You can still do this. You might not have people in your social circle and family who meet these criteria, but it's happening all around you. Just anecdotally in my own family, I've got 20something nieces and nephews who own homes and are raising multiple children on single salaries with a stay-at-home parent, two cars, and a comfortable life. Sure, it's not easy, but it's not that unusual. They're happy, comfortable, and self-sufficient.