I’m thinking that the vast majority of those who can’t even save a penny also, on a regular basis, don’t deny themselves many of life’s pleasures. Movies, junk food, electronics, trendy clothes, often nice vehicles, etc... While my family goes without many of these things on a regular basis to save for rainy days. (I am not a recipient of the myriad of social service programs available to many of these non-savers.)
We are a nation of excesses. And kids are usually not taught how to save or encouraged to. It’s just spend, spend, spend.