My boomer aunt pulled me aside at Thanksgiving.

“You know what your problem is?
You spend too much on rent.
When I was your age I bought a house.”
I smiled.
Didn’t tell her the house she bought in 1987 for $79,000 is worth $620,000 today.
Didn’t tell her the down payment she saved in 18 months would take me 11 years to save now.
Didn’t tell her mortgage rates were 5% when she bought and they’re 7% now on a price that’s 8 times higher.
Didn’t tell her the starter home in her neighborhood sold last month for $580,000.
Just said “you’re right aunt Carol.”
Cut my turkey.
And did the math in my head on what her house would cost me today.
The answer was everything.