One adult, two kids, one income, living on less than $30,000 a year. How we live like we’re rich

I work full time, 40 hours a week, I make $25,000 a year.<br><br>I live in an area where the cost of living is very, very low. After taxes, and health insurance, I take home $360/week. My kids are in daycare/preschool, so I have $70/week for all three of us to eat, including diapers and formula for the baby. <br><br>We’ve had a lot of help along the way. I got my car for 1\$, and I put a broken engine in it, and fixed it up, and she’s a beast. Takes me to work and back every day, and we’ve had some fantastic road trips in her. We have a great time.<br><br>We had a lot of help with our house. We bought it for 1\$, and replaced the foundation and the floor. We live in it while we fix it up. It’s a beautiful little house, and we’re very happy there. We have a huge backyard, full of fruit trees and some berry bushes. We work very hard, but we have everything we need. <br><br>We’ve had a lot of help from county assistance programs. We get food stamps, which is very, very helpful. WIC was great when my kids were smaller. I have medicaid for my kids, and my work pays for my medical expenses, if something happens to me. We get diapers from the diaper bank every month. We have some money, every month, to go out to dinner, and go out to see some shows. We have money for date nights. <br><br>We’ve had a lot of help along the way, and we’ve fucking worked our ASSES off. I am not ashamed of anything, I work so goddamned hard, for my kids, and for myself. I am tired, and my house is pretty, and I am grateful. <br><br>So how do we live like we’re rich? How do three people in poverty live like royality? <br><br>We live in the present. We don’t worry about tomorrow, or yesterday. I am grateful to be alive today. We are grateful to be alive today. <br><br>We are grateful for what we have. We have some money, but not enough, we have a house, but it’s not done yet, we have food, but there are a lot of beans. We have each other, and we have love, and we have joy, and we have life. <br><br>We make the best of everything. We don’t complain a lot, because complaining is a waste of time. We have better things to do. We go swimming! We go hiking! We go to the library, and the museum, and all of the free parks in our area! We go to the beach, and collect sea glass, and watch the sun rise over the ocean! We have so much fun, and it doesn’t cost us much. We have a blast, together. <br><br>We have rules. We don’t buy fast food. We don’t buy processed food. We fucking hate tv. <br><br>We make our own fun, and we make our own food. We make our own way, because that’s where we want to be. We are so grateful. We help other people. I give away my time and my money. I give away my expertise, I give away my food. I love my family, and I love my friends, and I love my neighbors. I love you. <br><br>I hope you have a great day, and I hope you have a great life. I love you. <br><br>Edit: Wow. Wow. Thank you so much. I have been given so much today, and I am so grateful. I am so grateful to be alive.