Savings are getting exhausted to compensate for lack of wage increases offsetting historical inflation. We have to watch every dollar we spend and in the event something unplanned happens, ie major health event leading to high medical bills, major house improvement item comes up, ie new AC unit, appliance, etc, we are in trouble.
Okay, this is what I was concerned with -- someone in dire shape due to rising costs. Understandable when you don't have the margin or savings to provide a buffer.
I can relate to people living paycheck to paycheck, hoping they didn't stumble and constantly looking over their shoulder. I lived that way too long, until such time as I figured out what was really necessary and what was not. I caught a break with the ACA just in time as well.