I’m just working on emigrating to a country with a better social safety net. I’d rather pay more in taxes (though tbh it’s about the same) and not have to worry anymore.
I am glad to hear it!
> have realized how precarious it still is. I can weather small car emergencies but when it comes to medical bills, that’s a different story.
Would you mind elaborating a bit about your situation especially regarding health insurance? It seems like healthcare varies so much based on what health insurance one has.
Could you expand on that? It sounds like you and your partner work full-time. Do you and/or your partner get medical insurance through work? Do you get disability insurance? Do you have an emergency fund?
Maybe I am reading too much into 'remarkably better off financially'. I would like to see where you are coming from but I am having trouble.
We've based our whole society around everyone just being expected to be fundamentally financially insecure. The difference between upper-middle class and poor is how much junk I can buy, it doesn't make me any less insecure about all the big expenses that are required for me to live and work -- my pantry, my rent, my car, my health. I grew up poor and I thought having money would make it better. That when people say they don't have to worry about money they meant it. But what it really meant for me was you stop having to worry about small day-to-day expenses but I stil have the sword of damocles over my head for the big stuff.
Empathy is a good thing and understanding that outside of the really really rich we're all in a similar situation is a good thing.