BCIP: This is exactly why my younger brother stopped being in product design right after the diploma and chose human rights/ adult education as alternative (rough) professional path.
Indeed within our oversaturated economies one can live off the crumbs, that fall off the tables of “normal” consumerism.
My future second wife dealt some lessons concerning this to me. Showing that it is entirely possible to nurture 2 teenage daughters, have food and clothing, a fun! social life on cents instead of Dollars. Over here in Germany we have an active “food sharing” network, that repurposes excessive “waste” food, you can do carsharing, use public transport or a bike and live quasi like a student, all while doing meaningful work, that might not pay six-figures. Very valuable viewpoints in recalibrating my personal values.
mo-i