With tuition costs doubling over the last 30 years, student debt mounting, and Gen Z increasingly struggling to land jobs, some parents now believe a down payment beats a diploma.

Perhaps not, according to many Americans. In a recent survey of more than 2,000 consumers, The Harris Poll found that many believe the dream is slipping further away. Across generations, respondents said that homeownership was too hard to break into – and that once achieved, it was too challenging, expensive, or both, to maintain.

Scientists have long tried to decode every dream we have. Some say it’s survival training, others say it’s memory at work, but the truth is far less certain.

How glossy Barbie Dream Fest ads, pricey VIP passes, and $400 photo ops turned a pink fantasy weekend into a cautionary tale for fan conventions.