Hmmmm...I sure don't remember spending my entire paycheck on booze and smokes.  I know I spent a decent percentage on it sometimes, but such is life when you earn a whopping $267.83 twice a month as an E-3.  Even in 1984, that wasn't shit.  Take away uniform items, haircuts, CFC and Navy Relief "donations", car payment, insurance, gas, the once-a-month movie, and it dwindles real fast.  And even when I got out as an E-6, $1500 twice a month wasn't much better, considering rent alone was over $1100 a month, not including utilities, transportation, food, etc.