Need info: Intentionally living below poverty levl

[GoodDaughter]

..............

[CarolAnn]

Gooddaughter - I think you're looking for self-sufficiency info rather than living in poverty info, and here's the difference:

Living as self-sufficient as you can, that is, supporting yourself and producing most of your own goods & shelter by yourself will automatically cut down on some of the tax burden you mentioned. However, if you own your own land, that'll be taxed no matter how cash-poor you are and if you can't pay it, you soon won't own the land any longer because it'll be put up for a tax sale.

The only way to reduce that is to make sure you own land in a very low tax base area - and there are still some of those around - but they're going away fast!

[GoodDaughter]

.............

[CatherineID]

I'm with you. Several years ago (10! - wow, time flies), it dawned on my husband and me that earning less just might result in an improved lifestyle. I would much rather have hubby work part-time and me not work at all while living pretty well (still have health insurance through hubby's employer, thank goodness) than have us both working fulltime jobs and barely scrape by.

Okay, we're not at the poverty level but there are all sorts of ways to earn less but live better.

[MountainDreams]

Would this help?

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com/

Not sure if it's exactly what your asking for, but....

[1lifetolive]

GoodDaughter,
It's with some hesitation I suggest this link
It's not specific to your question, but this father/daughter tell how they earned less & lived large
http://www.f4.ca/text/possumliving.htm

[LeatherneckPA]

That "possum living" was the book I was trying to remember.

Gooddaughter, may I suggest that you check a book by Charles Long titled How To Live Without A Salary?

And also Joe Dominguez's title, Your Money Or Your Life.

Both books focus on the concept of examining American materialism in terms of the "life hours" needed to pay for that materialism.

As far as living below "poverty level" is concerned according to the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08Poverty.shtml) a family of 2 earning under $14k per year is living below poverty level. That's only $1337 a month, and would have to include all of your living expenses. With 2 kids that rises to $21,200 per year. Still only $1766 per month.

But there is no such thing as escaping Federal taxes. According to the 2008 Federal Tax Brackets (http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/2008-federal-income-tax-brackets-official-irs-figures.html) a couple Married Filing Jointly who earn under $16,050 are still going to have to pay 10% for Federal Income Tax. The band for 15% becomes much broader, allowing between $16,050 and $65,100.

Another forum I belong to, The Simple Living Network (http://www.simpleliving.net/discussionforums) has a sub-forum for Frugality and Tightwadding where people frequently discuss how to live on $1200 a month or less.

I think a more realistic plan is to come up with a budget that you can live happily with (no sense punishing yourself and your family), then add 20% to cover all of your taxes, and plan on that as your target income level.

Oh, and tell CarolAnn that you are sorry for snapping. Her point was valid.

[leera]

Intentionally living below the poverty level without going without takes quite a bit of practice,but you can do it if you set your mind to it.

The less things you need,the less money you need,think of it that way.

Another good read is Living Well On Practically Nothing.
Sorry,I don't have the book in front of me to tell you the author.

It would actually tie in with self suficiency in a way.The more of your own food you can grow,the less money you need to be able to buy it from the store.....

[Kyhome]

1life possum living was a great read. someone I think on this forum posted it a while back. going to look it up and read again

[Mr.B]

This book might help some guy in my area wrote it.

http://www.radicalsimplicity.org/

-B

[flatwater]

Goodaughter , the books listed above are great but from personal experience I listed everything I do , then I subtracted everything I could live without and then invested in the things that were left. It works for us and saves money to boot.

[manoucherie]

The books you need, I think, are Amy Dacyzyn's Tightwad Gazette series (there is a 1,2,3, and a compilation edition) These were published in the early '90's and I would suggest thrift stores and libraries to get them. No other book so thoroughly outlines the How To in saving money and pinching pennies quite as well as these books do. She has an every penny counts philosophy and writes alot about getting over the "Tightwad" image issue. Good Luck!

