[Red John]

Yup, it's all about living within your means.

Pretty funny to see comments about "social unrest" when these same middle-class people who apparently can't get ahead financially are still going on nice vacations every year, carrying loans on two cars, have a maxed-out card or unsecured LOC, go out drinking once a week, and eat out at restaurants constantly. Or the ones with kids who take private music lessons, play organized hockey and learn a 2nd language on the weekend. There's a good chance one or more of these factors applies to most middle-class.

Check to see the business numbers of car dealerships or these restaurants and you'll see they aren't hurting at all. Why do you think every dealer is offering bi-weekly financing over 84-96 months these days? A Mazda dealership in the Okanagan is advertising buying a car for $7/day right now. This isn't to lure in the rich clients that's for sure. It's all aimed at the middle class.

It's anecdotal evidence obviously but one of my close relatives raises a family of nine kids on a single income (which is less than 50k). They carry a mortgage too. It seems impossible from an outside standpoint but they just don't blow their money on luxuries. No new cars. No vacations. A lot of clothes for kids are hand me downs.

The point is, 100k is a LOT of money to live on comfortably if you're willing to adjust your lifestyle accordingly, and most people aren't. It's amazing to see people living off dual incomes who are still elbows deep in debt and it's because it's not how much money is coming in, it's how much is going back out.

Live within your means. That may mean sacrificing the hockey season tickets, or the golf membership, or the car lease, or the trip to Maui every year.

People like "V" get it.