Paycheck to paycheck is vague though. If that includes having a secure job putting money into a 401k and paying down a mortgage maybe its a perfectly good strategy. If you aren't doing those things then you need to change.
Paycheck to paycheck is an idiom that means you're spending all of your earnings on basic day to day expenses (whether necessary or discretionary). No or negligible retirement contributions, emergency fund, or savings. It aligns with short term thinking. Such people are often one major event (medical expense, car problem, job loss) away from disaster.
100% agree, i've got that, but how can I make most of my 401K and mortgage (e.g. through Roth IRA or refinancing? I saw some mention of both, so will have to read up on that).