&gt;&gt;Because rampant consumerism isn&#x27;t the issue.<p>Sorry to break the bad news to you, but rampant consumerism actually is the issue.<p>&gt;&gt;Most families are responsible with their money.<p>No, in fact their spending decision don&#x27;t even remotely reflect any sense of responsibility.<p>&gt;&gt;Their greatest expense?<p>If you think, smaller delta spending doesn&#x27;t matter. Alas, I&#x27;m sorry that&#x27;s the whole point behind indulging into consumerism  without even realizing you are.<p>&gt;&gt;Rent&#x2F;mortgage which is pushed up by<p>Demands.<p>&gt;&gt;bankers issuing insane amounts of debt that out-pace wages<p>You always have the option to move to the city outskirts, where houses are affordable. It will take more effort to commute and all, but cheap has to count for something. And you could save money to borrow less.<p>&gt;&gt;real problem is economic rent extraction by people who are adding zero value to society.<p>Houses don&#x27;t get build out of fairies dropping suitcases full of money outside people&#x27;s houses. They earn it, work for it. And make investments.<p>You are all welcome to invest and grow. But just because you don&#x27;t want to, it doesn&#x27;t make others greedy and evil.