Kinda does feel like every time I get to a milestone in life, the ladder has just been pulled up a few years prior

Because the billionaires want their “fair” share?

I think you’ll find a lot of pensioners in the UK are struggling and have been for many years:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/articles/3.4-million-pensioners-more-than-one-in-four-are-struggling-financially-and-nearly-half-of-them-have-been-struggling-for-three-years-or-more/

If you rely on just the UK State Pension, it’s not easy - perhaps Helen McCarthy should try living on only the State Pension amount for 6 months?

Those of us living a “comfortable retirement” have achieved that by paying in to company and private pensions.