Real estate and medical debt, including and specifically deductibles in high-deductible health care plans (I have one), have been seriously hampering people's ability to save.
I'm fortunate, but I know a lot of people who are not financially irresponsible who simply cannot put away lots of money in savings and/or who have lost their homes.
My ability to save, so far, has been a result of:
Pure dumb luck, including no disastrous drains of finances. I am married with no children, a DINK, which also helps immensely. My wife works hard, long hours.
Parents who weren't cheap or miserly, but were frugal and talked to me frequently about savings, retirement, taxes, and budgeting. My father grilled me constantly when I got a job that offered a 401K to start saving immediately and wouldn't quit until I confirmed to him that I did. I would have done that anyway but that's an example of what my parents are like. I lived then as I do now in abject financial paranoia on a day to day basis. Finances are an every day thing, not a once-a-month thing, for me. I check my bank accounts once per day and my savings about twice a month, which right now, as you can imagine, is stressful.
Being neurotic about credit card debt and being even more neurotic about spending money. I live in a home smaller than I can afford. I buy very little for myself in terms of luxuries. This is not a matter of character and discipline, but pure dysfunctional financial neurosis over which I have no control. It is paranoia and worry. I currently have no credit card debt, because lucky me.
Parents who had me working since I was 13 (paper route) onward to the present, encouraging me to earn money to buy the things I wanted through working the unpleasant, shitty jobs available to young people. I've worked in self-storage facilities, as a cashier in a grubby discount store, concession stand in a large amusement park (the worst job I ever had), and so on. I learned to put up with hating my job and my bosses and doing it anyway. I don't recommend this, but it has some upsides. Currently I work in a job I hate, but for bosses I like, so I can only complain so much. I have no interpersonal issues doing my job which goes a long way, when I think I want to quit and walk into the woods to die or something.
The understanding that work is misery and I would likely never find employment doing something I liked (I salute those who do). Resigned, therefore, to hating work, my day-to-day attitude has been: I can work hard in a shitty job for low pay. I can slack in a shitty job for low pay. I can work hard in a shitty job for higher pay. I am probably not smart enough to find a job I can slack in for higher pay. I chose the third option. I figured early on if I was going to be miserable working (and I am), I was going to do it for as much pay as possible. To that end, I constantly sought out opportunities even doing things I had no interest in doing provided they paid well. I don't say no to my employers. This may make me a dishrag, but it makes me a very employable, and fairly paid one.
I have no idea how to fix this problem as life shouldn't be like this. I have friends who work harder than I do, who are smarter than I am, for far less pay and security.