> If you're making minimum wage, chances are you're already riding the bus, eating rice, beans, and potatoes.

This is true of very few of the minimum wage and less earners I've been friends with over the years. (I apologize, I don't have broader statistics than "people I know".)

It's amazing how little money you can get by on if you're willing to really cut back. I don't think it takes an MS degree to figure out how.