The one-year program increased payments and expanded eligibility to the poorest families. Congress has not moved to extend those changes. 

“I know I’m not the only one going through this,” said Veronica Coon, a hairdresser in Henderson, Nevada.

Many Americans are in better financial condition this year but remain cautious, says Wall Street Journal reporter Veronica Dagher.

“There were a lot more opportunities to have some of these conversations,” one dad tells us.

A listener asks whether we can compare the median family income in 1980 to the present, since more women are in the workforce.