I'm normal and I managed. Granted there were two of us saving (me and the missus) but we both had student debts, council tax and all the other usual bills to pay. We just made sure we put a bit away each pay packet and if that meant not going out for a couple of weekends then so be it. It takes years but is worth it in the end. There'd be no chance of me being able to afford somewhere in London on my own tho.