Title: I only have my own situation and experience to go on, so I will start there. I&#x27;m in my late 30&#x27;s. I make roughly $110k per year. I am single, no dependents. I live in a studio apartment near Seattle. I drive a 10 year old economy car. I do eat out some of the time, but nothing extravagant, and no drinks. Overall, I am not absolutely as frugal as I could possibly be, but I think I&#x27;m fairly frugal. My biggest expenses in the last couple years have been rent, medical, and dental in that order. My retirement is very under-funded. I do have more savings than most people, but it isn&#x27;t enough to change my lifestyle in any big way.<p>A couple things. I am <i>not</i> here to complain about my lot in life, or seek advice. I understand that I&#x27;m better off than most. I realize it is unavoidable that some people will argue that the economy is better than ever, and it&#x27;s all about personal responsibility. I accept that - I can just ignore those comments.<p>The only people I know who seem to be comfortable and have their financial lives in order have had steady, high middle-management type positions for a long time. They&#x27;re a small minority of the people I know.<p>My question is, <i>what is the problem</i>, really? I am fairly sure this is not the type of situation my grandparents lived in. I feel under a lot of pressure all the time, and yet it seems I am not quite &#x27;making it&#x27; financially or materially. Is that how it is for everybody? Is something wrong with the economy, or is this just how the human hierarchy has always worked? Is it me, the country, the region, the times, or everything, or nothing?
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