I grew up comfortably middle-class and never felt I could go hungry. In my twenties I always knew my parents could bail me out. I often quit jobs knowing I could easily get another job (usually a crappy one). It never would've occurred to me to move back in with my parents, but the reality is, that option did exist. So that created a psychological safety net. Today's economy is MUCH WORSE than 1990s when I was young. More student debt, wage stagnation (no one can live on $7.25 an hour!), lack of company provided healthcare, higher costs of gas and housing, and so forth. Having prosperous parents is a gift.