Man, if you only knew the concessions I have to make in order to live the way I choose. Yes, I'm quite familiar with living paycheck to paycheck (I've had $3 to my name since last Friday). In fact, I got laid off from the job that caused me to move 100 miles away. Picked up the first nearby gig I could, finished out my lease, and moved back to where I came from. I ended up spending 3 months unemployed when I came back and the only support I received was a kind friend's ear and food stamps. I took any job I could, including multiple work at home gigs and eventually a job at Time Warner Cable that allowed me to crawl back on my feet.

I live alone. I've had some horrendous experiences with roommate and I choose not to put myself in that situation again. It's incredibly financially taxing, but I choose to do it and I don't complain about being broke because there are other options. I just chose the option that works best for me and allows me to live in the comfort of my solitude at home.

Yes, I feel for people that can't support their families. But on the flip side they did choose to have children and accepted that responsibility as their own. I chose not to have kids (yet? at all? still undecided) and instead took out student loans and got my A.S. I chose a lifestyle that allows me to have a social life. Never in my life have I made more than $35k, and right now I'm barely squeaking past $30k, but I'm still able to accomplish what I set my mind to. Not being of privilege or support, but because I'm willing to do what's necessary for myself.

Hell, when I was 19 I was living in my car for 6 weeks and bouncing around friends houses when I could and I still managed to move 500 miles away and start a new life for myself. Like I said, it all comes down to planning and perseverance. And I really hope I'm not coming off as holier than thou with all of this; I'm just trying to use some of my own experiences and challenges to relate to my mindset on this subject.