Family of 4 Lives on $14,000 a Year Income


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I love stories like this one, stories about frugality and asceticism. In a continent where mindless spending, consumption and waste is not only a reality but also encouraged families like these should serve as an example.

We can live happier and better with less.

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It's just amazing to me that people can do this. It takes a very disciplined person to accomplish something like this. Most of us are way too wasteful and never realize it.

That's the key, discipline.

What angers me the most is that people say this is child endangerment. I'd say is more dangerous to expose children to a culture of consumption.

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Although this is good for them, it's honestly not that impressive, I can think of a few things they could do better. For one credit cards are not bad if used properly I can understand the cash thing but if they got for example an AMEX blue cash that's an extra 5% off groceries so tha's $20 a month. It may not work if they were irresponsible and didn't pay in full but they obviously are.

Furthermore, although $400 a month is a lot less then many would spend on groceries for 4 for a month I can EASILY spend $25 or less a month with coupons since there are almost always one of two things a week that not only cost nothing after coupons but give credit worth more then the purchase price in things like catalina coupons for example.

Also although $15 a month isn't much a lot of websites like hulu that offer their shows for free online like comedy centrel, tru tv, and others. Once again the gas could be put on a AMEX blue cash that also pays 5% on gas, which even if it's only about $200 a month on gas that's $10 you can spend on for example a cheap prepaid plan through page plus or t-mobile and get rid of the home phone if they have a home phone service.

I'm sure there are plenty more I could come up with if I knew more of their expenses but despite what I said kudos to them not many can/want to live that frugally.

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Geez, they have it hard... :/

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You can't fairly compare the two places. The average income in the place that picture was taken may be $100 a year at most, compared to the average of $50,000 in America. The cost of living here is much higher.

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You can't fairly compare the two places. The average income in the place that picture was taken may be $100 a year at most, compared to the average of $50,000 in America. The cost of living here is much higher.

Not comparing the two places, I'm comparing the two lifestyles, OPs couple live in a nice house with fresh food, heat, water, clothes etc etc,

Whenever I start getting p*ssed at something or start complaining about things in my life, I remember people like the images I posted, puts me back in my place

If OP couple were forced to live like my images for 6 months, I doubt they would be complaining about the way they are living atm for long

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While great that they can live off of $14k a year, I have to ask why neither of them can work? Kids at school, wife goes to work... I assume with the husband going to school it may be more difficult to manage but thousands of college kids work through college. Again, not knocking them as they seem to be happy with their life/money management just feels like there is opportunity to live more comfortably financially. I also wonder if there is any federal or state aid being provided as $14k a year has got to qualify them for something.

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Wow, that's more than a lot of people. Shouldn't be too hard to live off that. I couldn't, but that's me. That's still more than what a family would make on welfare.

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+ about $60,000 saved up before they started. If you pay your cars and home, it's not that hard to live frugally.

+1, if you live in a paid off house, and no payment on debt or a car. Its quite easy. Entirely my goal in life.

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That's the key, discipline.

What angers me the most is that people say this is child endangerment. I'd say is more dangerous to expose children to a culture of consumption.

Agree totally!

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