I find it tone deaf because the vast majority of people are getting by on much, much less. I said $200K isn't that much because I was responding to the article

I find it tone deaf because the vast majority of people are getting by on much, much less. I said $200K isn't that much because I was responding to the article saying $200K is in the 1%-5% and those making that much use offshore tax shelters and other practices. $200K immediately becomes what, $140K or less after taxes? My original comment still stands; I don't think someone making $140K is in the top percentages of wealth and hiding their money in offshore schemes. So to say it isn’t much comes across as oblivious to the way most people live, and potentially not aware of the problems that the average person faces. I spent a decade working in the nonprofit sector with low-income, homeless, addicts, etc., with my first job at $24K and my last job in the sector at $55K. I think I'm somewhat aware of what the average person faces. You and others on my post have covered things adequately, but I would just add that sometimes things aren't about lifestyle choices/sometimes there are no "good" choices -- If you have to pay $3K for rent in an average apartment because it's close to your new job that pays more, really the only other option besides not taking the job is to move farther out, but then you pay more in transportation, insurance, parking, etc.