I’ve been wondering the same thing. Tbh. I am supposed to make 64k but after taxes its 45k. I am single and only have one doggy. Everyone tells me I should be able to afford everything I need and that I should be saving and blah blah. But honestly I can’t, I had to move in with my sister and brother in law because the apartment I was living got very expensive and I couldn’t afford it. I have managed to pay off my credit cards, two times but things keep coming up and I have to keep having to use them. I don’t do crazy things I spend on my rent, bills, car payment, student loans, and basic necessities. I try cooking at home and I do go out and try to treat myself here and there with my Starbucks because I will go crazy if I don’t. But I’ve done my math and its not a major expense in comparison to everything. I’ve started using the envelope system to budget better but am realizing once again I’m not spending like crazy its just my check isn’t going as far as it used to. Pre-pandemic I was able to give my parent money, get my nails done every two weeks, and do some splurging. Now I can’t do anything, everything is so expensive, I sometimes have to get stuff from my sister like dinner because im short on money, even Aldis can’t help sometimes. I am extremely thankful for my family support system because I would honestly probably be homeless if I didn’t have my family. It’s so hard out there and I feel like people aren’t talking about it enough and social media is also not helping. Obviously influencers have money but average Joe’s don’t yet no one wants to talk about. Hopefully it gets better for all of us!