> But also the fact that our lives are very instable : breakups, job changes, moving in/out, make it hard to save.
It's not hard to save because of those reasons (for people in the situation your describe). Like, at all.
It's like people living paycheck to paycheck. Unless you're already so poor you're eating noodles and free store samples for nurishment, you can do this for just a while, and save enough to have one month's salary in the bank. (though probably you specifically don't need to be as drastic as this)
One month's salary in the bank means that when the car breaks (though you don't have one), or when you get fired, or have to move, you can have the means to "just fix the problem". And often being able to pay to fix the problem makes it much cheaper to fix the problem, in a virtuous cycle.
But you can't spend that on a vacation.
Yes I agree it's a cultural and educational issue in the end. This should be taught in schools.
I think it also hurts that in the US it's common to be paid weekly, or fortnightly. That means people never have even a full month's worth of rent and groceries, and they therefore never learn how to even informally have a budget. And you get things like people being able to afford eating out right after being paid, but not right before (which makes no logical sense).
But you know this, so why don't you do this already? You can save, you understand that it would be in your best interests, and you know how. So why don't you?
Essentially, I dont because i used to live with a lot less and now i like my life the way it is, so i gamgle comfort againts security. A lot of peoe have valid reasons for not saving. I don't have excuses, i take a risk in echange for a life style.
But you only need to save up that buffer once, then you can be in the same lifestyle again, with a higher likelihood of remaining in that lifestyle since you won't have to get a payday loan (and continue in a downward spiral) when something terrible happens.
This won't mean much coming from an Internet stranger, but your reply really makes me be disappointed in you.
Then they/you can save. Don't blame external things on your lack of savings.
Say after me: If you are in the position you describe and aren't saving then you are choosing to live beyond your means.