I am convinced that these articles are written in the knowledge that it will piss off a lot of people and generate a lot of hits and comments ( almost 6k in this case). Lets face it an article about a family of 4 struggling to get by on 40k is not going to arouse any sentiment ( ie traffic )
Whats does amaze me is that if I were one of the case studies here I would not want to advertise the fact that I am a complete moron.
I think you're absolutely right. It's hard to inspire people (read: get them to tell others about the article for positive reasons) if it's about a family identical to their own making it without trouble because they choose to live within their means.
But what people need to hear about are the folks struggling, just barely, and totally making it on 40k/year. Was talking to my grandmother a couple weeks ago and she was saying how it's so sad that "there are so many middle-class Americans that can't afford to live."
I responded that, "well, yea, if all the kids have their own bedrooms, the family has two cars, and flat screen TVs, it's hard to get by on average salaries."
Gma, "But, zataks, they can't even afford food!"
Me "that may be, but I think a lot is lifestyle choice."
Please note, we were talking about the media's described "middle class" not legitimately poor folks.
Full disclosure: Am now half of a DINK household well into 6figs. Making ends me? Totally. Living pretty fucking luxuriously? Definitely. Living mustachian and saving my balls off? Not yet but getting there.