[ryanmercer]

That "possum living" was the book I was trying to remember.

Gooddaughter, may I suggest that you check a book by Charles Long titled How To Live Without A Salary?

And also Joe Dominguez's title, Your Money Or Your Life.

Both books focus on the concept of examining American materialism in terms of the "life hours" needed to pay for that materialism.

As far as living below "poverty level" is concerned according to the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08Poverty.shtml) a family of 2 earning under $14k per year is living below poverty level. * That's only $1337 a month, and would have to include all of your living expenses. *With 2 kids that rises to $21,200 per year. *Still only $1766 per month.

But there is no such thing as escaping Federal taxes. *According to the 2008 Federal Tax Brackets (http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/2008-federal-income-tax-brackets-official-irs-figures.html) a couple Married Filing Jointly who earn under $16,050 are still going to have to pay 10% for Federal Income Tax. * The band for 15% becomes much broader, allowing between $16,050 and $65,100.

Another forum I belong to, The Simple Living Network (http://www.simpleliving.net/discussionforums) has a sub-forum for Frugality and Tightwadding where people frequently discuss how to live on $1200 a month or less.

I think a more realistic plan is to come up with a budget that you can live happily with (no sense punishing yourself and your family), then add 20% to cover all of your taxes, and plan on that as your target income level.

Oh, and tell CarolAnn that you are sorry for snapping. *Her point was valid.

You might have to pay tax but you get earned income credit. A guy I work with supports himself, his wife, and two children off of 25k$ a year, pays taxes sure... but gets far more back on his tax return than he paid. (His wife isn't lazy, they are just hardcore and do not believe in women in the workplace)

[cabinman]

I don't know of a web site to share, but I will tell you that it can be done. It can be done and you can live fairly well.

My wife and I are self employed artiists and have been for the last 24 plus years. Most of those years we had no out side income other than my National Guard paycheck for my one weekend a month. Except for a very few years when things just fell into place we earned at or below the poverty level. Despite this we now own three pieces of property. Our cabin on 6 acres purchased on a land contract of 15 years and paid off in 8. Our original house( almost paid in full) that has subsequently become our studio/business and about 6 years ago we bought the property next door on a private deal. (Owner held mortgage and a tenant pays that). We have driven beat up cars but had no car payment and practicted thrift at every opportunity. No vacations until recently. The only extravagance we have allowed ourselves is our Harley (paid for), which by the way I am trading for three acres this spring for my son.

Not sure what to tell you other than itcan be done and you really don't have to go without. I think most of us in this country think we need a lot more than we do.

If my real estate taxes were not so damn high I'd really be doing well - all at or below the poverty level!

Good Luck!

[speedfunk]

Congrats to all you doing this.

I am almost to poverty line. Allthough I'm not sure what that exact amount is. Over the course of the past 4 years or so I have went from 40hrs week to this july I will be working 6 hours a week. My yearly income will be 15grand. We have a house that's almost paid for and land that we are building our homestead on this summer that is paid for and will are building with cash.. I have a huge problem with our out of control gov't. My way of protesting is giving them as little as I possible can. Money seems to fuel things so i'm cutting off the fuel line :) I've found like others you really can live well at the poverty line. Granted I made more in the past which allowed me to get "ahead".

good Luck.

[jen_in_southtexas]

Gooddaughter,

Here is another link someone from the forum posted. Im sorry that i cant remember at the time but thank you for doing so. Maybe this will help GD.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index1.htm

-jen

[rivahmom]

Congrats to all you doing this.

* I have a huge problem with our out of control gov't. *My way of protesting is giving them as little as I possible can. *Money seems to fuel things so i'm cutting off the fuel line :) I've found like others you really can live well at the poverty line. *Granted I made more in the past which allowed me to get "ahead".


You summed up my feelings on the subject exactly. I'm doing the same thing. I have given up on trying to explain why to people because all I get is a blank stare and comments about living without TV.