I grew up in circumstances not unlike those of the article's author: second-hand everything, rummaging for any usable this-or-that, stretching dollars.
Here's the odd thing: Out of five children, four of us grew up to be relatively thrifty, though we are a good bit more moderate than our parents -- we all have more money available, and the four of us have found a pretty good balance between paying for necessities, saving, and the occasional splurge. The fifth, the baby of the family, turned out quite the opposite: Once she was out of school, she decided to throw herself the childhood she never had. The rest of us went to college; she started, but couldn't see past a paycheck on Friday -- could never sacrifice today's pleasures for stability in the future. Money runs through her fingers. As soon as she receives a paycheck, it's gone -- part to creditors, part on things like clothes, costume jewelry and manicures. She has loads of "toys" -- video games, collectibles, and so forth. Savings? Nope? A home of her own? No. Not too far removed from the article's author, huh?
As for my youngest sibling, we all worry because she's also the only one with no education (well, I mean beyond high school) and no benefits (and she has an ongoing medical condition that requires regular treatment). She works as waitress, and she's already complaining that it's becoming physically difficult. We are all worried about what'll happen in another decade or so when the work available for her is beyond her physical ability. Does she worry? No, she goes out to dinner and orders drinks and dessert.