Even six-figure salaries aren’t enough: What high-earning Americans are doing to stretch their paychecks and protect their careers

Despite earning six figures, many Americans find themselves caught in the grip of rising living costs, which experts have coined ‘the illusion of affluence’. To cope, folks are tapping into credit cards for everyday needs, maximizing rewards on essentials, and subscribing to buy-now-pay-later services. This financial strain is reshaping social interactions, leading some to forgo outings to manage their budgets.