[count-your-change]

You've explained an important point, perhaps without intending to: Savings can be assets like a piece of property paid off.

“The secret is, like in government, spending less”

Quite true and when the kids are gone most couples are able to live on less and do. But telling someone to save when they are losing their home or facing a layoff that wipes out savings is silly.

[EVO X]

But telling someone to save when they are losing their home or facing a layoff that wipes out savings is silly.

I doubt someone in that situation will be reading the Atlantic..