I’m 35 and middle class with a stable job, but feel like I’m 1 crisis away from financial ruin. How can I sleep better?

Core Insights - Many Americans are financially unstable despite full-time employment, with a significant portion relying on food assistance programs [2][6] - The middle class in America is shrinking, with only 51% of households classified as middle class in 2023, down from 61% in 1971 [3][6] - The income growth of the middle class has not kept pace with that of upper-income households, leading to a decline in their share of total U.S. income [6] Group 1 - Approximately 70% of the 9 million adult wage earners receiving food assistance work full-time (35 hours or more weekly) [2] - One in three Americans lacks emergency savings, highlighting the importance of financial preparedness for unexpected events [2] - The middle class's share of total household income has decreased to 43%, indicating a disparity between income distribution and population classification [6] Group 2 - The traditional middle-class lifestyle, characterized by home ownership and financial security, is increasingly out of reach for many [7] - Financial security is more dependent on individual circumstances and location rather than class status, emphasizing the need for personal financial management [8] - The financial anxiety experienced by individuals, even those with stable incomes, underscores the precarious nature of current economic conditions [4]