My dad got paid on the Friday before his wedding day in 1961 and as usual in a large immigrant family, he handed his paycheck over to his mom. Despite starting the marriage with no savings, and with 3 of 5 children born by ‘65, my parents were able to save enough, even while paying rent, within four years to put a down payment on a ranch house. My mom being pregnant through those years was not allowed to teach at that time so they were a one income family. That couldn’t happen today for most.