My wife and I live on $14,000 a year and we're doing fine.
Kids grown and gone. We drive a new Camry and several other vehichles and boats. We have apple trees and wildlife. We burn wood for heat and some hot water. Our only debt is our car payment. We live Rural. Urban life sucks, you have to work 24/7 just to keep up with expenses. A decent country place will provide you with everything you need to live along with the most important thing of all, peace of mind. But..be warned you will need to know HOW TO DO THINGS. Good water is the most important, if you have that your half way home. Fuel is next, 6 wooded acres will keep you warm for life, and if you're skilled you can build your own dwelling, nothing like HGTV, but those are just enslaving debt traps anyway. Be humble, be free. Peace.