美国人分享：很多人都觉得美国人都是“月光族”，这是否属实？

Is it true that Americans are living "paycheck to paycheck"?

2021-12-13 yzy86 15898 22 0 收藏纠错&举报

译文简介

对于那些真正的月光族来说，其中有很大一部分人选择月光是因为文化规范刺激下的高消费现象，而不是因为工资不够。在我们美国，你必须拥有海量的东西才能感觉到自己是中产阶级，这简直疯狂。

正文翻译

（2021年11月11日）

I've been seeing online a lot of commentators saying that American citizens are living "paycheck to paycheck" and made me wonder how is it possible considering the USA is still #1 or very possibly #2 economic power in the World after China?

我在网上一直都会看到很多网民评论说美国人民是以“月光”的状态活着的，这就勾起我的好奇了，鉴于美国仍然是世界上头号（或者，很可能是仅次于中国的第二号）经济大国，这怎么可能呢？
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I am from Serbia and love my country but due to low pays here made me want to move to the US at the time. When I was younger all I've seen on media is that Americans live pretty comfortable lives with no major economic issues.

我是塞尔维亚人，我也热爱我的祖国，但这里很低的薪资水平曾让我想搬到美国去生活。那时我还很年轻，在媒体上看到的尽是美国人过着相当舒适的生活，在经济上也没有出什么大问题。
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So average American citizens, is there any truth to the claim that Americans are living "paycheck to paycheck" and that the US economy and life are not that perfect?

所以请问美国的普通人，关于美国人“以月光的状态活着”的说法是否有几分道理，美国的经济和在美国的生活是否没有那么完美？

评论翻译

greatteachermichael
paycheck to paycheck doesn't necessarily mean people don't have good incomes. It just means that people aren't saving. Now, some people might not save because they have poorly paying jobs. On the other hand, you could earn $100,000 a year and still spend all your money every week on expensive junk you don't need and live paycheck to paycheck.

（在韩华盛顿州人）月光不一定就意味着人们拿不到丰厚的收入。它的意思仅仅是人们不想存钱。有些人可能不会去存钱，因为他们的工作收入是很低的。另一方面，你也可以每年赚10万美元，但每周仍然会把所有的钱花在你并不需要的昂贵垃圾货上，然后过上月光族的生活。

The problem is, when you live in a wealth country like the US, your expectations are higher. In fact, our average poor person earns above the average global wage, even after adjusting for a higher cost of living. However, that person is still poor by American standards. It's really hard to save in a country when you're expected to have internet, a cell phone, a TV, an education, a computer, a car, car insurance, live on your own and not in multigenerational housing, etc. etc. As incomes go up, the potential to save also goes up, but so does people's expectations so they spend their new disposable incomes on better/higher quality/more stuff. I remember reading an article about how making $400,000/year for a family of 4 shouldn't make people think all their problems were solved and then they broke down someone's budget. It had things like a "cheap" $80,000 car for the mom, $400/month piano lessons for each kid, $2,000/month on food, $2,500/month (every month!) on clothing... it was really really BS.

问题在于，当你在美国这样的富国生活时，你的期望值会变高。事实上，我们普通穷人的收入是高于全球平均薪资的，即使因为更高的生活成本经过了调整，也还是如此。然而，按照美国的标准，这个人仍然属于穷人。生活在这样一个国家，它会期望你拥有互联网、手机、电视、教育、电脑、汽车、汽车保险、自己住而不是住在多代同堂的房子里，那就真的很难存下钱了。随着收入的增加，储蓄的可能性也会提高，但人们的期望值也会随之提高，所以他们会把新到手的可支配收入花在更好/更高品质/更多的东西上。我记得读到过一篇文章，说一个四口之家就算每年能赚40万美元，人们都不至于觉得他们的所有问题都解决了，然后他们把某人的预算作了分解。其中有一些项目，比如给妈妈的价值8万美元的“廉价”车，钢琴课：每个孩子每月400美元，食物：每月2000美元，衣服：每月2500美元（是每个月！）...这真的是非常扯淡。

So in a way, it isn't as bad as it sounds, but at the same time, it is.

所以在某种程度上，月光并不像听起来那么糟糕，但同时，这样也很糟糕。

This. So much this. The economic psychology of most Americans is "spend, spend, spend" when they have the income to "spend, spend, spend". Even if you're making minimum wage, the mindset is to spend, spend, spend.

（回）正是。大抵如此。大多数美国人的经济心理就是：当他们有收入可以支持他们去“花钱，花钱，花钱”时，便会去“花，花，花”。即使你拿的是最低工资，脑回路也一样是花、花、花。

Some people do save money, but deep down they hate doing it. They want to buy new clothes, new electronics, new furniture, and everything else RIGHT NOW. They'll pay the necessary bills and debts, buy the necessities like food and personal hygiene products, but if there's even a single penny left over, they'll find ways to spend it.

