What kind of lifestyle are you imagining couldn't survive on a single-income of $174,000[1] per year. This, of course, doesn't account for spousal income (if any).

When you're a senator, you also receive a lot of "perks" that reduce your overall expenses. Most travel comes out of an office fund, hotels, rental cars... many meals can also be expensed to the same fund, etc. Clothing even in some cases.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaries_of_members_of_the_Uni...