Envision Documentary: The Incredible Shrinking Middle Class

At 3:00 Woman : I have a masters degree. Recruiter: Great, you are overqualified.

Two simple rules for surviving with a low income: Do not ever have children. Take care of your health.

You have to make $34,000 per year to survive in California. What a load of crap. Everything is so expensive in California. You have to make at least $70,000 per year to live in that state.

OMG!! her husband makes $54k parttime and she gets more in unemployment than i make at a full time job! I WANT THESE PROBLEMS, PLEASE

In DC, I kid you not, there are jobs here that pay $14 / hr and require you to have a bachelor's degree.

$195k a year 23 years of experience. Looks like she didn't save for a rainy day.

I live in the San Diego area, and I am moving.  I am downsizing.  I am not interested being or competing with the Jones.   I am ridiculed for my frugal ways here in California.  For example, I grow vegetables in my small garden and pots, sew and crochet, have a food stockpile, and turn off the lights.  This economy provides an opportunity to be resourceful and creative.  I am very grateful.  I have seen so many homeless and hungry people in the San Diego area.  I am moving for a larger yard and inexpensive housing.

Too many people think it will never happen to them. It can happen to anyone.

I am surprised someone who makes over $150K/year has limited savings and investments.

Passing out resumes in a mini skirt. She sure wants a job.

Once you hit 50 it's a rap for you. Just like racial discrimination is real so is Age discrimination which affects everybody.

I dont agree the future is high tech jobs. Trade skills like plumbing, electrician, or appliance repair will be around forever because everyone needs these things. You want a job? Become plumber or electrician. Degrees arent for everyone.

This was uploaded 11 bloody years ago and it's still FRESH!! Going through this for more than 10 years!?!?!?!?!? Who has any illusion that things will get better?

I never made more than $50k but I am now retired with about $1 million in assets + 2 houses. Here's an idea: Don't buy shit you can't pay for.

This was made 11 years ago. Now the situation is 10x worst with the COVID-19 outbreak.

So that woman working in pharmaceuticals for 20+ years at $195k/year did not manage to save a few million dollars and be financially independent? Who's to blame? Good times ain't gonna last forever.

Wait!? He makes 54k a year (at 6:15ish) and they cannot survive on that? It is just the two of them and the house??? Those college kids can pull their own weight and support themselves. There is no reason two grown adults cannot survive on 54 THOUSAND DOLLARS a year. Sounds to me like they have too much debt and never thought the good times would end.

Sometimes we think we can face silent battles on our own. The truth is--we need each other!

I had a friend who seriously struggled with his job search during the recession. He applied to fast food restaurants, despite having a Bachelor's in Science and a Master's in Mathematics. He was frequently told he was over qualified, though he kept saying he just wanted to work.

I have to laugh. You can't expect a degree to launch you into a high paying job. The generation before us sure had it good!