有一部分人确实会存钱，但他们在内心深处是讨厌这么做的。他们希望立刻就去买新的衣服，新的电子产品，新的家具，以及其他一切。他们会支付必须支付的账单和债务，购买食品和个人卫生用品等必需品，但哪怕只剩下一分钱，他们都会想方设法花掉。

Not literally a single penny, as you can't buy jack, but you get the idea.

我说的一分钱不是字面意义上的，因为一分钱屁都买不到，你明白意思就行。

And this is one of the major reasons as to why so many Americans are in debt. They don't save the money necessary to buy some things they may need on down the road, or for "a rainy day". Some don't even budget properly. They only budget for what they know they have to pay/purchase; things that are relevant or evident. They'll budget for rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, gas, and other bills (car payment, credit card payment, etc.). But they don't budget for car repairs, for medical expenses (including prescxtions), or other routine-but-not-as-routine-as-the-other-stuff expenses. This dangerous way of thinking is one of the main causes to such a high amount of debt in this country. "Unexpected" expenses such as routine car maintenance or major repairs, medical expenses, and the like are put on the credit card rather than paid for in cash or debit card.

这也是如此多美国人背负债务的主要原因之一。他们没有存下购买日后他们可能会需要的东西所必需的钱，也不会出于“未雨绸缪”的考虑而存钱。有些人甚至连制定像样的预算都做不到。他们只会为自己知道必须要支付或购买的东西做预算；以及与之相关或是显而易见的东西。他们会为房租/按揭、公用事业费、杂货、汽油和其他账单（车贷、信用卡还款等）做预算。但他们不会为修车费、医疗费（包括处方药）或是其他例行但没有像其他项目那么例行的支出做预算。这种危险的思维方式，是造成这个国家背负如此高额债务的主要原因之一。例行的汽车保养或大修、医疗费用以及诸如此类的“意外”支出是用信用卡来应付的，而不是用现金或借记卡来支付。
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My friends who wonder how I have savings are the first to buy an $1,000 camera the moment they get their paycheck, and then show it off to everyone while complaining about living paycheck to paycheck. Meanwhile, I just use my phone's camera and always make sure to buy an older, outdated model phone.

（层主）我的朋友们搞不清楚我是怎么存下钱的，他们拿到工资，第一件事就是去买一台1000美元的相机，然后向所有人炫耀，同时又会抱怨自己月光的处境。与此同时，我只用我手机的摄像头，而且总是会确保我买的是那种型号过时的旧手机。

I actually like saving money. It makes me feel safe, and are like points to me. Points that reflect how hard I worked for the year and how much I resisted buying stuff that doesn't actually make my life better. It's like a self-discipline score.

我其实挺喜欢存钱的。这么做能让我产生安全感，它就像是我得到的点数。这些点数反映的是我这一年工作的努力程度，以及我对购买其实并不能让我的生活变好的东西的抗拒力度。它就像是我在自律方面得到的分数。

Listlesslix
What we don't have is access to affordable healthcare. 2/3 of personal bankruptcy is now due to medical debt
Yes, between 30,000 to 60,000 people go bankrupt every year because of medical debt. The most expensive, least affordable healthcare in the world, and absolute worst among first world countries. Rationing medicine is considered normal and that's complete fucked

我们无法获得能让我们负担得起的医疗。如今，个人破产中有三分之二都是医疗债务造成的。
是的，每年有3万至6万人因为医疗债务而破产。世界上最昂贵、最难以负担的医疗服务，在第一世界国家中绝对是最差劲的。配给药品被认为是正常的，这完全就是乱来。

w3wdy
That's because most people in America are shitty savers--especially the ones with a lot of income, who try so hard to look like they have more than they really have. (I mean, what fun is it to make a fortune but drive an old car and live in a solidly middle class neighborhood?)

（加州）那是因为大部分美国人都是很差劲的储蓄者，特别是那些收入很高的人，他们极力想让自己看起来比实际拥有的更多。(我的意思是，赚着大钱，开的却是辆旧车，还住在一个稳固的中产阶级社区，这样有什么意思嘛？）

idontrespectyou345
Some do some dont. I think its a bit overblown, theres a bias against saying you're doing well so everyone complains about money whether they're ok or not.

有些人是月光族，另一些人则不会。我认为这事儿有点被夸大了，美国存在一种对“说自己混得很好”的偏见，所以每个人无论自己的状况好不好，都在抱怨有关钱的事情。

For a lot of those that actually are paycheck to paycheck, a good chunk of these people are that way because of high spending spurred by cultural norms more than lack of pay. The amount of shit you have to have to feel middle class here is crazy.

对于那些真正的月光族来说，其中有很大一部分人选择月光是因为文化规范刺激下的高消费现象，而不是因为工资不够。在我们美国，你必须拥有海量的东西才能感觉到自己是中产阶级，这简直疯狂。

Some legitimately are as frugal as can be yet still struggle. Might be lack of skills leading to low pay, medical bills or family care obligations, student loans that weren't worth it, etc. Some are paycheck to paycheck because theyre just starting out in adult life, it takes a while to get going.

