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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is s/o the Mister Money Mustache thread - I saw a couple of people post there that they live happily on $25k or $36k a year. I am not into luxury stuff - we have one car, an old Kia Soul, for example. But I also think it would be very very very very hard to live at that amount.

Can I ask a couple of questions, for those who are living at that amount by choice? (This obviously isn't about those living on very little because they don't have other options - it's really for those who are living on little while socking away more for later.)

- Do you live near your family? If not how do you afford going to see them?

- Do you have hobbies? What are they?

- Do you ever travel for fun? If so, what's your approach?

- Do you ever find yourself really wanting something that is outside your MMM budget (like a trip to Australia, or some expensive shoes)? Do you ever given in to those urges or do you just figure you'll get over it?

- What do you eat most days? Do you ever buy the expensive mustard or the fancy tomatoes?

- What do you do for yourself, that you see other people spending money on for others to do for them? Do you make your own clothes, or grow your own vegetables, or...?

- Are most of your friends in the same boat? If not how do you do it when your friends want to get together at a restaurant, or to go see a concert, or whatever? You just say no and have them over for a potluck instead, or...?

- What sort of house or apartment do you live in? Did you pick that place in order to be able to spend very little? Do you like your home?

- What do you think are the big misconceptions about how you live? What do you wish others understood about your approach to money - what do we outsiders usually get wrong?

[/quote]

I know you wanted the perspective of people who does it by choice, but I’m living this way because of circumstance, based on my choices - so, in a way, you could say it’s by choice. Last year I made 24k and got 12k in child support - I have two young children. I’m working three jobs while going to grad school. (Side note: my children recently went to live with their dad because living on so little with children is extremely difficult, as you can imagine). This year I’ll probably make 18k. When I graduate in May I’ll have many more opportunities available to me.

- my mom is a 2.5 hour drive, so was about a tank of gas. (“Was” because my car broke down and I can’t replace it. It’s like that!)

- I don’t have a ton of free time, but I enjoy having coffee out, reading, going to yoga (go for free because I teach at the studio), working out, taking walks.

- This last year I was lucky (?) to have a boyfriend who subsidized trips for me, so went to Bermuda and London when my kids were with their dad. Bermuda especially felt weird - people there are so rich! - but I grew up UMC so I wasn’t out of my depth. Obviously without his help I’m lucky to take a weekend trip anywhere, but travel isn’t my concern right now.

- I get a few hundred a month in food stamps - even for a single person it does not go far. I eat very simply: eggs, bread, salads, curries, rice, pasta. I don’t buy meat very often. I also work in a restaurant so can eat there when I work.  I buy a lot of organic which I know some might consider indulgent.

- I don’t grow any food or make my own clothes. I don’t shop often, obviously! I have good pieces all within the same color palette, winter gear, and shoes for each season.

- My closest friends make good money (avg low six figures). They know my circumstances and will offer to do low/no cost activities when we get together. Occasionally I will splurge on dinner, but not often.

- I live in a rental (in a neighborhood of no rentals, which I have to say is pretty nice). I can walk to work, to school, and to the grocery store - this is a huge perk to me. I like where I live! Part of why I moved here is the low COL - the trade off is limited job opportunities, but I spend $600 a month for a 1500sqft 2 bedroom.

- This is the first time as an adult I am poor. I wish others understood the snowball effect of poverty - there are problems in my life that would be very easily fixed by money, and problems that are compounded by my lack of money. That said, money isn’t everything. I have many qualities that make my life a lot easier than those living in garden-variety poverty. My situation is temporary - for this I am grateful. If I had to live this way forever I would be so incredibly depressed. It’s impossible to save money and very difficult to pay bills like this, but there are many more people in the US living like me than like the average DCUMer. I wish this forum in particular would get its collective head out of its ass about what it really means to be poor. [/quote]

This is OP - and I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your info, and I wish you so much good luck. I often feel like I wish people would get their heads out of their bums, too - and then a thread like this one makes me realize that I'm in as much of a bubble as anyone. I truly appreciate you sharing your perspective.[/quote]

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