I've lived on this property for 40 years. The first seven years in a double wide and then I built this house. Literally, I built it. With my hands. Pretty nice place too, 2100sqft living and about another thousand in porches and garage, 2 bath 3 bedrooms. It could use a coat of paint but the roof will last as long as I do. Other than a few hospital stays I haven't spent a single night under a different roof in over 20 years.
Government takes complete care of me, even pays my Medicare. If there are any medical emergencies Medicaid jumps in and covers what Medicare doesn't. I've got no debt so all I really have to spend money on is utilities and groceries. I've taken advantage of every state and federal program available to help out a crippled old man. I got my property tax cut in half this year, from $1300 to $650. Because I'm 66, poor, and have lived in the same place for over 25 years. When I'm finally forced into a wheelchair property taxes disappear completely. Probably some other programs I haven't looked into yet.
Can't remember the last time I paid income tax, I don't even have to file anymore so I don't much think about it. There are no savings or annuities, IRAs or 401Ks to complicate my life, Just a check on the 3rd.
When you reduce your expenses to practically nothing and live frugally $7.20 an hour is plenty to get by on. I even managed to raise a kid that wasn't mine for the last ten years. It was hard when I had to buy her clothes and shoes and whatnot but once she got old enough to work I was off the hook for all that.
Did I mention I was an empty nester now? The kid just moved out a couple weeks ago, an already laughably stress free existence just got even easier. I miss her, but not all that much, y'know? I'll save money on groceries now.
Ah, the life of a hippie......
