>By "live", I mean "do the optional parts of life", like vacation, date, spend money on hobbies, rent a place other than the cardboard box under the bridge, etc

>By "live", I mean "do the optional parts of life", like vacation, date, spend money on hobbies, rent a place other than the cardboard box under the bridge, etc. If you're hit by a financial emergency, those things are exactly what you won't have the money to do anyway. At least now you can make decisions about what to cut while not under stress and the impeding deadline of bills coming due. Pay out now or pay out much more later; it's your choice.