The Survival Game of the Middle Class

During economic downturns, the middle class is the most vulnerable. Not because they are poor, but because they have just enough to lose.
Four Iron Laws:
First, the body is the only asset that cannot be leveraged. Regular health check-ups are not about health preservation, but risk control. When the primary breadwinner falls ill, the entire family's cash flow is cut off.
Second, dual incomes are not a goal but a necessity. The era of one person earning enough to support the whole family is over. This is not a slogan for independent women, but the most basic strategy to hedge against unemployment risk.
Third, educational involution accelerates the middle class's descent into poverty. If public schools can solve the problem, don’t spend money on private ones. Competitive parenting essentially overdrafts the future.
Fourth, stay away from high-risk investments and excessive debt. When bubbles burst, leverage can push you from the middle class straight back to the bottom.
According to data from the Brookings Institution, 60% of American households do not have three months of emergency savings. The situation in China might be even worse.
The middle class has never been a stable class; it is a continuous balancing act.