Why we can't get by in America

I am starting this blog, not about the books I've written, or even about books I might be writing, but simply to get something off of my chest. I may add to it later, or this might be all I need to say, and then it won't bother me so much.
But, I picked up a book (at a yard sale - for a quarter) called "Nickel and Dimed: on (not) getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.
Now, I have only begun to read this book, and I don't live where she lives, but her premise is that people can't survive on minimum wage. It's cover boasts a glowing review from Diana Henriques, of the The New York Times and even claims status as a New York Times Bestseller.
Recently, Don (my husband) saw a program on television documenting a couple trying to live in the city with each of them working a minimum wage job; to show how difficult it is.
I don't know when the documentary was filmed, and I didn't watch it, but in just the few examples of situations faced by this couple that Don told me about, I could think of several ways that they could have saved more and spent less. Based on the premise of this book (Nickel and Dimed) that I am about to set forth reading, I believe that there is a flaw in the overall reporting. Now, I say this without having read the book completely yet, but I believe that both Ehrenreich and the host of the documentary are coming from a world in which I don't live, and entering into a world that I am accustomed to. They struggles they face are more accurately attributed to an executive who has allowed him or herself to become accustomed to a certain standard of living (no offense to the wonderful people of New York City, but since the New York Times was so impressed with her book, I'll call this standard, New York City living). Then, they suddenly, without warning or preparation are thrown into an income bracket that closely resembles the average rural community like the one I currently reside in (for that purpose, I'll call this standard the small town rural living).
To make it even simpler, I'll put it the way my daughter does: some people are city folk and some people are country folk. This has nothing to do with where you actually live, but Summer explains it this way, "City folk get through with stuff, so they throw it out and get something new. Country folk use their stuff over and over again, and sometimes even pick up and use the stuff that the city folk threw out." I think that says it perfectly.
So, my premise is that if you have always lived like country folk, and know how to get by, you'll keep on getting by, no matter what the circumstances. But, if you have always lived like city folk and suddenly have to get by, it will take some getting used to, and won't be easy.
I have a lot going on right now, but my attempt is to read this book and answer her claims with the other side of the story. I may not get far, but that is where I'm headed with this blog and similar ones that may follow.
Example: Don said that in the documentary, the woman in the couple had a urinary tract infection and went to the emergency room: this cost them $600!!! plus that cost of a prescription antibiotic. My answer: Cranberry juice is less than $2 at most grocery stores and works as well as or better than most prescriptions. How do I know? I'm not a doctor, but I have been pregnant five times and every time I get pregnant, I get an infection, and cranberry juice works every time. Also, I network with other moms and women who do not normally have $600 for an emergency room visit nor do they have medical insurance. Lastly, I know that for every possible ill this sinful world has to offer, God has created something to cure it.
More to come... I hope.