I don't know if it's because I'm more conscious about money, or what, but I recently found out about 3 situations / people I never want to be.

person #1. A coworker. A single mom - gets child support for one of the children. She has 3 boys 1 in college, 1 just dropped out of a private college, but still owes the money for the tuition this quarter and the 3rd who is still in high school. Phone bills total more than $600 per month (but they "need their phones"). Loads of other bills. She's having health issues and may need to be out of work for a while. She is barely making ends meet. Actually, the ends aren't meeting. She will probaly end up selling her house (which needs repairs) and doing who knows what.

person #2. former coworker. Children grown and married. Lives alone in a house she's been in more than 20 years (spouse died years ago). Works 40+ hours at her job and then does per diem elsewhere abut 40 hours a week. recently moved out of state to be "closer to her son". In reality, even with all that money coming in (> $60K for her full time job and more for the per diem), her house was forclosed on and she "had" to move.

person #3. family friend. recently in the hospital. She needed very expensive medication. Got 1, but wouldn't get the other because it cost to much and she didn't want to charge it and pay interest "for medicine" (but she will pay interest for the stuff "she needs").

Some things with all 3 people are the same. They are the people who take expensive vacations (europe, hawaii). Who have relatively new cars and spend money on whatever they like.
Yet, don't get it when I tell them I'm trying to control my spending. That I'm on a budget. Sure I live paycheck to paycheck. I do it out of choice. I put 15% of my gross paycheck into retirement, >20% of my take home into savings. we spend the rest of my paycheck and my husband's check. But I'm working on year 20 of a mortgage we've had for 10 years. Between retirement and savings we have over $200K. I' ve never thought about not paying for medicine or not paying the mortgage, that comes first, the extras get cut out when necessary.