I made $17,000 (Canadian) last year. I don't want for anything. I find it isn't that expensive to live reasonably well. I mean everything we take for granted is an extreme luxury for the majority of the global population (example: hot water showers!). If I watch myself I spend about $125/week on food and $125/week on rent. On a good week at 10.50/hr (minimum wage) for 40hrs that leaves me more than enough to go out on the weekend or buy some needed clothes from a thrift store or even put some money in the bank. I know most redditors are American but you don't need a lot of money to live comfortably. In my opinion, you only need a lot of money to consume shit you don't need. Not that I'm some kind of spartan or anything but a net book and a set of usb SNES controllers costs like $300. What more do you need in life?