I have been very poor, homeless, middle class and everything in between. As long as you can get a job (and here, you can always get a job of some sort) all things are possible as long as you can stuff enough wage earners into your household.

I like roller coasters and Busch Gardens usually does a buy one ticket, come back all year thing, there’s a bus that comes from near me to near there. So that’s some cheap fun (I don’t buy anything there, don’t stay all day, go early, ride, leave before big crowds)

Have gotten pretty good at gardening so if there’s a yard there is some fresh food.

Lots of roommates, built in network.

Library books. Free concerts downtown. Whatever free events.