Many over 50 are still saddled with student loans

[IrishAyes]

14. As an early boomer, I think mine was probably the last generation

where average middle class parents could afford to send one or more kids to college so there'd be no debt hanging over anyone at graduation. Of course we took side jobs when we could and did everything possible to help ourselves, but it was strictly pay as you go. You'd have to be really well off to even dream of that today. And that's so sad. My ex and I were able to buy our first home at age 23 all on our own. Back then that was normal. I haven't even paid a mortgage for close to 30 years because we lived on his income and saved my salary the first few years. By the time we divorced I might've been house-poor but I did have a house at least, and I tried to time the market when I wanted to move.

That's not remotely possible anymore.