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[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?

- 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?

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When I was working, I arranged to have the full amount put into my 401K. The HR manager called me and asked if I had meant to do that. I said yes. He sounded shocked I wanted to save $18K / year.

That was one instance when I began to realize maybe I was not like other people.

We have 0 debt.

We are healthy at the moment, but I had to spend over $10K out of pocket for medical expenses several years ago.

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

We live near some. We drive to others for the price of gas. Maybe $100-$200 for this.

- Do you have hobbies? What are they?
Reading, hiking, attending exhibits and concerts, cooking.

- Do you ever travel for fun? If so, what's your approach? 
Yep! Almost every year. We usually take a big trip--sometimes overseas and sometimes not.

- 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?
Nope. I just make sure things are accounted for in the budget and then I have money for whatever I want/need. The "You Need a Budget" website is great for this type of planning, if anyone needs help in that department.

- What do you eat most days? Do you ever buy the expensive mustard or the fancy tomatoes?
This is one of our larger expenses. We are wasteful and working to be better.

Salmon + veggies, chicken + salad, roasted veggies + meat or rice, tacos, burritos, lasagna, beans/rice, salads.

- 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...?
Making clothes takes forever. Not worth it unless you love to sew!

We mow our own lawn and clean our own house. We do not order from meal delivery services.

It's kinda funny that people buy gym memberships to get exercise and then do not clean house/mow lawn, which would provide exercise...

"In the same boat" suggests that this is not such a great place to be.

I like the choice we've made, because I value my freedom more than a boat / country club membership / shoes.

- 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?

SFH. We spent way less than most anyone in the DC area, and it will be paid off in 4 years!! I wish a few things were different about the house, so I do not love it 100%. Overall, it does its job.

- 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?

I have no idea. I assume people think we're poor.

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