Every time I observe someone discussing how terrible their financial situation is, I am always curious about how exactly they are using their money. How much of it is going towards expenses that are wasteful and unnecessary? Often, this is the case, since many people do not track their spending or understand how "going out for drinks once in a while" ends up biting them hard in their wallets.
Yes, the meme of "but paying for Netflix is not the reason I am struggling financially" may have a point regarding that expense not causing financial problems alone, but that is just one of many sacred cows people have in their lives. All of which add up to far more than they think.
It's even worse when debt spending is involved for purchases, as that just makes the problem far worse for people who already cannot afford everything they think they have to have.
@houseoftolstoy obesity and poverty operate similarly and are based on the exact same thing: lack of impulse control and immaturity.
Also, in both cases, the fat/poor person has a list of people whose fault it is other than them, and how they're "trying their best", but if you look at how they live their life, it's obvious they're making simple everyday choices that make them fat/poor, and it all cases, when confronted with this, they avoid all responsibility.
Women are especially guilty of the sentiment that "I have to go traveling." They may make the excuse that they cannot let down their friends who also want to travel. Chances are, their friends are also guilty of the same bad financial practices and using the same excuses to spend money they do not have.
Don't get me started on how many people think that they are "saving money" by getting airline miles. News flash: you have to spend a lot of money to get those "free" airline miles.