No, this obsession with "financial" is exactly what is the American Dream, not what I'm talking about.

You can live on so much less than minimal wage - it is because people go along with societal expectations do they consider it not enough. You pay the rent to live in an apartment, in a city, and work an official, recognised job. Why do you necessarily need to live in an apartment? Why in a city? And why do you need to work that menial job to pay off all of it barely having anything left at the end of the month?

Look up dirtbagging, a movement rock climbers came up with to dedicate their lives to climbing instead of the 9-5. You can get by fine with living in a tent and eating from expired cans and free McDonalds ketchup packets if that gives you the freedom to pursue what you find meaningful.