We have Aldi here, too.
My dad and I live on around $25k a year, but neither of us feel 'poor' even though that's close to the GA poverty line for two people living together. We've got 5,000 tv channels, DSL, tons of food to eat (Thanks, Wal-Mart). My only complaint is my car's falling apart and I can't afford a new one. I have an interview next week for a job that pays $30-something-k, so that will hopefully change soon and I'll be able to get back out on my own again. He's about to graduate with a bachelor's in psychology, going to grad school in the spring for biological statistics, so his situation will change for a much, much better one soon.