ok I see your point. I would argue that it is definitely a mixture of both, consumerism/materialism and insufficient income. Because It is established that as income increases the spending increases, even though the subjects were surviving on less and probably satisfied. My point is, if the income is not great, that is yet another reason to save, that means managing a tight budget and letting go og unnecessary items i.e. cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and deffo pets and pet food. I get that it could be hard, but trust me, I come from a developing corrupt country and you guys are blessed. Saving is still manageable if you imagine yourself living on a smaller income.
RE: Shocking News: Americans and money