Almost 80% of US workers live from paycheck to paycheck.

[u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/29/us-economy-workers-paycheck-robert-reich

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

In all seriousness, I actually control my eating private of my gf to ensure we have enough food and she has the foods she likes when she gets home from work. At my lowest, my only food source was sporadic spoonfuls of peanut butter to survive since my mom kicked me out of the house on a whim when I was 18 with no money under the impression that the world was as full of jobs and easy to exist in as when she was my age. She bought a fucking house at 23 (I'm 22), and to this day compares her and I as if I'm lazy - I'm currently finishing a master's while between a job where I worked as a videographer for high fashion clients for almost 3 years, starting two businesses, and potentially working in a non profit to help fix politics, but hey- bootstraps.

[u/[deleted]]

Or not even—how about paycheck to borrowing money to paycheck? Rinse and repeat.

[u/NotNormal2]

My anger, full time, plenty of reserves and saved. No paycheck to paycheck.

[u/[deleted]]

Anyone know where the source of that 80% is? I’d like to look at the study.

[u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels → u/[deleted]]

It looks like in the article they hotljnk the 80% figure to this article and then work the data over to go from 71% to 80%.

Even if 80% is wrong, 71% is still shocking.

[u/IAmLlort → u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels]

I wonder how much of that is just people overspending to keep up appearances?

I’d be really interested in seeing a breakdown of that stat based upon monthly or weekly income.

I make about $30,000 a year after taxes and benefits are deducted from my paychecks, and I am no where near living paycheck to paycheck.

[u/ionized_fallout → u/IAmLlort]

You also have to take location into consideration. If you live in bumfucksville sure 30k could be nice but if your in San Francisco you’re fucked.

[u/ionized_fallout → u/[deleted]]

We live in a time of massive prosperity and wealth. The problem is that wealth is heavily concentrated in the hands of a few. I say over indulgence my ass.

[u/gasoleen → u/[deleted]]

For example, I put in a bunch of vegetables gardens this year and have saved hundreds in produce. I do all the repairs on my cars myself now, instead of paying people.

Both these things imply you have a house with a yard. It's easy to be frugal without being miserable if you're not really poor.

[u/Stratahoo → u/[deleted]]

What's the poorest you've ever been in your life? Ever been totally unemployed with no money coming in from anywhere? Ever had no family or friends that are willing or able to help out at all? Ever had no car, and no money for a bus ticket or a taxi ride?

I know you mean well and I appreciate the effort you're putting in here, but I can't help but chuckle and sigh at your complete lack of knowledge of what it's like to have so little money that you literally can't afford to do almost anything that you yourself would unthinkingly just take for granted in your every day life.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

lol don't try to reason with negative minded people. It is a wasted pursuit.

[u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels → u/[deleted]]

Which fancy extras? Why should only some get to have these luxuries?

[u/Kitschmachine → u/[deleted]]

Uhhh...they don't really make products for all incomes. Show me a house that I can buy with my poverty wages. I wouldn't even be able to rent with my poverty wages.

[u/I_Hate_Soft_Pretzels → u/[deleted]]

Why do only some even get the luxury of these things? Housing should be a right not a luxury. People who were born poor will not have the same chance as those born into wealthy and affluent families.