Honestly, I'm coming around to the idea that our generations [*] are this way because we have been squeezed so hard. Take my mum, who bought her first house WITH CASH when she was working as a nurse in the 1960s. No side hustles, mind you. Just saving her salary for a few years before buying that house. Who can do that these days?

Oh, she was also PAID to go to nursing school. Because it was a trade, and not really an "academic study", she actually got paid to study. Nowadays, it seems everyone's drowning in student debt.

TLDR: I think we're this mercenary because our circumstances have forced us to be this way unless we somehow break free with some "unusual side hustles." (shameless self-promotion here :P)

[*] I say "generations" because, at 42 this year, I'm probably old enough to be your dad. Damn, that wasn't easy for me to admit..