You mean the fine art of being frugal?
Speaking as one who's been here more than once, it really doesn't take a lot of money to live on. I think the most effective independent frugal experience I've had was when I rented a room in a YWCA and lived off around $800/month which included making payments to credit cards as well as rent, food, gas, etc. Now, w/out rent or utilities I'm get by fairly comfortably on $500/month.
There are cheap places to live w/others - shared rentals or people looking for live-in helpers which is what I'd be on the look out for were I not where I live now. There are many, many ways to be frugal and loads of info out there on how to do it... and besides that it isn't nearly as grim as most make it out to be.
I can't remember a time I've ever felt more liberated than when I lived in my truck before the YWCA. Actually, it was probably camping in a tent.
