If your strategy is to run through life with no buffer what do you expect to happen? What scenario do you envision where you aren't wiped out? Get into a motorbike accident on your $5k vacation and bam, bankrupt. So much for the low stress holiday!

Some people must have nerves of steel, I couldn't sleep living life like that. A stiff breeze takes most people out financially and the feel comfortable going on vacations!

If you want to live in a society of relaxed, happy well-off people then you're going to have to do some work for someone else that you never collect on. That is literally the only way to achieve good outcomes. We call it "savings" and it is a great idea.