Really I just don't like to work. (For someone else, on something that isn't interesting.) I would like to believe that the hours I spend each day studying, playing music and exercising count as "equity", but I could just as easily see it leading to nothing career-wise. The funny part is, I'm happier than I have ever been!
BTW my 2009 AGI was $22k, and I live in the Bay Area. It's doable.
This is about how much money I made when I lived in San Francisco for a few years mid-decade.
It was doable primarily because I always lived with people who had rent controlled apartments or houses they'd lived in for some time. The cheapest rent I paid--and where I lived longest--was $550/mo. My girlfriend lived with me there and we split it 50/50.
Other things contributing to low living expenses: no car (huge savings); no TV; aggressive (but perfectly legal) tax deductions; choosing fun activities over costly purchases; freegan friends who gave us loads of food; and, of course, two buck chuck...
Funny, this describes me almost perfectly. One thing is I do not live in the city, so my rent is slightly cheaper still. Other expenses that I see people my age spending a lot on which I don't: clothes, internet-enabled phones, eating / drinking out. Especially the last one.
A downside of living this way is, obviously it would never work with a family. So if/when it comes time for me to do that, I will probably have to grow up and get a Real Job.
Until that point though, this is great! I look at all these people, friends, working 60 hrs a week and completely missing out on their 20s and 30s, and I feel like I've stumbled on to a well-kept secret.
My work is very close to my home, I have two part time jobs. One lets me work on anything I want as long as I sit in front of a computer. The other is hands on experience running a friends small business. Combined these total 22 hours a week.
Quit my full-time job a couple years ago to learn about programming and pursue business ideas.
It's not so bad being poor once you get into the groove.
I cook all my meals, do my own car repairs and garden. Free time = quality of life.
I'd modify it so that you have upper bounds in order to avoid scenarios such as a person making $200k and validly choosing "More than $50k" AND "More than $100k". In other words, force one response only.
Interesting that because of the amount of people doing startups on HN the average income is probably actually quiet low. Whereas I'd imagine to earning potential of the HN community would be high if everyone got the jobs they could get if they didn't want to start their own venture.
