Residents of Phoenix are feeling the heat, and it’s not just the weather. Instead, it’s the relentless rise in inflation that has tightened its grip on household budgets, forcing many to reevaluate their spending and lifestyle choices. The current financial reality has become painfully clear: The American dream has become a distant memory, seemingly out of reach for many Phoenix families.
Christopher is a young professional in Arizona (he asked not to use his full name). His story is emblematic of a larger struggle faced by many in his generation, as the dream of financial independence feels increasingly elusive.
He graduated from Arizona State University in 2023 with an English degree. Now, he works in the human resources department at an in-patient rehabilitation hospital in Mesa. Living with his mother in Scottsdale—an arrangement borne of necessity rather than…
