"not struggling." There are people with six-figure incomes that have legitimate financial struggles by some measures.

But when you get down to it, first-world financial problems tend to be distorted.

I don't have the references right in front of me, but last I read up on the statistics, most people below the poverty line were either high school dropouts or struggled with addiction - or both. I believe young single parents (mostly mothers) make up another big portion.

If you finish high school, don't get pregnant, and don't excessively drink or do drugs, odds are very good you'll be able to support yourself indefinitely in the US economy.

And, if you must know, I was born in the early 80s and the only financial "assistance" I ever got was being allowed to live at home while single and in college full time.