1. Yes, I am a single healthy American man. Everything I write reflects that and can be no different. I can of course see how this particular issue and the numbers I use do not necessarily apply to families, women, the sick, elderly, anyone with special needs.

2. My toiletries include soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, toilet paper, Q-tips, razor blades, shaving cream. Sometimes I need other items like sunscreen and lip balm. Women need more than that. I hope women continue to buy and use all the items useful to making themselves look as attractive as possible. Makeup is a luxury, and unnecessary, particularly lipstick. What men or women can use to improve their looks have nothing to do with expensive artificial cover-up, and everything to do with exercise and diet. Here is an article I read a few months ago on how women are being ripped off by personal care companies and what you can do to save (hint: buy the men’s version—they are the same!).

3. There is a gender wage gap and unfortunately there might always be one as long as our society’s typical roles for men and women remain unchanged. I am 100% about equal pay for equal work, equal opportunity, equal treatment, merit-based pay, etc. In the interest of playing devil’s advocate, let me say that there are some real reasons for the wage gap, reasons that our money-making infotainment media don’t mention when trying to peddle inflammatory stories. Like most issues, this one is complex and not as simple as saying “women get paid less.” Again, I’m all in favor of merit-based compensation and equal pay for equal work. As a single person, I see a similar example of wage gap unfairness—why should married people be compensated better for the same work?

4. I’ve lived in small town Texas, and mid-sized towns Louisiana and Utah, and near San Francisco, CA. The $200 figure is tough to meet, but that breaks down to $6.66/day over a 30 day month. My diet is admittedly not that healthy and needs work, particularly in the vegetable department, which can be costly. That said, it is possible to dine out once every week or so (not at any fancy restaurants) and dine in the rest of the time for $200. I often see stories of people who buy groceries for pennies on the dollar—coupons, double coupon days in stores, not marrying themselves to specific brands. There are books and websites devoted to grocery shopping savings. I think Americans eat too much food too often. Traveling continues to shape my view of diet—from seeing that fasting is healthy, free, and not that difficult, to seeing that things like rice and eggs and local produce provide healthy, inexpensive options. At home, I’ve lived off things like toast and eggs, peanut butter and honey sandwhiches, meat and cheese sandwhiches, milk, fruit smoothie drinks. Other ideas (that might be impractical for your situation) include having a garden at home or at a community location; finding grocers that sell at deep discounts.

I would be interested to know what your expenses are. Though the $1100/month budget might be very difficult depending on your circumstances, I really think that a healthy single person can come close to that number, anywhere in the US: take public transportation, live with roommates, live at home, eliminate daily starbucks and bagels (make coffee at home), eliminate multiple phones (ditch the iPhone and landline and have one basic cell phone; use alternatives like Skype), ditch cable TV (read a book), stop magazine subscriptions (use the library), don’t go to the movies (use $1 Redbox or go to the dollar theaters), find internet alternatives (share the cost of one connection with your neighbor), stop “pimping” your car and other belongings with expensive, ridiculous crap, stop playing expensive sports or paying expensive gym fees (run, ride a bicycle, take daily walks), stop buying things spontaneously, stop “shopping” (determine what you need, do your research to find the best price, then go to the store, buy that one thing, and leave!), never buy on credit, get discounts on utilities and other bills (most people don’t know that many banks and utility companies will significantly lower costs and interest rates if they only ask!). We are a consumer society. The US consumes more than it produces. People buy more than what they can afford. Consumers cannot live on $1100/month. Living on $1100/month or $1500 or $2000 or whatever a person’s cirumstances dictate, requires a divorce from that mentality.

I am confident that there are plenty of people living just fine in MN for $1100/month. As I’ve said before, college students live this way…when I left college, I told myself I wanted to continue to live that way, on very low expenses. Most people increase their budgets and lifestyles to match their incomes. The concept of living below one’s means is difficult for most people to even grasp. While my expenses increased somewhat over the years (dining out more with friends, purchasing a vehicle), I’ve always put my pay raises directly into investments.

Comfort is obviously highly subjective, but people are also highly flexible to changing conditions. During the recent economic downturn, I have read many stories of people “downgrading” their living habits…almost all say their personal relationships are better for it, that their quality of life has improved.

I could not live on 1100 and continue my current lifestyle. But that’s ok. I’ve made new choices and I’m trying a different road now. But if that is what someone needed to do and they had no children it is totally possible. For a long time I made about 1000 a month and lived just fine. But I was never alone..I’ve had many friends living with me for years.

After paying for fuel and other van expenses, you have only $33.33/day to pay for food, a bed, any expenses you left back home (a storage facility, in my case), phone, insurance. Is $33.33/day enough? What do you do on the road to cut down on these or other expenses? Do you sleep in the van or often find an apartment where you can crash for free? Do you get a lot of free meals or eat ramen noodles for lunch everyday? I’m just wondering if you think $1100/month is really enough.

You said it’s easy to have a fun, inexpensive life. I agree. I’ll tell you what–the less I spend, the more adventures I seem to find. We’ll have to go on an adventure sometime, and set some crazy goal like spending $5/day on food and lodging. I know it’s possible short-term!

8.00 Average sale/donation price
-1.50 CD duplication cost after shipping
(1.50 CD/jewelry/book etc.)
6.50 average prof
3300/6.50 = 507.6923..
508 units/3 buddies = 169.3333…
170units/8 working days = 21.25 units per day..
move 22 units @ $6.50 average prof in 8 working days = $1144.00
1144.00 X 3 buddies = $3,432

3432 – 400..month van stuff (bring bikes)

3000/3 dudes= $33.33 per guy a day for one month to live on.. you can be real lazy and spend a month in every city seeing everything and meeting everyone….(22-23 days off per month) this is a terrible draft..haha..if you are creative living cheep and fun is easy. Work harder make more money if the fun gets more expensive….I tried this once…last year in April I sold 101 CD’s alone in SLC and Ogden in one day. 8.00 average = $808-126.25 duplication cost-$20 gas = $661.75 to work with. This took me about 10 hours of standing with a CD in hand and CD player with headphones. Could be done with many small items. I’m traveling with some friends to see the world. This is how we pay for it. Thanks for checking it out.)…takes small amount of talking. 100 items/ 10 hours = 10 items per hour

that’s 5 days work in one day…$661.65

$661.65/5 days = $132.33 a day @ only 2 hours of work per day

I’m just rambling..but we can do a lot when we put our minds to it…everyone has skills that can be used creatively. I want to go on a adventure with ya Brook. And you can help me keep a better budget!

If I can get any friends of hers with computers to look at this perhaps they will share it with her.