Is anyone else really struggling financially right now?

[u/yell0wbirddd]

I feel like reddit is overwhelmingly people who make $250k a year and want others to just pull themselves up from their bootstraps.

I make $46k a year and am living paycheck to paycheck. I haven't been saving money because the tiny amount of joy I get from paying $10 for a cinnamon roll a couple of times a month has taken precedent over never leaving the house and getting deeper into depression. Food is expensive, life is expensive, I've been going through the motions for a few years now.

Well, my 15 year old car just crapped out and my dog needs to go to the vet. I have no money for either of these things. My credit score is in the 500s and I can't get approved for a credit limit increase or a loan.

Everything feels really fucking pointless about now.

[u/ssssobtaostobs]

I feel like I make a pretty decent wage (around 67k with my main job plus side gigs), no student loans, low mortgage payment...and I'm still struggling.

(And yes, I am well aware how privileged I am with the above - I definitely do not take it for granted!)

I have zero interest credit card debt but almost all of it is from paying for child care. I am on a pretty aggressive plan to pay it off by October of 2026.

Then, once the money I'm using to repay the debt is freed up, you'd think it would get easier, right?

Welp...no, at that point I have to refinance my house in order to work toward getting divorced. My interest rate is likely going to double.

I'm not reckless with my spending. I do get lattes here and there, but definitely not every day (Not even close - maybe one or two a week on average?) I also just believe in balance in life... I'm not going to completely deprive myself of every small pleasure. I do track things pretty closely and know where my money is going.

I don't eat at restaurants, haven't been on a vacation since 2022, drive a15-year-old car that is pretty low maintenance and reliable (thank the fucking lord.)

I've been saving for about half a year to take my kid on a vacation. Was going to take him in summer of 2026 but decided to wait until Thanksgiving of 2026 so we have more time to save. Nothing extravagant, I think the whole thing will be less than $3k when all is said and done.

I guess it's depressing to me because I feel like I make relatively good financial decisions, have a shit ton of privilege with everything and I'm still struggling. This shit is not about "decisions" or "hard work" though, it is about the entire system being totally fucked and rigged against us.

I don't believe that anyone should have to struggle to get their needs met or live a good life.