I'll tell you my situation even though you didnt ask me. I have a widower friend (was my best friends mom but he committed suicide in 2005.) I pay $300 a month for 2 bedrooms and a bath in a 1912 farmhouse basement. It's finished but it's old and the ceiling is pipes framing and electrical hanging down. In exchange for her graciously letting ny daughter and i live here, i do yard work, redid her bathroom in tile when her wall had mold in it from a bad fiberglass shower surround, cook dinner every night, do the dishes, and now that shes been out of commission since february for shoulder surgery i've been helping her even more.

I work when the bank account gets low (self employed finish carpenter) and work 7 hour days at the most but not on the regular. I dont dare make over 20-25k a year so i can keep getting child daycare subsidy for $65 a month. Also i get food benefits for my daughter and I which stock the fridge pretty well.

I'm not trying to work every day and have daycare raise my child. We do fun stuff when we can. I typically try to work hard for 3 months and then take 2 months off with very little work during that time. Because those big remodel jobs burn me out and i need a break.

I could grind every day but honestly, it's not worth it for my mental health. I want to go swim in the river or play fortnite or drink some beers throughout the week without being completely exhausted.