I have often heard from people struggling with money problems that things would be better if they just had more money.

"If I just had more money..."

"... I could start a savings fund."
"... I could pay off my credit cards."

What would change if you had more money? And how much more money would be enough?

Conventional wisdom: "Renting [a place] is throwing money away, you should buy instead so that you can build equity. A home is an investment." 

Whenever I hear this piece of 'wisdom', it really gets me riled up...