This is not true in all places and often people "feel like" things are worse than they are, but yes some really are stuck, and more right-wing policies will make it worse. I worked since I was 14 but didn't start career until 2000. I spent within what I made, while friends didn't and they had financial issues. I worked hard at various jobs and had student loans that I paid off, paid rent, food, car, all of it. I fully agree that companies need to pay more, better benefits and universal healthcare, and we will only get those for all, if enough politicians are elected at once to pass big reforms. It sucks if it's really impossible to cut costs and learn new ways that MMM and others do, and it's not just higher incomes if you look into it. There is a post for jobs over $50k w/o degree, which is old so incomes should be more than that now. Ask how can you make this work rather than why it's impossible, you can do it! It is sad that some get stuck in a hole to start and keep digging in deeper, when they could learn how to do better. (not my blog but learned a lot from it and leanfire skills improve life generally) mrmoneymustache.com/2012/05/11/food-rules-a-shortcut-to-better-health/

mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02/22/getting-rich-from-zero-to-hero-in-one-blog-post/