>>1
>>2
I'm in the same boat. It sucks ass, especially since the rich and lazy get everything, where as the hardworking become more and more poor with restrictions and shit that the rich and lazy can offord with there papa money and illgotten gains.
>>5
Dude, I live a modest life. The only extravegance I have is an 18 dollar a month internet, a DS (with only a handful of bargain payed games), and a CD player.
I walk (don't have a car and don't plan on getting one), I pay rent (not mortgage/home owning stuff), I think coffee houses are a waste of time, I almost never watch movies, I don't vacation, I don't eat in restaurants unless invited by someone, I don't smoke or drink, I don't have memberships or children, and I don't have, nor feel the need for, jewelry and cosmetic addons.
It isn't a matter of what is spent, just that most parts of the States have the most ridiculious taxes (New Jersey has a 7% tax on food (unless it is cosher organic), clothes, and other shit). If it isn't taxes, it is high costs. In the States, the common household is expected to have a homeowner, two cars, and two children in public school. And so, everyone is treated like they are made of money.