How to live on $432 a month in America

Like other people here, I have my quibbles with the exact math. But the general premise is true: yes, you can live in rural poverty for cheap. The problem is the vibes. A hundred years ago, you would have a community, a place in society, and all of your family and friends nearby. In 2025, the only actual local job the author of the piece can come up with is at a gas station.

Top ten occupations, 1920: Farmers, farm laborers, clerks, salespeople, servants (bellboys, butlers, cooks), textile workers, machinists, carpenters, and teachers. All of those jobs, even the less respected ones, had infinitely more societal respect than the common jobs hiring in rural America today - such as stocking shelves at Walmart or working at a gas station. You could be a simple farm laborer and have a wife and kids and a place in society. Today, though, a young man working at a Walmart or a gas station will struggle to attract a stable partner or the respect of the world around him.

> a young man working at a Walmart or a gas station will struggle to attract a stable partner or the respect of the world around him.

From personal experience I can tell you confidently you are wrong.

The part you are missing is you only need to work 10-20 hours a week MAX. That means you have an enormous Amount of leisure time to do what you want with your life. Trust me when I say plenty of young women love the idea of not working a lot and instead having wilderness adventures.

Want to see it for yourself? Go spend a summer in the Yukon. If you love it, stay the winter. It’s nothing short of epic.

Wilderness adventures will be the only option within your budget.

Lest's say you are serious and it's only a lack of imagination [edit: or taste obviously but as the article author points out: it's only on you to choose what you like]:

- learn music instruments, perhaps join a local band or share samples on the net with enthusiasts

- draw, paint, sculpt, all of which has many options of techniques and cheap materials. As with music, the only limit is yourself and the the expense of your instrument but you don't need to use expensive techniques to enjoy

- make a year-round vegetable garden, thats' often time consuming and you won't need much terrain

- read tons of books, learn philosophie, math, history, whatever makes you find interesting. And in 2025 there's the option to read blogs for those that feels like it. watch movies, listen podcasts.

- cook whatever you eat, get creative and share the food with your neighbor or the receipt with the internet users

- do more sport. 1.5h/day practice of yoga, tai chi, swim or whatever will influence the rest of your day

- participate in local NGO or crate the one you want to, from homeless shelter to business and startups free guidance, animals caring and astronomy enthusiasts.

- to support your cheap live, learn to like the chores: hand wash your dishes and clothes. Sounds super boring, but how boring is an Amazon warehouse job ? I'd choose the dishwashing+podcast.

- use the bus or walk or bike to the wilderness, you got time. You don't need to get to the super-far-and-wild spot to enjoy the nature anyway.

- in the wilderness you can: walk, run, off-road exploration, climb trees (yes, that's still a hobby), listen and learn to recognize birds, mushrooms (beware), plants, insects, draw (that you can do anywhere), get aromates for cooking or leaves for tea, sleep in a tent, collect fossils and minerals. Become a local guide.

- get a cheap computer and play (not that) old games. Bonus if you live somewhere where internet is cheap, try some MMORPG (ok not too long to stay sane). Here in France unlimited 1Gb connection is 25€/month.

- learn to knit, wave, sew. Some people find those fun, and make extra money on local handmade shops.

You pretty much listed all the things that “simple life” people in the Yukon and Alaska get up to in their spare time - which is ample.

My first time up there I met a lady in her 40s who had just worked 12 weeks at a mining camp. She was bummed because that was the most she’d ever worked in her life. Had 10 acres, three kids, monster log home. Great life.