Buy ramen, skip meals, Put off getting new shoes for another year, Don't get a haircut, skip an oil change, run your car on a donut, cut cable or internet or phone for a few months, pick up overtime or get a second job, wait for tax refund.

There is flexibility but doesn't mean you have savings. When you are poor some things are an emergency and sometimes you have flexibility or a chance to earn a bit more money. But when you are poor life is expensive and there is a ton of things you can buy as an upgrade, fix, or comfort.

When you are poor there is an endless list of things that need to be fixed and improved.

Median income for an individual is $50k median which is $39,129 a year after taxes. $3,260 monthly budget. Rent for 1 bedroom is $1,496 that is 46% of your real income. Usda say cost for food for male is 300$ a month on the low side that brings you to $1,464. Transportation for a household with 1 car(not median individual) is 410$ a month. $1054-electric $84- phone $140-water $30- health insurance $456 - car insurance $165- internet $75 =$104 leftover

Some of these costs are a mix of average per person or median per person. Health insurance cost you money to use. I didn't put dental or eye insurance it is easy for you to live in a place where these expenses are more or less. Only recently has 10% of Americans built positive wealth. I think we got it to 7% recently people aren't in total debt. (1% of Americans is 3.5 million people)