Langley B, I am assuming we ae simialr age and I agree with you that we are/were a fortunate generation. I didnt go to University, though I did have 2 A levels and undertook day relase managemnt qualifactions , do companies give youa day off a week these days. Made it to one level be;low board in UK company with 40,000 people and VP in a US company with many more.
Would I have got that far sans degree these days I rather doubt it.
Have had to give son substantial help to get his first house. A buold from scratch in Czech republic which he feels gives him a better standard of living and work life balance than UK and is in the Eu of course so no travel nonesonse. Daughter will need at least as much when she finally settles down and unless you work for Google or gamble with my and your pension in the City it will need two decent saleries to get a mortgage and how high will rates go.
Despite usual age bias annoyances I feel sorry for majprity of young people today in the UK which is a real have a lot -5% ; dont have quite enough or nowhere near enough 95%
PB