有些人也合乎逻辑地尽量去做到节俭，却还是活得很艰难。可能是因为缺乏技能导致工资水平很低，医药费，照护家人的义务，根本值不了那么多钱的学生贷款，等等。有些人选择月光，是因为他们刚刚步入成年生活，需要一段时间才能启航。

Kingsolomanhere
My son is a supervisor at a manufacturing facility and can't believe how many people working there do not have savings accounts. One woman who has worked there for 20 years recently had a 2000 dollar financial problem. She makes 35 dollars an hour (over 70,000 a year, but with overtime most there make at least 85,000) and has nothing saved. In one part of the plant, skilled operators are making 150,000 a year, they don't tend to save either. They just buy expensive trucks and blow their money on toys

（印第安纳州）我儿子是一家制造工厂的主管，在那里工作的人中没有储蓄账户的人数之多，让他都不敢相信。有一位在那里工作了20年的女人，最近碰到了2000美元就能解决的财务问题。她每小时赚35美元（一年也超过7万美元了，但算上加班的话，那里的大多数人每年至少能赚8.5万），可就是一分钱都不存。在这个厂的某个工位上，熟练的操作员一年可以赚到15万，他们往往也不会去存钱。他们会很任性地去购买昂贵的卡车，把钱砸在了各种“玩具”上。

MDB642
I have a cousin that makes about 75k a year his wife also works. he has one kid and lives in a low cost state and still lives paycheck to paycheck.it’s because he is terrible with money, but he’s got a lot of cool toys.

（亚利桑那州）我有一个表弟，每年大约赚7.5万，他的妻子也在工作。他有一个孩子，住在一个生活成本很低的州，却仍然过着月光的生活。这是因为他的理财能力特别烂，但他有很多很酷的“玩具”。

That is honestly the case for most Americans who are paycheck to paycheck.

（俄亥俄州）老实说，大部分美国月光族都是这种情况。

Sure, some are paycheck to paycheck because they are abjectly poor for one reason or another. But that isn't the case for most Americans living paycheck to paycheck.

当然了，有些人月光是因为他们出于这样那样的原因惨兮兮地受穷。但对于美国的大多数月光族来说，情况并不是这样的。

It's more about how you manage money than how much you earn. Poor money management skills are quite common.

更重要的原因是你的理财方式，而不是你能赚多少钱。理财能力差在美国特别常见的。

I know a guy who earns 200K per year at my job. I know how much he makes because I'm his boss. He needed new tires for his car (An Audi btw). To come up with the money he ended up having to sell me an AR-15.

我认识一个家伙，他在我的岗位上干每年能赚20万。我知道他赚多少钱，是因为我是他老板。他的车（顺便一说是辆奥迪）需要换新轮胎。为了凑出这笔钱，他最后不得不把他那把AR-15步枪变卖给我了。
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Current_Poster
This past year is the first year in my life where I wasn't living paycheck to paycheck.

过去的这一年，是我这辈子中没有月光的第一年。

wvdude87
Teacher here. I live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t spend frivolously, and a speeding ticket would ruin me.

我是教师。我是月光族。我不会胡乱花钱。可是一张超速罚单就会让我破产。
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mrs_spacetime0
Don't listen to people who say it's just bc people don't save money. That comes from a place of privilege to think that everybody has money left over after bare necessities to save. Basically nowhere in the US is the federal minimum wage and the cost of housing appropriate for you to spend 1/3 or less of your monthly income on housing. And then if you have kids, need to pay for healthcare, childcare, student loan debt, medical debt. God forbid you have a disability or chronic illness that makes your life more expensive. So many people live paycheck to paycheck but that still isn't enough and they end up in debt or their debts are just never able to be paid off.

不要听信那些人的话，他们说什么月光只是因为人们不存钱。说这种话的是特权阶级，他们认为每个人在满足最低限度的生活必需品后都能剩下钱来让他们去储蓄。在美国，基本上没有任何一个地方的联邦最低工资和住房成本，能允许你将月收入的三分之一或更少用于住房。而且，如果你有孩子，还必须支付医药费、托儿所费用，还学生贷款或医疗债务。但愿你不要有残疾或慢性病，这会让你的生活成本更加昂贵。因此，很多人月光，却还是缺钱，而他们最终会陷入债务，或者他们的债务根本就是永远都还不清。

Getting_fired_today
I make 2,400 a month my rent is 800$, daughters school is 600$ car payment is 500$ bills 200$ and the rest is gas/groceries. :/
I make more money than most people I know and I can still hardly survive.

（加州）我每个月赚2400美元，我的房租是800美元，女儿上学要花600美元，车贷要还500美元，各种账单合计200美元，剩下的钱则要拿去交油费以及购买食品杂货。
我赚的钱比我认识的大部分人都要多，可是想要活下去却还是那么艰难。

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美国人 月光族

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