Yeah, it is expensive for a poor to try to live as middle-class. And it is stupid. Stupidity is always more expensive. The advantage of being poor is that you'

Yeah, it is expensive for a poor to try to live as middle-class. And it is stupid. Stupidity is always more expensive. The advantage of being poor is that you're detached from all that useless goods, property, stuff and even people. Then you can move. You can live where life is better - some warmer and cheaper place - maybe some buddhist countries, but not California, of course. Take a look at the Indian brahmins, Tibetan or buddhist monks - they are very poor, as poor as possible, but they are happy and healthy because they does not trying to catch some advertised illusion or broadcasted style of life. The rule is very simple - spend less than you got. It means to avoid what you can't afford. If you have only one bag with some absolutely necessary things you can live in almost every place with warm climate and peaceful people.