I read a WSJ article this morning that inspired the question: What is the average net worth of Americans? The question yielded two responses which are slightly more scientific than the question itself. As we probably remember from our intro to statistics, the “average” is different from the “median”. The median net worth (which generally and colloquially constitutes that of the “average” person) is $45,000. This is the point at which half of the population has more and half has less. So when such a person’s debts or liabilities are subtracted from their assets, they have a 45k surplus.
Interestingly though, when the total net worth of all Americans combined is averaged or spread out over the total numbers of Americans, that number is just over $301,000 per head. That is the true average. This gives us some insight into just how substantially skewed or heavily weighted the riches are for the rich, or how saddled in debts others are.
So, the question with which one might naturally be left from a purely mathematical perspective and free of moral or qualitative consideration, is: How do I compare to the median, and how do I compare to the average? If I have financial goals, how does my spending and saving compare to what others seem to be doing? How content am I to be wherever I am in relation to the flock?
Along these lines, I also recently read something which suggests that most people have their savings formula all wrong, if they are even saving at all. The formula should NOT be:
Savings = Income – Expenses
Instead, it should be:
Expenses = Income – Savings.
Dwell on that for a moment. What this is saying is that once we have “paid ourselves”, THEN we may live at the level at which we are afforded with the remainder. K
INENARRABLE 
Requires discipline, an honest idea of what one can really afford and one very important habit. Budgeting.
Yes indeed. I propose that one’s “budget” be savings driven. Easier said than done, but a great starting point in framing the appropriate paradigm.