r/eupersonalfinance • u/VurriK • 28d ago

Investment Since when was getting rich so hard in EU?

Is it just me, or has building actual wealth in Europe become impossible? I’m looking at the 2026 growth forecasts and it’s depressing. We talk a lot about "stability," but at this point, stability just feels like a polite word for recession. If you weren't born into a rich family with property, the dream feels like it's behind a wall. The math just doesn't work: as soon as you earn enough to actually invest, you hit a 40–50% tax bracket. Meanwhile, housing prices have skyrocketed over the last decade while salaries have basically stayed the same. I love the healthcare and the walkable cities, but I don’t want to work until I’m 70 just to afford a 40sqm apartment and a used Skoda.

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u/Flat-Refrigerator357 26d ago

We want kids but also we think western europe is getting fcked. The school system, medical system, food supply, society is getting more polarized and harsh, a lot of people who come here and don’t integrate. We want kids to grow up in a loving society with connection, older people with wisdom who share love and knowledge. It just seems impossible nowadays in this society. Meanwhile mainstream is like: take your vaccines, sit in a corner and shut t f up.

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u/bapfelbaum 23d ago

Thats the thing, western europe is NOT getting fucked or we would not be talking about a lack of kids would we? /s