The House Between Two Generations

When my grandfather was young, he bought a small flat in the city for very little money.

He worked in a factory and saved for years, but houses were cheap then.

Today, that same flat is worth more than ten times what he paid for it.

My parents, however, were not so lucky.

They married in the 1990s, when prices began to climb quickly.

They rented for a long time because they could not afford a deposit.

Eventually, my grandmother helped them with some money from her savings.

Without that help, they would never have bought their own home.

Now my sister and I face an even harder situation.

Even a tiny flat costs far more than our yearly salaries, and we both have good jobs.

My grandfather says we should simply save harder, but he does not really understand how different things are now.

Last month, my parents offered to let me live with them rent-free for two years so I can save for a deposit.

I accepted, though I felt both grateful and a little ashamed.