in the US you live, if you are making over 50k a year and having trouble getting by, then you need to look at yourself and your decisions first. Debt, kids, any other reasons people use, all are based off decisions you made in the past which you should have thought through the consequences more. If one lives within their means, you never have this issue and you can eventually better your situation through hardwork and sacrifice (ie saving up money instead of taking that trip to the Bahamas for 3k). But all I hear now adays is entitlement and blaming everyone but themselves.

If people didn't blow all their extra disposable income on a new phone every 6 months, 10+ different monthly subscription services, eating out or getting delivery 4-5 nights a week or buying a coffee everyday, etc and saved a good chunk of that money, you'd realize most people actually make plenty of money. But they waste it on stupid stuff instead of saving that money up and buying a home. The average American makes around 40k a year. I make 36k, pay 1200 in rent for my 1 bedroom by myself and still have plenty of money. If someone making nearly twice that isnt considered "livable", then idk what is. If they just saved that difference (30-40k), in 10 years they would be free and clear paid off on a starter home (300-400k).