I've been living on $6000 a year for the past five years. Next year, I intend to spend 10 months in New Zealand on <$8000, including travel, room, and board.

It's very doable. I rent a very nice room in a pleasant suburb. I eat well, if repetitively. I have enough pocket money to go out somewhere nice with friends now and again. I don't make much more than I spend --- product, in part, of a BFA --- and sure, an extra few thousand would improve my lifestyle considerably. But I don't need much more, and I've been very happy and very comfortable.