Living on a lower income is/can be much easier than one may think when first faced with it. Two years ago I voluntarily left my job of 10 years. I was making 25,000 before taxes. I just looked over our tax return from that next year (first w/o my income) I WAS SHOCKED. We made 125,000 the year I quit - the following year we made 60,000. I never even realized it!! My husband takes care of our bills and such and because of his careful management and such we were able to go to 50% of our income without even a blink of an eye - coupons on top of bogo's, gardening, rarely eating out, less spent on b-days/Christmas, NO credit card debt, wise investments and other things helped us tremendously. Last year the difference was not so large (we made more) but we still live very, very, very frugally - I hang laundry, make our soap, go hardly anywhere (by choice), we've made several trips to Haiti, married off a daughter and have enjoyed canning, etc. this past year - looking forward to spending even less this next year :)