I graduated during the Great Recession and got a job as a case worker for soldiers and families in need with a defense contractor that paid <$30,000/year. I lived in the DC area, which is notorious for its high cost of living. So you can definitely make things work on a shoestring budget, even in a pricey area. I guess the question is does that make you "wealthy" if you don't have to work to earn that $40k.