You either make just enough money to pay your bills, or you don't. If you make more money, you likely have another bill for student loans. If you're lucky enough to make even more money, one of your “bills” is your retirement. If you were able to buy a house, you're afraid of the furnace crapping out because you don't have the money to replace it. The bottom line is that no one has anything leftover, no cash on hand regardless of how much you make as an average American. Anyone who looks like they are living the “American Dream” from the outside is actually in debt way over what they can afford, which is why everyone feels like they are living paycheck to paycheck. People used to work to live their lives, now we only work to pay our bills and nothing else. You can't take a vacation because you either don't have the money, can't get time off work, or if you do, you'll be punished by returning to a week's worth of work that you will never catch up on. You can't enjoy your days off because you are too exhausted from working. I mean, really, how is anyone supposed to find happiness in this life? When did America become okay with this miserable existence?