re: 78 % of non-OT members live paycheck to paycheck

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They have almost 50k in credit card debt and want to buy a 600k house.

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The frick they want a 600k house for with 50k in revolving?

What's their credit score? 400?!

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Some people going paycheck to paycheck aren't even able to put money towards retirement.

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Sure, a percentage are, but I bet the larger percentage aren't willing to vs able to.

Here is why I disagree with that definition (and keep in mind I realize there are different ways to view it:

The majority of the percentage meationed in the OP is fundamentally a spending problem, not an income problem.

Retirement savings, while potentionally accessible, are typically illiquid.

So what is the functional difference from an accounting perspective in tying up cash flow in that and tying up cash flow in frivolous spending? You are still suffering the same effects in your present day financial standing. You can immediately alter your habits for more money. You might even have an asset you can sell at a loss (like retirement funds) if you are in a pinch.

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frick all that. Reality is, a lot of people get sidetracked by a giant medical bill or totaling their vehicle or a dozen other unexpected, large bills.

Sounds like you were just poor and while that’s the case for many people, others get derailed by unexpected shite and it takes a long time to recover.

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I dont disagree with you here but thats not most people. Most people are making enough money for a period of time before something unexpected bites them in the arse but in their hubris they failed to save for such an event thinking that the good times will always roll. They then want to cry victim.

In my example above of those 3-4 years we were struggling, we would have been pounded by something major but thats what friends and family are for. We DID in fact have a couple unexpected problems arise during that period but because we were responsible we were able to either make personal loans through our bank or sell off some of our goods or work overtime or insert solution here.

How many people you know always racked up crushing medical debt their entire life that they could never get out from under? I personally, only know of one. She was born with spina bifida but her parents took care of all of her medical bills before she grew up and struck out on her own.

The only time I feel that people deserve help is when they are just starting out in life and they havent inherited any resources. It takes time to build wealth. And by "help" I mean opportunity to earn something. Not a free handout.

If youre 25-30+ and youre still struggling then 9/10 you made poor choices in life and/or refused to budget/sacrifice.

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Why is it so difficult for people to live within their means and live on less than what they make? Is this really a hard concept for the majority of people to grasp?

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The cost of living keeps rising, and wages aren't keeping up. So even if you live a "modest" lifestyle, it is difficult. The cost of housing, daycare, fuel, food, etc. has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. Wages have not.