This guy is building a solid future by sacrificing current spending, and you look down on him. Instead, you recommend he buy Bitcoin, which will turn to crap long after those houses keep rising in value.

As someone who did the same many years ago, I now enjoy a substantial net worth and rental income from my portfolio of properties -- properries acquired by driving crappy cars and investing in real estate.

"The idea is, if you live a terrible life now, then in a few decades you can retire rich off your investment properties."

Yes, that is the idea. And it works. Since you put this in the "defective" category of the American Dream, it demonstrates to me that you have no idea what you are talking about.

http://ochousingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/American_Dream_Just_add_money.jpg