HenryDavid, I agree with what you're saying. Thanks for the perspective.
retired?, I am military. That means they give me housing, yes, but also they pay me for food. Then, they take away all that money before I see it and say I'm getting served through the DFAC, which is the sorriest excuse for food I've ever seen and about a mile away. So, I buy very cheap, healthy food at the commissary and eat that. I wouldn't say I have food covered because of that, even though they say they provide me with it. Most people here refuse to eat their and they keep taking our money for it. That being said, I realize someone renting would require more of the income I use for housing, so I am grateful for my ability to have a mostly discretionary income. I spend more than I need to, but the convenience helps my stress levels stay low most of the time. When I'm out of the military, I hope to have around a 36.000 p.a. salary, as it will be more than sufficient for my lifestyle.
For a family of four...My parents raised five kids (family of seven, then) on 40.000 p.a. and we did just fine. I've never considered myself poor.
As for the value of work, I'm not talking about situations where people are being blatantly shorted money. I've actually been shorted pay for half a year, and I'm pretty angry about that. I'm talking about the people who refuse to work for less than a certain amount, even if others in that same skill level are being paid less. I can't understand how they think they're that important, especially when they have all the money they could ever need or have a salary that's ridiculously high any way you look at it.
Lian, I'm glad you'll still get that early FI. As your life is proof, people can pull themselves out of some pretty bad situations and do pretty well with life. As for gratefulness, I don't think I could ever lose it. I've been to so many places where people are far more poor than anyone in America, and they are happier than most Americans I know. So I've always been grateful for what I have, because even when I made 8.00 p.a., I had more than entire families could make in a year with everyone working.