I don’t know where you live or what’s up with your friends.
I live in Texas and I am far from affluent, but just reporting what I observe from my children, their friends, people in my church in that age group.
People you describe with degrees and jobs in high paying fields should be doing well.
I’m not calling your post BS; obviously you believe what you are saying and, anyway, I’m trying not to be rude.
The worst is still to come in another ten years when the crush of retirees collecting Social Security and Medicare gets added to my tax bill. About a quarter of the people I work with have less than 5 years until they are eligible to retire, anther quarter in ten years. A lot of these folks are coasting along, riding it out until they retire with fat pension funds and fat 401Ks and everyone of them “entitled” to social security. My generation won’t have any chance once they start picking our pockets to subsidize their retirements.
It might be revealing to know how much debt and savings the young folks around you have. My circle of friends is mostly from church and they seem to be aware and capable with money and do not carry much in the way of debt. We see a lot of people overextended between mortgages, car payments and credit cards. Unfortunately their debts will likely last longer than shoddy materials and workmanship in the houses they overextend themselves to buy.
Many people despise blue collar work. One of the biggest issues I had was either go to college because of the pressure to be seen as educated or start my own business. I took 1 quarter and realized if I put the same money and energy into my business as I would into college, in five years I would be way better off.
I was right.