Outsmart the US Mindset

Recently, a friend of my was told by his he was being laidoff from his job. He had been lucky to get a good job in the chemical field paying $18.50 per hour (in Louisiana this is awesome pay). Because he was a good employee he was offered an opportunity to work another job for $15.50 per hour. He told me in the saddest voice you could imagine how his Mortgage, Car Loan, Child's Private School Education, and rest of the family budget was based on the $18.50 per hour he had been paid. This is not first time that I have heard this situation. I did not know what to tell him, other than he would have to make some tough choices such as become a one car family, cut off the cable tv, change your cell phone plan, and decide what is really important. We have to outsmart this US mentality of access and practice "delayed gratification". When we put our money in the most important area of our lives we can then build wealth and not be at the mercy of our employers. We hold the power!