The evidence for today’s 20-somethings is even worse.

Rachel Diamond, 23, moved from her family in Oldham to Portsmouth to pursue her dream career as a graduate engineer. She gets in the early 30,000s and says. “I was very lucky when I got my job straight after the union. So I did everything right, but I still don’t save any money from my salary, like months and months, because it’s so expensive in rent and bills. I don’t think people realize how expensive it is to rent.

“That’s the thing, like council tax, you only get 25% off, so that’s expensive on my own. Again, it’s a choice, living on my own, but still.”

Rachel’s father Paddy says: “I was in the same situation as Rachel when I started working. I left home and lived on my own because I didn’t know anyone where I was going. It was definitely hard for me.

“I bought my first flat in my early 20s. They were earning £20,000 a year and my first flat was £36,000.”