Nearly half of U.S. families can’t afford basics
By Tami Luhby, CNN Money
The economy may be chugging along, but many Americans are still struggling to afford a basic middle class life.
Nearly 51 million households don’t earn enough to afford a monthly budget that includes housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cell phone, according to a study released this month by the United Way ALICE Project.
That’s 43 percent of households in the United States.