the fear is justified! the average american worker, right on up to six figure incomes, has been moving toward a paycheck-to-paycheck existence, hobbled by hopeless debts and mired in pointless consumerism. even living paycheck-to-paycheck, these people are measuring down to the last penny. one missed check and they are fucked. no savings. no 401k. lots of bills. no equity in anything. they're right to be afraid.

the way out of this fear isn't to have some anthony-robbins moment of self affirmation, its to get out of debt and start creating real nesteggs that preclude the fear. a minimal real nest egg, which everyone out of college and older should have - six months of real living expenses. don't cheap out either, measure what you really spend, including your idiotically expensive cell contract and your nightlife.