Although I have also received financial assistance, I have meanwhile (I’m in my mid-40s) learned that "smaller," more "here" and regional, and less automation brings much more satisfaction.
My income is (despite studying) rather meager. Sometimes I have to do without, and that is sometimes exhausting, sometimes it does me good.
I have arranged my life to be as inexpensive as possible (e.g. no own car) and practical (good location of the apartment). The fact that I have to go out every day in wind and weather gives me great overall satisfaction. While others sit in the car and zoom around, I have seen daylight, moved physically, felt temperature and weather, seen the local changes of the seasons. That grounds me immensely.
When I read that someone would like to see "the Big Five" – well, sure, that’s doable nowadays, but it’s highly silly. There are some few people who really travel and are interested in culture. The rest are probably tourists who create the impression they are experiencing something. You can experience things directly on site, even without a zebra.
I would wish that more people would take a step back. The earth and society would probably thank them. As an example: I am currently moving piece by piece, by bicycle and a bike trailer. The washing machine fits well on the trailer and so does the sofa (of course not at the same time) or about 12 banana boxes. And always, really always (sic), I get stared at, gawked at, or even asked what I’m doing. Well, what am I doing? I’m pulling weight on a trailer with the bike. Gosh! We have become so alienated that this is seen as absurd. I can’t find a single disadvantage in having easily put the bed on the cart instead of painstakingly squeezing it into a car and driving around with the trunk open.
Whoever manages to question their fixed costs and fixed ideas a little gets more opportunities, financially and otherwise. Sorry, I just had to briefly step in for the "low earners" here in the forum.