LIVING PAYCHECK to paycheck is defined as spending “all of the money from one paycheck before receiving the next paycheck.” But living that way doesn’t have much to do with income level, even though the idea is often presented that way.
One study says 53% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000 live paycheck to paycheck, including 70% of millennials. The popular claim is that 50% of Americans are just scraping by. To that, I say, “balderdash.”
Here’s the flaw that applies to all except those in the lowest income brackets: The “spend” part of the definition includes all spending, not just on necessities. Spending can eat up an entire paycheck without it being a sign of financial distress.
Come to think of it, although retired, I live paycheck to paycheck. My pay is all spent after paying for two homes, two cars, vacations and funding my grandkids’ 529 plans.
Are there Americans who struggle to cover the basics? Of course. A study, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data, says the lowest 20% of earners do spend 100% of their incomes from all sources. But even then, their annual spending includes more than $2,700 on eating out and entertainment.
One bit of research claims Americans spend $1,497 a month on non-necessities. Much of this money goes toward eating out, which—the survey claims—consumes an average $787.28 a month. Another study says the average American spends $697 a month on non-necessities, with millennials running higher at $838 a month. If millennials invested half of that extra spending, they’d have more than $600,000 after 30 years, assuming an 8% annual return.
If you doubt my curmudgeonly observations, stroll the streets of any town. Count the businesses providing decidedly beyond-the-basic goods and services—as well as those selling lottery tickets.
Admittedly, these spending numbers are based on surveys that are questionable in accuracy. In this case, however, I’m betting they understate true spending. How many people will say they can’t come up with $400 to cover a financial emergency and then admit they spend $30 a week on designer coffee?
Looking at only one-half of the income-and-spending equation leads to distorted policies—like a family of four earning $300,000 a year receiving government payments from the child-care tax credit.
HumbleDollar. Richard Quinn | Oct 8, 2021, 1:23 pm ET
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Agree with all of what you say.
There is a class of people served by the Salvation Army who are scraping by. I was an intake person to qualify people for the Angel Tree gift giving for the kids. The woman came in happy. I asked her the husband’s income: “$1,200/mo.” I asked whether they rented or owned. “Owned! We just refinanced!” Great! What’s your mortgage? $1,200/mo. Me (overwhelmed): How do you live?? “My husband moonlights”
They are one illness away from losing everything. I classify them as “scraping by”.
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