An issue here is that providing general advice about increasing income non-linearly is much more difficult and less reliable than decreasing expenses. Almost a

An issue here is that providing general advice about increasing income non-linearly is much more difficult and less reliable than decreasing expenses. Almost anyone can decrease expenses, but how many will succeed at increasing income outside of extra work? (Remember, something like 90% of new businesses fail). There are a few ways that are reasonably reliable. Owning multi-family housing has a pretty easy to understand cost and revenue, and property ownership can be leveraged to purchase additional property, and so on. If someone I don't know (we're talking about internet forums here), I don't know their personality, their strengths or weaknesses, they say "I want to become financially independent". Well I can almost guarantee if they eat out half as much, walk/bike to work instead of making car payments, they'll be in a much better financial position. If I tell them to create a tech startup ... well, that could end in several ways but probably not good. Additionally, what does it cost them to follow the advice? Spending less, by definition, has no cost. But saying "buy an apartment complex" or "start a tech company" has real cost. How do they get to the point where they can do those things if they can't afford it now? That's again where the "spend less" comes in.