These things always blow me away - the percentage of folks who are paycheck to paycheck is insane. Not for the poor folk, but for the folks that earn 150k-200k (47%) and above 200k (28%). The PYMENTS report that this links to is even more eye opening. I can't imagine earning 200k+ and having every penny go out that's coming in.
Rule 1 of the Personal Finance thread - don't bloody spend all your money like it's a Tik Tok challenge.
Rising prices have left “little purchasing power,” even for the country’s highest earners, pros say.
www.marketwatch.com
I don't disagree with your overall take, but the answer depends a lot on where you live. $200K means different things if you live in San Diego vs. Raleigh, NC, two places I have lived for many years. There are significant deltas in cost of housing, taxes, and other cost of living components.
My BIL and his wife live in San Diego area. They have a high mortgage (not interest rate, monthly payment), two car leases, private school payments for their two kids, high taxes, and assorted other high costs of living. I'm not sure they live "paycheck to paycheck" but they probably aren't too far from that, and I would guess they combine to earn $200K per year or so. Obviously, they made life choices that put them in their current situation, but they are happy, at least right now.