40% of the US population can't cover a $400 unexpected expense. https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/22/pf/...ces/index.html The problem is obviously not limited to gov't employees.

As others have noted, if you know you're not going to get a paycheck on the 11th and you won't be able to cover expenses due shortly after that, waiting until the 11th to do something about the problem seems foolish.