Americans outside the wealthiest 20% of the country have run out of extra savings and now have less cash on hand than they did when the pandemic began, according to the latest Federal Reserve study of household finances.
I consider myself strictly lower middle class, but my savings has increased over the last 3 or so years - low 5 figures last time I checked. it’s not particularly difficult to save - just spend less than you earn. learning how to live frugally does take some effort but it’s a simple concept.
There is a book you should read called Nickle and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. It’s a journalist account of trying to live for I think 3 months on minimum wage in the US. It’s a light quick read and you might appreciate the perspective.
Equally importantly it is from 2001 and $5.15 then is equivalent to $9 today, almost 25% higher than the current federal minimum wage
Spending less than you earn isn’t a realistic prospect for A LOT of people. In many areas the cost of living has increased so dramatically that even those pinching pennies, eating simple cheap meals like chicken and rice every night are feeling it. The inflation numbers being distributed by the government are at this point, a straight up fabrication, with no relation to how the economy is actually functioning. In terms of actual costs real people are paying, things have doubled or tripled in cost across the board since 2020 at the grocery store, not to mention how outrageous rent has become. Unless you are also doubling or tripling your income every few years, it’s easy to see where all that money is going.
I consider myself strictly lower middle class, but my savings has increased over the last 3 or so years - low 5 figures last time I checked. it’s not particularly difficult to save - just spend less than you earn. learning how to live frugally does take some effort but it’s a simple concept.
“Just spend less than you earn” fucking genius lol
Why hadn’t anyone thought of that before?
no idea. perhaps easy credit/debt is to blame?
Just save more money bro when rent is $1500 and you make $8 an hour
if you make $8/hr, you dont live somewhere that has $1500/mo rent - you get roommates or you move.
There is a book you should read called Nickle and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. It’s a journalist account of trying to live for I think 3 months on minimum wage in the US. It’s a light quick read and you might appreciate the perspective.
Equally importantly it is from 2001 and $5.15 then is equivalent to $9 today, almost 25% higher than the current federal minimum wage
Where do you live? I feel like your experience is very much tempered by your cost of living.
It helps when you use birth control
Only rich people should have kids, only white people are rich, no I am not a eugenicist why do you ask
I’d argue nobody should have kids. At least for 20 years.
Spending less than you earn isn’t a realistic prospect for A LOT of people. In many areas the cost of living has increased so dramatically that even those pinching pennies, eating simple cheap meals like chicken and rice every night are feeling it. The inflation numbers being distributed by the government are at this point, a straight up fabrication, with no relation to how the economy is actually functioning. In terms of actual costs real people are paying, things have doubled or tripled in cost across the board since 2020 at the grocery store, not to mention how outrageous rent has become. Unless you are also doubling or tripling your income every few years, it’s easy to see where all that money is going.