> If you lose $100k on cryptocurrency, or you spend $800 on some metaverse thing, it's fine, you can still buy food.

20 - 30% cannot spend $100k per year as funny money, that is more like the top 5% but probably more like the top 2%.

High earners in the 20 - 30% often also live in expensive areas, so their dollar doesn't go as far as some of the more affordable places to live (housing, food, etc).

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arximboldi 3 days ago | parent [-]

The parent comment just shows how most people do not understand how inequal the US actually is. I'd recommend to try this: https://wid.world/income-comparator/US/

If you make a yearly gross salary of 100K you're already in the top 11%. With 200K you're in the top 3%. Inequality also leads to social segregation, which means that we live in bubbles where most people are "like us" and it's very difficult to see how privileged we actually are.

Read Piketty's "Capital in the XXI century" to learn more about how crazy inequal the world, but specially the US, is becoming. Phenomena like Trump are easier to understand when taking this into account.

	▲	micromacrofoot 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		There is some nuance to it though, the average monthly car payment is $700! Only 10% are under $400. With the median income ~$50k and many households owning two cars... much of the country is actively living beyond their means just to get to work. We have built some sort of pseudo-luxury economy that seemingly has to be upkept by mandatory good vibes.