yes and no. Most people do live that way by choice, but they don't really realize they are making a choice. You need to pay rent, but very few people live in the cheapest apartment they can find. You have to pay bills, but you can make them much cheaper (it means you hang out in local parks because there is no TV, internet, and you avoid even so much as turning on a light). You need to eat, but beans and rice are cheap.

How much savings you need is an open question of course. To live as above without income doesn't require a lot of savings, so you start saving less and add some luxury.