My father often tells me that financial success comes down to discipline.

I don’t doubt that discipline matters.
But so does timing.
He entered adulthood when buying a home was within reach for an average paycheck.
Retirement came with a pension.
Healthcare costs were a fraction of what many families pay today.
Meanwhile, a large share of my income disappears into rent before I can think about saving, investing, or buying a home.
At family dinner he asked why more young people aren’t getting ahead financially.
I smiled and changed the subject.
Because explaining that two generations faced two very different economies would’ve turned dinner into a debate.
Hard work still matters.
But it’s much easier to climb when the ladder hasn’t been raised while you’re still reaching for the first rung.