I've lived poor on a little more than $5000/yr for several years now, though it's due to living in developing nations and/or countries with hard-hit economies.

I've lived poor on a little more than $5000/yr for several years now, though it's due to living in developing nations and/or countries with hard-hit economies. I still want things but I fully recognize it's just a want and not a need. Would I live 'normally' if I made more money? Well, I've come to find that paying for experiences is more important than having status or things that represent it. Most of my current friends are not as poor as me but they aren't rich either. Though, I spent all of my teens with 'rich kids', for one reason or another, and they seemed to have no clue about how good they had/have it. If we all had to start from scratch, I'd survive while they wouldn't. When the basics aren't covered automatically, there's a large psychological toll (the scarcity trap) that affects every single decision made. I'd rather know the art of being frugal than be oblivious to it (and how much of the world lives)...but I must say, the scarcity trap can be hell to deal with.