A pushback against the idea that today's young adults can't afford the lifestyle their parents had, framed as reassuring for anyone worried about the cost of living.

• The claim is that groceries actually eat up less of your paycheck now than they did a generation ago.
• Food is also cheaper, more varied, and better quality, with far more restaurant choices than parents had.
• By this view, people today live richer overall — bigger houses, nicer cars, more comfort.
• The frustration young people feel about affordability is dismissed as misplaced, even entitled.

Outlook: Expect this affordability debate to keep flaring as living costs and generational resentment stay in the spotlight.