I have a very conservative lifestyle, and by conservative, I mean I conserve my resources quite well.
I have no outstanding debt. My house in a less than elegant neighborhood is paid off. I have always done my own taxes and handled all my own finances. My investments have always exceeded the S&P 500 on average.
Most of my needs are met by my Social Security payments, which I started collecting at age 67.
My car is a 1985 Mercedes Diesel wagon with 221,000 miles.
I have no central AC and have never bought a new car, stove, refrigerator, washer or dryer. I have made no car payments since 1973. When I bought my house, I assumed a mortgage and avoided real estate commissions, "origination fees" and other crap. I have owned 16 cars and bought all but two for cash and none from any dealer.
I shop online and at thrift stores. I never order wine in any restaurant, because it is a scam.
I contribute to worthy charities, including the local NPR and PBS stations.
I never put a bumper sticker on my car.
Reagan's campaign gurus apparently decided that if I owned stock and asked me for a contribution in 1980, I stuck the postpaid envelope to a neatly wrapped brick, dropped it off at the post office, and the GOP never bothered me again.