Living within your means.

This one is closer to what I've lived most of my life.  Family of three lives well on $20,000 a year. 

I think these people are doing a much better job than the Mother & Son who were barely getting by on $50k.

The problem as I see it exists from the highest levels of our government, all the way down.  At all levels, more money is being spent than is earned.  Yeah, it's tough to even survive at a lower income, but if you're renting money, you are basically throwing money away!  In my opinion, the only things you should ever rent money for is something that is absolutely essential for survival, and even then, you should keep the amount you borrow as low as possible, and rent it for as short a term as possible.  If it's not essential for survival, and you do not have the cash available for it, do without!

At the end of the day, I think that couple with the toddler are much happier people, because they're living within their income.  Ultimately, if they stick with it, and their business succeeds, they'll be "rich".